Eat less greasy food during the Autumn Equinox
During the long summer season, especially as the Autumn Equinox approaches, the temperature can vary greatly within a single day—hot at noon and cool in the evening. Damp-heat accumulates in the body, and this kind of weather is most likely to cause gastrointestinal diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers dampness to be a pathogenic yin factor that tends to damage the body's yang energy, particularly the spleen's yang. When the spleen is impaired, its ability to transport and transform qi is disrupted, leading to poor digestive and absorption functions. This can manifest as a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, a bland taste in the mouth, chest tightness, nausea, loose stools, and even edema.
Therefore, during the long summer season, you must adjust your clothing according to the changing weather. Avoid overly greasy or sweet foods to prevent the formation of dampness. It is advisable to eat more foods that clear heat, expel dampness, strengthen the spleen, and harmonize the middle jiao, such as winter melon, mung bean sprouts, bok choy, and red adzuki beans. Additionally, to expel dampness and prevent illness, you can use the following TCM therapies.
Cupping Cupping has the effects of dispelling cold and dampness, unblocking the meridians, removing stagnation, promoting qi and blood circulation, reducing swelling and pain, and drawing out toxins and heat. For cupping, you can choose points such as Fenglong (ST40, located on the anterolateral side of the lower leg, 8 cun above the tip of the lateral malleolus, and two finger-widths from the anterior border of the tibia) and Zusanli (ST36, located 3 cun below the lower border of the patella and approximately one finger-width lateral to the tibia).
Moxibustion For those with symptoms such as lower back and leg pain, mental fatigue, and poor appetite, moxibustion can be applied to the Shenque point (CV8, the navel) and the Zusanli point (ST36) to expel dampness and strengthen the spleen and stomach.
Mugwort Leaf Bath Take 30-50 grams of fresh mugwort leaves, steep them in boiling water in a bathtub for 10 minutes, then remove the leaves. Add cold water to adjust to a suitable temperature for bathing. This can be effective for skin conditions caused by dampness, such as folliculitis and eczema.
Foot Bath Take 20 grams each of dried ginger and aconite root, 30 grams each of Sichuan pepper and mugwort leaves, and 15 grams each of slender-jin grass and透骨草 (Tougucao). 10 grams each of cassia twig and mulberry branch. Wrap the herbs in gauze, place them in an enamel basin, add an appropriate amount of water, and bring to a boil. Remove the herb packet, let the water cool to a suitable temperature, and soak your feet for 30-40 minutes each time, once or twice a day.
Focus on Nourishing Qi and Blood
During the long summer season, it is even more important to focus on nourishing qi and blood. The secret is: ① Use the air conditioner less; sweating is healthy. ② Drink more millet porridge; the five grains nourish life. ③ Eat well at breakfast and lunch, and sleep well during the "zi" (11 PM-1 AM) and "wu" (11 AM-1 PM) hours.
Dryness in Autumn
Prevent dryness early
Dryness is the primary climatic factor of autumn. Many people experience symptoms such as dry eyes, a dry nose, and a dry throat during this time. You should drink more water, focus on nourishing body fluids in your diet, drink some soups, and appropriately select foods that moisten the lungs, clear dryness, and nourish yin to generate fluids, such as lily bulbs.
According to traditional medicine, autumn dryness can be divided into two types: warm dryness and cool dryness. Both can manifest to varying degrees as dry skin, a dry mouth and nose, a dry throat, and a dry cough with little or no phlegm. However, they have different characteristics. Warm dryness is accompanied by fever, a slight aversion to cold and wind, headache, and a red tongue. Cool dryness, in its early stages, is characterized by a strong aversion to cold with mild fever and a non-red tongue. In terms of clinical medication, warm dryness is best treated with pungent, cool, and sweet-moistening herbs, while cool dryness is best treated with herbs that moisten the lungs and transform phlegm. Patients with warm dryness can eat more fruits rich in vitamin C or that are cool and moistening, such as starfruit, lemon, grapes, pomelo, and pear, and should avoid iced products, spicy foods, barbecue, fried foods, coffee, tea, or dried fruits. Patients with cool dryness can drink water boiled with ginger and brown sugar, then cover up to induce a slight sweat, and should avoid cold and irritating foods.
Experts believe that after the Start of Autumn, the season can be divided into two stages: the long summer season (when the intense heat has not yet passed but autumn has quietly arrived) and the autumn dryness season.