How to maintain health during the Grain Rain season

"Poplar catkins and willow catkins dance in the wind, rain brings birth to crops and summer is approaching." At this time of year, willow catkins fall, cuckoos cry at night, peonies bloom, and cherries ripen. It is the best time for all things to grow.

Looking back at the late spring, have you ever let the spring go to waste? Catch the tail of spring and enjoy the beauty of spring again.

Origin of the Grain Rain Solar Term

During the Grain Rain season, in southern China, "the poplar flowers have all fallen, the cuckoos are crying", willow catkins are flying, the cuckoos are crying at night, the peonies are blooming, and the cherries are ripe. The natural scenery tells people that it is late spring.

At this time, the temperature in the south rises rapidly. In general, the average temperature in late April, except for the northern and western parts of South China, has reached 20℃ to 22℃, which is more than 2℃ higher than the middle of the month. In the eastern part of South China, there are often one or two days with a high temperature of more than 30℃, which makes people begin to feel hot. The low-altitude river valley area has also entered summer.

In ancient China, Grain Rain was divided into three stages: "The first stage is when duckweed begins to grow; the second stage is when cuckoos flap their feathers; the third stage is when hoopoes descend on mulberry trees." This means that after Grain Rain, rainfall increases, duckweed begins to grow, then cuckoos begin to remind people to sow seeds, and finally hoopoes begin to be seen on mulberry trees.

During the Grain Rain solar term, the high-altitude westerly jet stream in East Asia will weaken significantly and move northward again, the warm and humid air mass in South China will be relatively active, the westerly belt will circulate frequently from west to east, and the low pressure and Jianghuai cyclone activities will gradually increase. Under its influence, Jianghuai region will experience continuous rain or strong winds and heavy rain.

Grain Rain is the last solar term in spring. At this time, the seedlings in the fields are first planted and the crops are newly planted, which need rain the most. That is why it is said that "spring rain is as precious as oil."

How to maintain health during Grain Rain

1. Body: Prevent "dampness" from harming the body

Medical experts say that after the Grain Rain solar term, the humidity in the air gradually increases, which is the peak period for neuralgia, so it is necessary to prevent "evil dampness" from invading and harming the body. Pay attention to opening windows for ventilation, keep warm, avoid catching cold, get more sun, and exercise appropriately. If "evil dampness" has already invaded, you can add some water-removing foods to your daily diet, such as corn, Poria cocos, winter melon, and coix seed.

2. Food: Strengthening the spleen is the key

After Grain Rain, spring is about to pass. At this time, the liver qi is dormant and the heart qi is gradually vigorous. It is a good time to nourish the body. You should eat blood and qi nourishing foods in time, but not as much as in winter. The ancients said that "you can't eat spleen in all seasons". You should eat some liver and kidney nourishing foods according to your personal constitution. You can also eat more spleen and stomach strengthening and dehumidifying foods, such as Chinese toon, black beans, coix seeds, yam, crucian carp, etc., to lay the foundation for a safe summer.

3. Prevention: Avoid contact with allergens

During the Grain Rain season, there are strong winds and lots of sand. You should try to avoid outdoor activities in dusty weather. When going out, choose a time when dust is lighter and wear a mask or a scarf to cover your head. Drink plenty of water and eat more lung-clearing and lung-moistening foods. In addition, before and after the Grain Rain season, poplar and willow catkins dance in the wind, which can easily cause symptoms such as nasal itching, nasal congestion, coughing, and skin allergies. You should also take good protection when doing outdoor activities.

4. Home: Small exercises to maintain health

Rub the wings of the nose with cold water: There are more flying catkins around the time of Grain Rain. Washing your nose and rubbing the wings of the nose with cold water in the morning and evening can help relieve allergies.

Press and rub the dampness-removing acupoints: The humidity is high during the Grain Rain season. Pressing and rubbing the Yinlingquan acupoint, which is located on the inner side of the calf and in the depression on the inner side of the tibia below the knee, can strengthen the spleen and remove dampness.