In midsummer, have you been afflicted with "Yin Shu" (Summer Heat Yin)?
Introduction: Yin Shu, in contrast to heatstroke (i.e., Yang Shu), is contracted "in repose." It refers to a condition caused by excessive exposure to wind and cold while seeking relief from summer heat, or from overindulgence in cold drinks, which weakens the body's internal energy. This allows the pathogenic factors of summer heat, wind, and cold to invade the body, leading to illness. The main symptoms of Yin Shu include fever with aversion to cold, absence of sweat, heavy body and pain, lassitude and fatigue, pale tongue with a thin yellow coating, and a wiry and thin pulse.
As the scorching heat arrives, while people actively prevent heatstroke, they should also guard against Yin Shu. However, when it comes to Yin Shu, many people are quite unfamiliar with it.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the primary cause of Yin Shu is the invasion of the body by pathogenic wind, cold, and dampness. It often occurs during seasonal transitions due to excessive indulgence in coolness. If one avoids heat and seeks coolness too aggressively, it can lead to the invasion of wind, cold, and dampness, triggering "Yin Shu."
Because summer is hot and humid, people's pores are open and their skin texture is loose. During sleep, lunch breaks, or while cooling off, if one avoids heat and seeks coolness too aggressively—such as sleeping outdoors at night, sitting or lying in cold and damp places, staying in the shade of a tree, a pavilion by the water, or on a balcony for too long, immediately pouring cold water over the head and body after exercise or labor, quickly consuming large amounts of cold water or iced drinks, or sleeping under a strong electric fan wind—it can allow pathogenic wind, cold, and dampness to invade the body and cause Yin Shu.
Expert advice:
Drink plenty of water. In your diet, often consume congee, vegetable soups, fruits, and other foods that clear heat, generate fluids, and nourish yin. Avoid or eat less spicy, drying, greasy foods, and drink less alcohol. Additionally, the gastrointestinal tract is very sensitive to the stimulation of cold, and fluctuating temperatures are most likely to cause digestive discomfort. Therefore, we remind you to pay special attention to keeping your stomach warm as the weather turns from hot to cool, and avoid eating too many raw or cold foods in your diet to prevent stomach pain.
For patients, it is recommended to drink more ginger and brown sugar water. Absolutely do not drink iced mung bean soup, as this would be "adding frost to snow." Alternatively, one can take Si Ni Tang (Decoction for Restoring Collapse) with Amomi Fructus under the guidance of a specialist doctor, which generally shows effects after 3 to 5 days of use. Furthermore, people should not stay in the shade of a tree or on a balcony for too long, avoid quickly drinking large amounts of cold water or iced beverages, and not sleep under a strong electric fan wind.