In summer, nourishing Yang is not about supplementing

Yang nourishment in spring and summer is one of the principles of TCM health preservation according to the season. It means that in spring and summer, the Yang energy in nature rises, and health practitioners should nourish it in accordance with the season and protect the Yang energy in the body to keep it abundant. At this time, any situation that consumes Yang energy or hinders the smooth flow of Yang energy should be avoided.

According to the law of alternation of yin and yang in nature, Suwen: The Great Treatise on the Four Qi and the Regulation of the Spirit proposes the health-preserving method of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter". In spring and summer, nourishing yang helps the qi of growth; in autumn and winter, nourishing yin helps the qi of storage. Nourishing means providing for, and this health-preserving concept is the embodiment of the idea of ​​"harmony between man and nature". Only when people provide the yin essence or yang qi needed by the human body according to the characteristics of seasonal changes, can the life process be like the biological organisms in nature, following the law of growth, transformation and storage, and enjoy a long life.

Symptoms of insufficient Yang Qi According to traditional Chinese medicine, Yang Qi has the functions of defense, warmth, promotion, consolidation and gasification. Yang Qi is like the sun. The sun is warm, and people can only feel warm if they have Yang Qi. If Yang Qi is insufficient, the body's ability to resist cold will decrease, resulting in a yang deficiency constitution characterized by "cold" symptoms.

The main manifestations of yang deficiency are fear of cold, cold hands and feet, etc. Other manifestations often include lack of energy, depression, decreased physical strength; preference for hot food, diarrhea easily occurs when eating cold food, the body's resistance is weak, and it is easy to catch a cold if exposed to cold.

If we break it down to the physiological functions of the internal organs affected, for example, if it affects the spleen's function of transportation and transformation, and the accumulation of cold, dampness and water, there may be excessive phlegm, indigestion, and loose stools; if it affects the kidneys, there may be clear and long urination, frequent urination at night, cold and pain in the waist, and decreased libido; in women, it may lead to blood stasis, delayed menstruation, dysmenorrhea, etc.

Why is cold diarrhea more common in summer when the Yang is strong? In summer, the sun shines directly on the ground, the temperature rises, the Yang is strong between heaven and earth, and the nature is booming. However, in summer, the days are long and the nights are short, and people's activities increase, which consumes more Yang. In addition, people drink too much to cool off, avoid heat and seek cold, which also consumes some Yang. Therefore, in terms of the balance of Yin and Yang, more Yang is consumed in summer, and less Yin is consumed. In hot weather, people only know how to replenish water (including beverages, fruits, etc.), but do not know how to protect Yang, which is how cold diarrhea in summer occurs.

This principle seems simple, but it is often overlooked. Therefore, ancient philosophers reminded future generations to pay attention to nurturing yang energy in spring and summer.

We all know that nourishing yang is not about supplementing it. In autumn and winter, nourishing yin mainly means paying attention to nutrition and eating some nourishing foods appropriately. In spring and summer, should we also eat some warming foods appropriately to nourish yang?

This is obviously wrong. Yang Qi is to be nourished, not supplemented. If Yang Qi is not deficient, but is supplemented, it is easy to show symptoms of excessive Yang Qi. In summer, nourishing Yang Qi is not only to make the insufficient Yang Qi more abundant, but also to make the function of Yang Qi more active. So, how to maintain Yang Qi in summer?

1. To nourish Yang in spring and summer, the first thing to do is not to be greedy for coolness. Spring and summer are the seasons for the growth of Yang. We should follow the growth of Yang and not consume it at will. Whether it is the hot summer or the warm and cold spring, being greedy for coolness is a Yin evil. The warm climate in spring and summer, after the skin opens, although it is conducive to heat dissipation and cooling, it also gives Yin and cold evil more opportunities.

2. In spring and summer, nourishing Yang is the second step to sweating. Chinese medicine believes that "wetness is a Yin evil, and its nature is sticky." In summer, the evil of heat and dampness is obvious. At this time, you often sweat profusely when working, and you feel tired but relaxed and comfortable. This is because sweating is also a way to remove moisture, so that Yang Qi can be better dissipated, which is also nourishing Yang. To this end, you can choose a suitable exercise method according to your personal physical condition, such as running, swimming, playing ball, outdoor hiking and mountain climbing, etc. You can also eat some ginger or chili in moderation to disperse the damp and cold air on the body surface and in the gastrointestinal tract. You can also bask in the sun appropriately to replenish the Yang of the human body with the Yang of the sky. At 9-10 am and 4-5 pm, bask in the sun on your back (Du Meridian) for 10-15 minutes. It is especially suitable for the elderly, children, and those who are weak and afraid of cold.

3. To nourish Yang in spring and summer, control the use of air conditioners and cold drinks. The most popular thing in summer is to use air conditioning, but if you stay in an air-conditioned room all the time and the temperature is too low, your skin will be blocked and you will hardly sweat. The dampness and cold in your body cannot be discharged, which will also damage the body's Yang.

Eating cold drinks in summer is also an indispensable way for modern people to prevent heatstroke. From the perspective of nourishing yang, cold drinks are not suitable for nourishing yang, especially excessive and large amounts of cold drinks, which are more likely to directly damage yang, which is also something that needs to be paid attention to when nourishing yang.

4. Nourish Yang in spring and summer, and take a proper nap. According to the principle of health preservation in four seasons, you should "sleep at night and get up early" in spring and summer, especially in summer, you should "never get tired of the day", which is a better way to nourish Yang.

Therefore, in spring and summer, you can go to bed a little later at night, but you must insist on getting up early and never feel lazy. At the same time, according to the health theory of "Ziwu Liuzhu", you can take a short nap at noon. A nap should not exceed 1 hour as a principle. It is more conducive to maintaining Yang Qi and promoting the harmony of Yin and Yang.

At the same time, you should keep a happy mood and be full of energy, avoid anger and depression, and make your mood conform to the growth of all things.

Taking advantage of the summer heat, there are many ways to protect Yang Qi. 1. Medicinal compress. Taking advantage of the hot weather during the dog days, apply pungent and warm, expectorant, relieving, menstrual and asthma-promoting drugs to warm Yang and benefit Qi, dispel the internal cold evil, normalize the rise and fall of lung Qi, warm the spleen and kidney, enhance the body's disease resistance, and prevent and cure diseases. For people with tracheitis, emphysema and asthma, applying plasters after the summer solstice is an external treatment method of nourishing Yang in spring and summer (treating winter diseases in summer).

2. Moxibustion. It is a good way to nourish Yang Qi, which can protect Yang Qi and dispel evil cold. Shenshu point, Yaoyangguan point, Zhiyang point and Dazhui point of Du Meridian are all important points for nourishing and protecting Yang. Each point should be moxibustioned for 15 minutes each time, and the temperature should be warm enough to feel warm.

3. Acupoint massage. Kidney yang is the source of human yang energy, which is easily damaged and difficult to recover. Massaging the Qihai, Zusanli, and Yongquan points can help yang. Press twice a day, 5 minutes per point, until you feel sore.

4. Soak your feet. Soak your feet in warm salt water for 30 minutes before going to bed. If you have time, you can use a handful of mugwort leaves, 30 peppercorns, 10g cinnamon, and 15g calamus. Boil them to a suitable temperature and soak your feet for 30 minutes to help warm the meridians and drive away the cold.