Key Summer Health Tips to Keep in Mind
Key Summer Health Tips to Keep in Mind
Summer is the season of abundant yang energy and vigorous metabolism in the human body. So, how should people take care of their health and prevent illnesses during the scorching summer?
Two Vital Strategies for Summer Health
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the harmony between humans and nature, meaning that the body should adapt to the changing natural environment and seasonal climate. Since summer is characterized by hot and humid weather, according to traditional Chinese medicine principles, the two key strategies for summer health are "keeping things clean" and "protecting against dampness."
Keeping Things Clean
Maintain a Peaceful Mind: The intense summer heat can make people feel irritable and restless. Therefore, it's crucial to calm your thoughts and maintain a peaceful and clear mind. Avoid getting excessively angry, as this can lead to internal heat accumulation. A serene and balanced mindset helps prevent negative emotions like anxiety and tension, which can contribute to various illnesses.
Opt for Light and Digestible Foods: In summer, the body's yang energy tends to move outward and upward, which can weaken the internal organs. Therefore, opt for a diet that is light, soft, and easy to digest, and reduce consumption of fatty, sweet, and spicy foods. Incorporate fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet, which not only provide essential nutrients but also help prevent heat-related illnesses. Consume foods like vegetable porridge, lotus seed porridge, or other easily digestible options. Additionally, consider drinking refreshing beverages like plum juice or chrysanthemum tea.
Maintain a Cool Living Environment: Proper ventilation and air circulation in your living space are essential. Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to flow through. During midday when outdoor temperatures are higher than indoors, keep doors and windows closed and draw the curtains. Maintain a comfortable level of humidity and create a cool, shaded environment to promote tranquility.
Protecting Against Dampness
Another significant characteristic of summer weather is humidity. According to traditional Chinese medicine, humidity dominates during the long summer season, which includes hot and rainy weather. The high humidity, combined with factors like sweating, getting wet in the rain, or residing in a damp environment, can lead to various health issues caused by exposure to dampness. Dampness is considered a yin pathogen that can harm the body's yang energy. It has a heavy, turbid, and sticky nature, making it prone to obstructing the body's vital energy circulation, resulting in lingering and challenging-to-treat illnesses.
To prevent dampness-related health problems during the rainy season, it's essential to keep your living space well-ventilated and dry. When clothes or bedding become damp, make sure to dry them thoroughly. Avoid consuming excessively oily or cold foods to prevent the development of internal dampness. Consider incorporating dampness-resolving foods into your diet, such as coix seed and Job's tears porridge.
Summer Health Precautions
Prevent Colds and Digestive Issues: Summer colds are often caused by exposure to extreme heat or consumption of excessively cold foods. Therefore, it's common to experience loss of appetite and digestive issues during the summer. Since the body expends more energy during this season, the digestive system works harder to absorb nutrients. Excessive consumption of cold beverages and melons can damage the spleen and stomach, which may lead to digestive problems or diarrhea. Avoid overindulging in cold foods, especially cold drinks and melons. Instead, consume ginger, which can help invigorate the spleen.
Summer Treatment for Winter Illnesses: "Treating winter illnesses in summer" is an important concept in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves applying medicines to specific acupoints on the body during the high-temperature summer season to boost the body's positive energy and enhance its disease resistance. This approach is based on the principles outlined in the ancient Chinese medical text "Huangdi Neijing," which recommends taking advantage of the abundance of yang energy during summer to address chronic conditions that tend to worsen in the winter. Common winter illnesses that may benefit from summer treatment include bronchitis, asthma, rheumatism, and conditions related to spleen and stomach deficiencies.
In summary, following these principles of "keeping things clean" and "protecting against dampness" and being mindful of summer health precautions can help you stay healthy and enjoy the summer season to the fullest.
Summer is the season of abundant yang energy and vigorous metabolism in the human body. So, how should people take care of their health and prevent illnesses during the scorching summer?
Two Vital Strategies for Summer Health
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the harmony between humans and nature, meaning that the body should adapt to the changing natural environment and seasonal climate. Since summer is characterized by hot and humid weather, according to traditional Chinese medicine principles, the two key strategies for summer health are "keeping things clean" and "protecting against dampness."
Keeping Things Clean
Maintain a Peaceful Mind: The intense summer heat can make people feel irritable and restless. Therefore, it's crucial to calm your thoughts and maintain a peaceful and clear mind. Avoid getting excessively angry, as this can lead to internal heat accumulation. A serene and balanced mindset helps prevent negative emotions like anxiety and tension, which can contribute to various illnesses.
Opt for Light and Digestible Foods: In summer, the body's yang energy tends to move outward and upward, which can weaken the internal organs. Therefore, opt for a diet that is light, soft, and easy to digest, and reduce consumption of fatty, sweet, and spicy foods. Incorporate fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet, which not only provide essential nutrients but also help prevent heat-related illnesses. Consume foods like vegetable porridge, lotus seed porridge, or other easily digestible options. Additionally, consider drinking refreshing beverages like plum juice or chrysanthemum tea.
Maintain a Cool Living Environment: Proper ventilation and air circulation in your living space are essential. Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to flow through. During midday when outdoor temperatures are higher than indoors, keep doors and windows closed and draw the curtains. Maintain a comfortable level of humidity and create a cool, shaded environment to promote tranquility.
Protecting Against Dampness
Another significant characteristic of summer weather is humidity. According to traditional Chinese medicine, humidity dominates during the long summer season, which includes hot and rainy weather. The high humidity, combined with factors like sweating, getting wet in the rain, or residing in a damp environment, can lead to various health issues caused by exposure to dampness. Dampness is considered a yin pathogen that can harm the body's yang energy. It has a heavy, turbid, and sticky nature, making it prone to obstructing the body's vital energy circulation, resulting in lingering and challenging-to-treat illnesses.
To prevent dampness-related health problems during the rainy season, it's essential to keep your living space well-ventilated and dry. When clothes or bedding become damp, make sure to dry them thoroughly. Avoid consuming excessively oily or cold foods to prevent the development of internal dampness. Consider incorporating dampness-resolving foods into your diet, such as coix seed and Job's tears porridge.
Summer Health Precautions
Prevent Colds and Digestive Issues: Summer colds are often caused by exposure to extreme heat or consumption of excessively cold foods. Therefore, it's common to experience loss of appetite and digestive issues during the summer. Since the body expends more energy during this season, the digestive system works harder to absorb nutrients. Excessive consumption of cold beverages and melons can damage the spleen and stomach, which may lead to digestive problems or diarrhea. Avoid overindulging in cold foods, especially cold drinks and melons. Instead, consume ginger, which can help invigorate the spleen.
Summer Treatment for Winter Illnesses: "Treating winter illnesses in summer" is an important concept in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves applying medicines to specific acupoints on the body during the high-temperature summer season to boost the body's positive energy and enhance its disease resistance. This approach is based on the principles outlined in the ancient Chinese medical text "Huangdi Neijing," which recommends taking advantage of the abundance of yang energy during summer to address chronic conditions that tend to worsen in the winter. Common winter illnesses that may benefit from summer treatment include bronchitis, asthma, rheumatism, and conditions related to spleen and stomach deficiencies.
In summary, following these principles of "keeping things clean" and "protecting against dampness" and being mindful of summer health precautions can help you stay healthy and enjoy the summer season to the fullest.
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