How should we “cover” in spring and “freeze” in autumn?

As the saying goes, "Keep warm in spring and cool in autumn, and you won't get sick." This means that you shouldn't rush to take off your thick clothes in spring, and you shouldn't wear too many clothes as soon as it gets cold in autumn. Keeping warm or cool appropriately is good for your health. So is there any truth to this? Let's listen to the analysis of Dr. Cao Yunsong from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine's Oriental Hospital in Jingkai District.

First of all, it should be explained that "covering in spring and freezing in autumn" is a health-preserving method that has a basis, makes sense, and can be followed. So, why do we need to "cover in spring"? Because the temperature in spring is unstable, it is sometimes hot and sometimes cold, and we need to add or remove clothes in time. Once we do not adjust our body temperature in time, we are prone to illness. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, winter is a season of "water freezing and cracking", when yang energy is dormant and yin energy is strong. In spring, the yang energy between heaven and earth and in the human body gradually rises, and a state of one rising while the other falls appears. However, do not think that you can completely take off your heavy clothes and go into battle lightly at this time, because although the weather is gradually getting warmer, the cold is still heavy, and the yang energy of the human body has not recovered immediately. It is a state of "yang energy is born but not strong, and yin energy is declining but not retreating", so the ability to resist cold is still insufficient. Therefore, if you suddenly take off your warm clothes at this time, coupled with the sudden drop in temperature in spring, it is easy to catch a cold, and then you will have colds, coughs, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other diseases. Therefore, don't rush to take off your warm clothes in spring. Wait until the temperature stabilizes and flowers bloom, then gradually reduce your clothes. In this way, the temperature between heaven and earth will be more suitable, and the yang energy of the human body will gradually rise and fill up. Therefore, "covering up in spring" helps to drive away the cold, keep warm, maintain health and prevent diseases.

What is "autumn freezing"? Autumn is the transitional stage between summer and winter. The weather changes from hot to cold, but the temperature does not drop completely. Instead, it often rises. For example, the well-known "autumn tiger" makes us feel hot in autumn, such as dry nose, dry mouth, dry stool, etc. At this time, the Yang Qi of the human body gradually begins to converge, lurking downward and inward, creating conditions for the hiding of Yang Qi in winter. Therefore, this time belongs to "Yang Qi is reduced but not weak, Yin Qi is generated but not strong", so if you feel a little cold, you will put on thick clothes and keep too warm, which will make the Yang Qi of the human body too strong and cannot converge and descend smoothly, and Yin Qi cannot be well transformed and nourished. Therefore, when Yang Qi converges and Yin Qi grows, it is appropriate to keep the body in a cool state and accept some cold stimulation. On the one hand, it can conform to the transformation of natural Qi and the Yin and Yang Qi of the human body, and on the other hand, it can enhance the body's cold resistance and the resistance of the skin. Therefore, "autumn freezing" is also in line with the way of keeping in good health. But how to "freeze"?

If the temperature has not dropped in the early autumn, wearing thick clothes too early is actually against the laws of nature and human functions, and it will not enhance the body's ability to resist cold. In autumn, you should gradually add clothes according to the temperature. When the weather is just getting cold, you should add clothes to the extent that you can bear the cold. Don't wear thick clothes too early because you feel warm. You should also pay attention to exercise. Proper exercise can help improve the body's ability to resist cold and enhance immunity. However, you should still add clothes after the temperature drops significantly to prevent the occurrence of diseases.

It should be noted that "autumn freezing" is not suitable for everyone. One reason is that the regional environment and climate vary greatly, and the other is that the physical fitness of different individuals is different. Generally, the elderly and children have poor resistance and are not suitable for autumn freezing; people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and respiratory diseases are not suitable for autumn freezing; people with weak constitutions, gastrointestinal diseases and bone and joint diseases are also not suitable for autumn freezing. Under normal circumstances, when the ambient temperature is between 18℃ and 25℃, the human body feels more comfortable. When "covering in spring and freezing in autumn", people need to pay attention to clothing, food, housing and transportation, and correctly master the way of health preservation. Eat a combination of meat and vegetables, exercise appropriately, and maintain a good attitude, so healthy people must also pay attention to "freezing" moderately. Conform to the qi of heaven and earth, the order of the four seasons, and understand the changes of yin and yang in the human body, which is in line with the way of health preservation.