What is Autumn Dryness and What Are Its Symptoms
Autumn dryness is a condition that occurs when a person is affected by the pathogenic dryness in autumn. The pathogen invades through the mouth and nose, and initial symptoms include dryness of the fluids and qi, such as a dry nose and throat, a dry cough with little phlegm, and dry skin. Dryness has two different natures: one is偏向于 cold, and the other is偏向于 heat. Autumn dryness is one of the six external pathogenic factors that cause diseases. The human body is highly susceptible to invasion by the pathogenic dryness, which can injure the lungs and lead to various autumn dryness symptoms, such as a dry mouth and throat, and a dry cough with little phlegm. Clinically, it is divided into two types: "cool dryness" and "warm dryness."
Cool Dryness
This condition is caused by exposure to the cool, dry air of autumn, representing the cold aspect of autumn dryness. The initial clinical symptoms include headache, fever, aversion to cold without sweating, and nasal congestion and snoring, similar to a common cold. However, this condition also shows signs of fluid and qi dryness, such as chapped and dry lips, a persistent dry cough, chest tightness and reversed qi, stabbing pain in the ribs, dry and painful skin, and a thin, white, and dry tongue coating. These are symptoms of cold dryness resulting from the invasion of the lungs by cold and dry pathogens, which consumes the body's fluids.
Warm Dryness
This condition is caused by exposure to the hot, dry air of autumn, representing the heat aspect of autumn dryness. Clinically, it presents with initial symptoms of headache and fever, a dry cough with no phlegm, coughing up thin and sticky phlegm, wheezing and shortness of breath, a dry and sore throat, a dry nose and lips, chest tightness and rib pain, vexation and thirst, a thin, white, and dry tongue coating with a red tip and edges. These are symptoms of dry-heat resulting from the invasion of the lungs by warm and dry pathogens, which scorches the lung fluids.
Symptoms of Autumn Dryness
In recent times, many people have found that a series of annoying symptoms, such as a dry nose and throat, a dry cough with little phlegm, and dry skin, have started to bother them intermittently. These phenomena are classic signs of being affected by "autumn dryness." Autumn dryness is a condition that occurs when a person is affected by the pathogenic dryness in autumn. It is further divided into "warm dryness" and "cool dryness." The former occurs in early autumn when the weather is still hot or there has been no rain for a long time; the latter begins in late autumn when the weather turns cool. It leads to the consumption of yin fluids, causing symptoms like dry skin and fluid loss, and injures the lungs, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is referred to as the "pathogenic dryness."
1. Hoarseness
Among the symptoms of autumn dryness, the cough is the most troublesome. In fact, the mouth and throat area is the easiest place to tell if your body is dry. Those with milder symptoms may experience hoarseness, a sore throat, and mouth ulcers. Some people may cough constantly, with hoarseness and wheezing, which is particularly prone to occurring at night, making it difficult to sleep peacefully. Others with weaker constitutions may have this autumn cough persist into winter or develop into more serious conditions like chronic bronchitis.
2. Nasal Sensitivity
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, nasal sensitivity is mostly caused by lung deficiency. In autumn, nine out of ten people suffer from nasal sensitivity. The nasal mucosa is particularly prone to dryness in autumn. Once it becomes dry, if one picks their nose, the rich capillaries in the nasal mucosa can be easily damaged. The drier it is, the more frequent the nose-picking, which can eventually lead to a nosebleed. Others may experience a constant runny nose and sneezing.
3. Dry Skin
In a dry environment, the skin is especially prone to becoming dry, itchy, and even cracked. If you frequently scratch your skin, itch, or lick your lips, it means your skin has lost moisture. At this point, the most important thing is to rehydrate. Drink more water daily, and it's best to carry a moisturizing spray with you to keep your skin hydrated from time to time. You can also drink more soups that help alleviate autumn dryness.
4. Convulsions
In the dry autumn, people can fall into two extremes: those with good immunity and a cheerful disposition will sleep soundly, while others with weaker immunity may become restless and even experience convulsions. People with this phenomenon must be very careful and seek medical treatment early.
5. Dry Hair
Autumn dryness can lead to poor blood circulation, preventing blood from delivering nutrients to the hair follicles. As a result, hair can become dry, brittle, and yellow. If you notice that your hair becomes dry and falls out excessively as soon as autumn arrives, it means autumn dryness has caught up with you. At this point, you should take appropriate measures to deal with it.
6. Constipation
In autumn, excessive evaporation of moisture in the body, combined with weakened gastrointestinal function, leads many people to experience dry, hard stools. The problem of constipation can be minor or significant, and once it sets in, it can be a major source of trouble. Because it's a private issue, even seeing a doctor can be inconvenient. Therefore, to live a comfortable and normal life, it is crucial to prevent the onset of autumn dryness.