A Brief Overview of Key Principles for Summer Health Preservation
Summer is the season of peak Yang energy, characterized by hot weather and vibrant vitality. It is a time of heightened metabolism, with Yang energy manifesting externally while Yin energy remains latent within. The circulation of Qi and blood consequently becomes more robust, active on the body's surface. The focus of summer health preservation is on mental and emotional regulation. Maintaining a pleasant and stable mood is crucial; avoid extreme emotions of great sorrow or joy, as this would add heat to the already hot condition, fueling the fire. As the saying goes, "A calm mind brings its own coolness," achieving a state of tranquility is the key to preserving health.
All things in the universe follow the natural law of "spring birth, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage." For people to be healthy and live long, they should naturally "align with the heavens and follow the seasons," adhering to this rhythm. Whether one strives for "harmony between humanity and nature" is a matter of perspective. If one rejects this concept and insists on defying nature, acting against the natural order, is it possible? The answer is no! Because no matter how capable a person is, they cannot change the "natural attributes" of the human body. The 60 trillion cells that make up the human body have followed the law of "spring birth, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage" since evolving from "apes" to "humans" six million years ago. Although modern technology is highly advanced and can partially alter human metabolism, it is still impossible to change the fundamental life laws for most people.
Key Points for Summer Health Preservation
Illnesses contracted in the summer often manifest immediately, hence the saying, "The debt of the sixth month is repaid quickly." However, one type of illness can be latent, only to flare up in the autumn, and if it extends into winter, it becomes very severe. This is the "heart disease" mentioned in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor). It states, "This is the response corresponding to the summer season, the way of nourishing growth. To go against it injures the heart. In autumn, this leads to intermittent fever, and in winter, to serious illness." It must be clarified that this "heart disease" does not refer to cardiovascular diseases in modern medicine, but rather to illnesses related to the "spirit and emotions" (in ancient texts, "heart" is equivalent to what we today call the "mind" or "spirit"). According to the Five Elements theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is a time of "flourishing Fire (the heart dominates in summer, and the heart-fire is strong), Earth is in its supportive phase (the spleen and stomach are in a state of 'prosperity'), Wood is at rest (the liver is in a relative state of 'rest'), Water is imprisoned (the kidneys are prone to 'deficiency'), and Metal is dying (the lungs are prone to 'emptiness')." When the heart's "Fire" becomes too "strong," it "overcomes Metal," which can easily lead to "deficiency in the Lungs (Metal)." Normally, "Water (Kidneys)" should control "Fire (Heart)," but when the "Heart Fire" is very "strong," a "counter-attack" of "Fire" on "Water" can occur, making the "Kidney Water" prone to "deficiency." For the average person, it is easy to accept the need to prevent "lung and kidney deficiency" in the summer, but they often neglect the importance of giving special care to the "heart," which is in a very "strong" state.
Four Principles for Summer Health Preservation
First, invigorate the spleen and eliminate dampness. Dampness is a major pathogenic factor in summer. Coupled with the weakened function of the spleen and stomach, people often experience poor appetite, loose stools, and a white, greasy coating on the tongue. Therefore, it is advisable to consume substances that strengthen the spleen and promote dampness elimination. Common choices are aromatic herbs that transform dampness and light,渗湿 (shèn shī) herbs that drain dampness, such as Agastache rugosa (Huoxiang), lotus seeds (Lianzi), and Eupatorium fortunei (Peilan).
Second, clear heat and eliminate summer heat. Summer temperatures are high, and heat pathogens are rampant. The body's heart-fire is also strong, so it is common to use herbs with the effects of clearing heat, resolving toxicity, and cooling the heart-fire to dispel summer heat. These include Chrysanthemum (Juhua), Mint (Bohe), Honeysuckle (Jinyinhua), Forsythia (Lianqiao), and Lotus Leaf (Heye).
Third, nourish the lungs and kidneys. Traditional Chinese Medicine posits that according to the Five Elements cycle, in summer, the heart-fire flourishes while the lung-metal and kidney-water decline. Therefore, it is important to nourish the Yin of the lungs and kidneys. One can use Goji berries (Gouqizi), Rehmannia root (Shengdi), Lily bulb (Baihe), Mulberry fruit (Sangshen), and astringent herbs to secure the lung Qi, such as Schisandra berries (Wuweizi), to prevent excessive sweating from draining the body's fluids and energy.
Fourth, treat winter diseases in summer. The concept of "treating winter diseases in summer" means that during summer, when the body's and the environment's Yang energy are abundant, one can use oral Chinese medicine in combination with external treatments like acupuncture to treat diseases that commonly occur in winter. For example, frequently rubbing frostbite-prone areas with fresh sesame flowers can prevent chilblains in winter. Applying medicinal plasters to acupoints can treat winter asthma and rhinitis.