Heaven and man are in harmony, talk about health care in the beginning of summer

Author: Zhao Xinyuan, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

Reviewer: Wang Shichao, deputy chief physician, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

Figure 1 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

Chushu is the fourteenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms. It begins on August 8 in the Gregorian calendar.

Around the 23rd of July. The "Collection of Explanations of the 72 Seasons of the Lunar Calendar" says: "In the middle of July, Chu means to stop, and the heat ends here." It can be seen that the "Chu" in Chushu means "to end", and the meaning of Chushu is "the official end of the summer heat." The heat will end on this day, and the temperature in most parts of my country will gradually drop. With the arrival of Chushu, the heat is gone and gradually subsides. In this solar term when the temperature transitions from hot to cold, crops need a lot of water. As nature and man are the same, how should people maintain their health?

The term "health preservation" comes from Huangdi Neijing. In Huangdi Neijing Lingshu, it is said: "The health preservation of a wise man must follow the four seasons and adapt to the cold and heat, harmonize joy and anger and live in peace, regulate yin and yang and adjust hardness and softness. In this way, evil spirits will not come and you will live a long and healthy life." "The third month of autumn is called Rongping. The weather is urgent and the earth's air is bright. Go to bed early and get up early, and wake up with the rooster. Make the mind calm to ease the punishment of autumn. Concentrate the spirit and make the autumn air peaceful, do not let your mind wander, and make the lungs clear." The theory of "harmony between heaven and man" and "nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter" has important significance for health preservation.

"Chushu" is also called "out of summer heat". At this time, the weather has not yet entered the true sense of autumn coolness. The heat in the afternoon on a sunny day is no less than that in the summer heat season. The "autumn tiger" is still there, but the weather is cooler in the morning and evening. The climate of hot day and cool night forms good conditions for the convergence of human yang energy.

1. Daily life and health care during the period of End of Heat

Figure 2 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

Sleep is an important way to maintain health. During the Chushu solar term, the Yang Qi in nature tends to converge from dispersing, and the rise and fall of Yin and Yang in the human body also changes accordingly. It is very important to go to bed early and get up early. The ancients emphasized the importance of Ziwu nap (sleeping at Zi and Wu every day) in the sleep health regimen. They believed that at Zi and Wu, Yin and Yang intersect, peak and decline, and the body's Qi and blood Yin and Yang are unbalanced, so one must lie still to wait for the Qi to recover. Here, we would like to remind our elderly friends that the elderly often have a lack of energy during the day and sleepless at night due to deficiency of Qi, blood, Yin and Yang. They can "go to the pillow when they feel sleepy". At the same time, statistics show that taking a Ziwu nap can also reduce the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Prevent "autumn dryness" . After the beginning of summer heat, the weather is often dry and less rainy. People's exposed facial skin will feel tight, and may also have dull hair, increased dandruff, chapped lips and other symptoms. This is due to the accelerated evaporation of skin moisture and the lack of moisture in the skin's stratum corneum. Therefore, it is recommended to eat some foods that clear heat, promote body fluid, nourish yin and moisten the lungs, such as loach, duck meat, sesame, walnut, lily, honey, fresh yam, pear, lotus seeds and other soft and moist products. At the same time, drink more soups that nourish yin and moisten dryness, and eat more green large-leaf vegetables.

Reasonable "autumn freezing" "Autumn freezing" can ensure the body's smooth transition from summer heat to autumn coolness, and improve the body's adaptability to weather changes and cold resistance. "Autumn freezing" seems simple, but how to "freeze" reasonably, "freeze" at the right time, and "freeze" healthily is also a science. Elderly people, young adults and children with good physical fitness should not buy thick clothes too early; elderly people and children with weak resistance, patients with chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and poor self-regulation ability should pay attention to changes in temperature and add clothes in time. Don't insist on "autumn freezing" because the stimulation of cold can cause spasm and contraction of blood vessels and bronchi, causing asthma, stroke, angina pectoris and even myocardial infarction.

2. Exercise and health preservation for the end of summer

As the saying goes, "Medicine is worse than food, and food is worse than exercise." Exercise can not only promote blood circulation and keep the body healthy, but also promote the body's metabolic capacity in a gradually decreasing temperature environment and improve the body's adaptability to low temperatures.

During the Beginning of Autumn, morning and evening are suitable for exercise. Because the weather is still quite hot at noon, it is best to avoid this time period.

Figure 3 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

Faced with many exercise programs, the choice should be based on individual differences. For example, the elderly can choose walking, jogging, Wuqinxi, Tai Chi, aerobics, Baduanjin, self-massage, etc., while young and middle-aged people can run, play ball, climb mountains, take cold showers, swim, etc. However, the amount of exercise must be moderate, and it is not advisable to sweat profusely, which will cause the yang energy to leak out. At the same time, attention should be paid to adding or removing clothes and replenishing water.

In addition to healthy living and exercise, Chinese medicine also has other special therapies, such as scraping, cupping, moxibustion, etc. Under the guidance of a professional doctor, you can choose different methods to prevent and treat diseases and stay healthy.