[Health Preservation during the 24 Solar Terms] Summer Solstice is good for nourishing yang, removing dampness and protecting the spleen and stomach

Summer Solstice, one of the 24 solar terms, is also the fourth solar term in summer. The 2023 Summer Solstice starts on June 21 (the fourth day of the fifth lunar month). On the day of Summer Solstice, the sun reaches the northernmost point of the year, the day is the longest, and the night is the shortest, hence the name "Summer Solstice". "Collected Explanations of the 72 Solar Terms in the Lunar Calendar" says: "In the middle of May, summer means temporary. Zhi means extreme, and all things are temporary and extreme at this time." Summer means great, and Zhi means extreme. All things grow and flourish to the extreme, and the Yang energy also reaches its extreme.

The summer solstice is the beginning of midsummer, and the weather is hot, especially with dampness. Dampness and heat combine to damage the spleen and stomach. In addition to fatigue and heat, people may also experience heavy head, drowsiness, chest tightness, poor appetite, fatigue, and loss of appetite. The summer solstice is the time when the yang energy is at its peak. At this time, the yang energy of the human body is strong outside, gathering on the surface of the body and dispersing outward, while the yang energy in the body is relatively less. Therefore, health preservation during the summer solstice should pay attention to nourishing yang in time, strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, and protecting the spleen and stomach.

Summer Solstice Yin Sheng

Follow the seasons to nourish yang. During the summer solstice, the days are long and the nights are short. Yang is at its peak and Yin is just beginning. We should follow the Yang and protect Yin, and have a proper work and rest schedule. The Suwen: The Great Theory of the Four Qis to Regulate the Spirit states: "In the three months of summer, sleep late and get up early, without getting tired of the sun." At this time, it is better to go to bed late and get up early, go to bed later to conform to the natural deficiency of Yin, and get up earlier to conform to the abundance of Yang. We should take a proper nap at noon. Noon (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) is the time of the day when Yang is at its peak and Yin is just beginning. Taking a nap at noon can nourish Yin and protect Yang, and balance Yin and Yang. The nap time is generally half an hour to an hour.

For physical exercise, it is best to do it in the early morning or evening when the weather is cool and the air is fresh. Especially for the elderly, it is not advisable to do too strenuous exercise, let alone over-exerting, otherwise sweating profusely, excessive sweating will damage the yin and also easily damage the yang.

Remove dampness, strengthen the spleen and protect the spleen and stomach

During the summer solstice, the weather is relatively humid and hot, and the human body's digestive function is relatively weak. In order to meet the needs of the body's metabolism and enhance the body's immunity, the diet should focus on clearing away summer heat, removing dampness and strengthening the spleen. It is better to eat bitter and sour food, not fat, sweet and heavy taste. You can eat whole grains, but don't eat too much hot food. As pointed out in the "Health Mirror": "Summer is the time when people are in high spirits. At this time, the heart is strong and liquefied into water. Regardless of age, everyone should eat warm food and stay alone to recuperate." Green leafy vegetables and fruits are good choices, but you should be careful not to be greedy for coolness. People with weak spleen and stomach should choose seasonal fruits at room temperature to avoid hindering the spleen and hurting the stomach. You can eat light and yin-nourishing foods that are easy to digest, such as duck meat, crucian carp, and lean meat; eat more bitter seasonal vegetables, such as bitter melon and lettuce, and avoid fat, sweet, heavy taste and dry and hot foods. You can also drink porridge often, such as mung bean porridge, barley porridge, lentil porridge, lotus leaf porridge, and mint porridge, which can nourish the stomach and spleen, promote the digestion of the spleen and stomach, and prevent dampness from stagnating and damaging the spleen and stomach. At this time, you should also pay attention to summer food hygiene, buy fresh ingredients, wash them thoroughly, keep cooking utensils and tableware clean, and use cooking utensils for raw and cooked foods separately to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.

Summer is here, cool down with tea

1. Three Fresh Tea [Ingredients] 10g each of fresh leixiang and fresh peony root, 20g of fresh mint. [Preparation] Chop the above herbs, decoct them slightly or brew them with boiling water as tea. [Effects] Relieve heat and clear away heat, remove turbidity with fragrance, and harmonize the stomach and relieve the symptoms. [Indications] Colds in summer, heatstroke, headaches and nasal congestion, poor appetite, nausea and diarrhea. [Comments] All three herbs in the recipe are fresh. Fresh patchouli and fresh peony root can clear away heat and dampness, harmonize the stomach and relieve the symptoms. They are commonly used herbs for relieving symptoms and clearing away heat in summer. When combined with mint, the tea can enhance its functions of dispersing evil spirits, clearing away heat and removing wind.

2. Lotus leaf and lotus stem tea [Ingredients] 10g lotus leaf, 15g lotus stem. [Preparation] Wash and shred the lotus leaf and lotus stem, and brew with boiling water. [Effects] Relieve heat and relieve chest tightness, promote fluid production and quench thirst. [Indications] Prevent heatstroke, thirst caused by damp heat, chest tightness, etc. [Notes] Lotus leaf tastes bitter and astringent, and is neutral in nature. It mainly clears away heat and relieves heat, promotes the clear yang, and cools blood and stops bleeding. "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that it: "It generates vital energy, helps the spleen and stomach, astringes turbid essence, disperses blood stasis, eliminates edema, painful swelling, and causes acne. It treats vomiting blood, hemoptysis, epistaxis, bleeding, hematuria, hematuria, metrorrhagia, postpartum blood, and blood loss caused by injury." Lotus stem tastes slightly bitter, is neutral in nature, enters the liver, spleen, and stomach meridians, clears away heat, relieves the middle and regulates qi, and is used for dizziness, chest tightness, and qi stagnation caused by heatstroke. "Bencao Zaixin" says: "It can relieve heat and clear the heart." Lotus leaves and lotus stems have the same origin and function, and both can relieve heat. When used together, they are more effective in relieving heat. People with weak constitutions should not take it, and should not take it with tung oil, Poria cocos, or silver.

Author: Bai Hua: Deputy Chief Physician of General Internal Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Oriental Hospital, Economic Development Zone Branch