"Spring Covering" dressing should be thicker on the bottom and thinner on top
"Spring Covering" is a traditional principle of health preservation. As the saying goes, "A year's plan starts with spring." Only by mastering the methods of spring health preservation can one lay a solid foundation for health in the new year. "Spring Covering" means that when the weather just starts to warm in spring, you should not take off your heavy coats too early. Instead, you should allow your body's regulation of heat production and dissipation to remain in a relative balance with the environmental temperature of winter.
When transitioning from winter to early spring, the weather is unpredictable, with temperatures fluctuating greatly. As the saying goes, "Spring is like a child's face; it can change three times in a single day." Taking off heavy coats too early can subject your nervous system and thermoregulatory center to a sudden cold snap, leaving them unprepared and struggling to adapt, which can weaken your body's resistance.
From ancient times to the present, China has had the saying that "Spring Covering" aids in spring health preservation. Physicians who are skilled in health preservation have all placed great importance on this principle. Folk sayings like "Don't pack away your cotton clothes in the second month, for there may still be pear blossom snow in the third" and "Only after eating the Dragon Boat Festival粽, should you put away your cotton clothes" have been passed down. Modern scientific research suggests that there is a scientific basis for this.
In spring, when preventing the cold, one should pay special attention to the two ends of the body—protecting the head, neck, and feet. This is especially true for the elderly. If they remove their hats and scarves too soon in the unpredictable spring weather, they are vulnerable to wind and cold, which can lead to colds and worsen the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Blood circulation in the lower half of the body is poorer than in the upper half, making it more susceptible to wind and cold. Therefore, cold often originates from the lower body, and spring clothing should follow the principle of "thicker on the bottom, thinner on top."
In early spring, some people often switch to spring clothing too early, wearing their clothes, pants, shoes, and socks too lightly. However, blood circulation in the lower body is poorer than in the upper body, making it easy to be invaded by wind and cold. At this time, cold and dampness can quietly take advantage of the vulnerability, especially the exposed knee joints, which can unknowingly lead to a feeling of soreness, discomfort, and joint stiffness, thereby triggering arthritis.
"Spring Covering" requires special attention to keeping the head, feet, neck, hands, and other areas warm. Do not rush to take off your hats, scarves, masks, thick socks, and gloves, as this can easily lower your body's immunity and allow diseases to invade.