December 22nd will mark the "Winter Solstice," one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. Experts remind that from this day, China will enter the "Nine Cold Days" period. During this season, the public should guard against the invasion of severe cold, pay attention to keeping warm and preventing colds to reduce illness.
Methods for Winter Solstice Health Preservation:
During the cold "Nine Cold Days" period, to prevent cold, keep warm, and reduce illness, Li Yanling, director of the Nutrition Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, suggests that the public should add clothes in a timely manner according to the weather. Clothing should not only be warm but also soft and loose. It is not advisable to wear clothes that are too tight, to facilitate smooth blood circulation. Kang Jingbo, Department of Radiation Oncology, Navy General Hospital
As the saying goes: "Move a little in winter, and you'll avoid a bout of illness; be lazy in winter, and you'll need another bowl of medicine." Therefore, during this season, it is essential to engage in appropriate cold-prevention exercises and physical activities. For instance, persist in washing your face with cold water daily. Methods like jogging, practicing Tai Chi, sword dancing, and more can enhance the body's adaptability to cold and its cold resistance.
What to Eat for Winter Solstice Health Preservation:
In addition to wearing more clothes and strengthening physical exercise, one should also eat more cold-resistant foods in their daily diet, such as kelp, seaweed, spinach, Chinese cabbage, corn, lotus root, carrots, sweet potatoes, lilies, mutton, beef, and more. These foods can improve the body's ability to resist the cold.
Zhao Ziheng, an expert in astronomy education in China, explains that the Winter Solstice occurs around December 22nd in the Gregorian calendar each year. At this time, the sun's ecliptic longitude is 270 degrees, and the sun shines almost directly on the Tropic of Capricorn. Solar radiation and sunshine hours reach their lowest point. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days are shortest and the nights are longest. Therefore, in previous dynasties in China, the Winter Solstice was also called "Short Day" or "Shortest Day."
After the Winter Solstice, the days will gradually become longer. The *Suwen: Mai Yao Jing Lun Lun* (Simple Questions: Discussion on the Essentials of Pulse) states: "Forty-five days after the Winter Solstice, Yang qi begins to slightly rise, and Yin qi begins to slightly decline." This means that in the 45 days from this day until the Start of Spring, Yang qi gradually increases, Yin qi gradually decreases, and the days gradually grow longer while the nights gradually shorten.
Astronomy experts indicate that after the Winter Solstice, the climate across China enters its coldest stage, which is commonly known as "entering the Nine Cold Days." There is a folk saying in China: "The cold is in the 'Three Nines'; the heat is in the 'Three Fuzes' (dog days)." According to meteorological data, powerful cold air and cold fronts move south around the Winter Solstice each year, causing sudden drops in temperature, accompanied by adverse weather conditions such as strong winds, rain, snow, and freezing.