Summer Health Preservation: What You Need to Do
Every year on May 5th or 6th, when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 45°, it is the time of the Lixia (Start of Summer) solar term. Since ancient times, China has customarily regarded Lixia as the beginning of summer. After Lixia, temperatures across the country rise noticeably, with many places exceeding 30°C. In this gradually warming season of Lixia, how do we practice health preservation? Here are a few key points to keep in mind for Lixia health preservation.
Summer Health Preservation: Early to Bed, Early to Rise
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), "the summer qi corresponds to the heart qi." For Lixia health preservation, it is important to go to bed early and wake up early, emphasizing "quiet nourishment." Avoid excessive sweating after exercise, as "sweating damages the yang." In terms of dietary conditioning, the principle should be to "increase sourness, reduce bitterness, nourish the kidneys to support the liver, and regulate the stomach qi." The diet should be light, with more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Before getting up, you can do a few small movements to enhance physical fitness, promoting longevity and health preservation according to TCM.
Summer Health Preservation: A Light Diet
After Lixia, as temperatures gradually climb, people tend to become irritable and "overheated" (a concept in TCM), and their appetite may also decrease. The dietary principle for Lixia is "nourish the yang in spring and summer." Nourishing the yang focuses on nourishing the heart. To nourish the heart, you can drink more milk, eat more soy products, chicken, and lean meat, which can both supplement nutrition and strengthen the heart. The principle of "increasing sourness, reducing bitterness, nourishing the kidneys to support the liver, and regulating the stomach qi" should be followed. The diet should be light, focusing on easily digestible and vitamin-rich foods, and you should eat less of large fish, meat, greasy, and spicy foods. Adding mung beans, lotus seeds, lotus leaves, reed rhizome, and hyacinth beans to japonica rice to make a congee, which is then cooled and eaten, can also help strengthen the stomach and dispel summer heat. Eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains daily can increase the supply of dietary fiber, vitamins B and C, and help prevent arteriosclerosis.
Summer Health Preservation: Mental and Spiritual Well-being
Health experts remind us that after Lixia, the weather turns hot, and the mind can be easily disturbed, leading to a state of mental unease. Therefore, during this season, people should pay special attention to mental conditioning and strengthen the care of the heart, especially for the elderly who should not overexert themselves. They should maintain a pleasant mood, be content and happy, and avoid excessive joy that can harm the heart, maintaining a clear and peaceful state of mind.
Summer Health Preservation: Nourishing with Food to Cool the Blood
After Lixia, "heat in the blood" can cause many discomforts, and qi deficiency with heat in the blood can affect a person's digestive function. Therefore, do not overeat at any meal, leaving enough room for the stomach to move. This allows the body to be relaxed and natural. This summer, pay attention to cooling the blood and supplementing qi, as well as going to bed early and waking up early. This is a season for the body to store yang energy and strive for great harvests in terms of health.
Summer Health Preservation: Avoiding Excessive Cold
For most people, especially those with joint problems, it is advisable to avoid excessive cold during the summer and to avoid or use air conditioners and fans moderately. In the workplace, you should inform colleagues of your condition to gain their understanding and try to avoid using air conditioning or adjust the temperature to a higher setting if necessary. It is best to always keep a long-sleeved shirt on hand to add or remove clothing as the external environment changes.
Summer Health Preservation: Guarding Against External Illnesses
During the Lixia solar term, people often wear light clothes and thin quilts. Even healthy individuals should be cautious about catching external illnesses. If you do get sick, do not轻易 use diaphoretic agents (medicines that induce sweating), to avoid excessive sweating which can harm the heart and prevent blood stasis, in order to prevent heart attacks. Therefore, during the Lixia season, it is best to be cheerful and happy, and avoid excessive joy that can harm the heart. In the morning, you can eat a small amount of scallions, and in the evening, it is advisable to drink a small amount of red wine to promote the smooth flow of qi and blood.