Introduction: The Major Cold solar term arrives right after the "Sanjiu" (the third nine-day period after the winter solstice) and at the beginning of the "Sijiu" (the fourth nine-day period). "Sanjiu Sijiu, bing shang zou" (During the third and fourth nine-day periods, one can walk on ice) refers to the coldest time of the year. Major Cold signifies that the weather has become extremely cold.
Although the weather is cold at this time, spring is already near, so it is not as bitterly cold as during the period from the heavy snow to the winter solstice. During this season, people begin to busy themselves with cleaning and decorating their homes in preparation for the most important festival for the Chinese people—the Spring Festival. There is also a very important day for people in the north—Laba Festival, which is on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. On this day, people cook a delicious and sweet Laba congee with various grains and beans, peanuts, chestnuts, red dates, and lotus seeds. It is an indispensable staple food during the New Year celebrations. In short, Major Cold is the last of the 24 solar terms and the season when winter is about to end. Subtle signs of the earth's return to spring can already be felt.
The "Lingshu-Benshen" states: "The wise person in cultivating their spirit must follow the four seasons and adapt to cold and heat, harmonize joy and anger and live in peace, regulate yin and yang and adjust hardness and softness. If so, evil will not arrive, and one can live long and see far." The "Lüshi Chunqiu-Jinshu" mentions: "Heaven creates yin and yang, cold and heat, dryness and dampness; the transformations of the four seasons and the changes of all things are all for benefit and all for harm. The sage observes the suitability of yin and yang, distinguishes the benefits of all things, in order to facilitate life. Therefore, the spirit is tranquil within the form, and the lifespan is long." In summary, this means that one can achieve longevity by following the laws of nature. But it is not passive adaptation, but rather taking a proactive attitude. First, one must master the laws of natural changes to defend against the invasion of external evils.
An ancient saying goes: "Major Cold, Major Cold, guard against wind and cold. Drink ginseng and astragalus wine in the morning, and take Qi Ju Di Huang Wan at night." This is a summary from the working people's lives and also shows the importance people place on physical conditioning. When the cold freezes the earth, yang energy is hidden, and all life is in a state of dormancy and storage. How should we pay attention to health preservation during the Major Cold solar term in modern times?
The temperature during Major Cold is extremely low. For the elderly, whose physical functions have declined and resistance to disease has weakened, it is very easy for old illnesses to relapse or for new ones to appear, some of which can even be life-threatening. Therefore, elderly people should pay special attention to preventing and treating the following diseases during the deep winter.
First, prevent the common cold. The common cold is a common and frequent illness in the cold winter, which can easily trigger existing diseases such as pneumonia, pulmonary heart disease, asthma, and chronic bronchitis. For the elderly, these conditions can easily lead to heart and lung failure. Therefore, in the cold winter, the elderly should pay attention to cold prevention, avoid large temperature differences between indoor and outdoor environments, ventilate rooms frequently, adjust their diet, and preferably wash their face with cold water and their feet with hot water daily to improve immunity.
Stroke is prevalent in winter. This is because low temperatures cause the body's capillaries to constrict in response to the cold stimulus, increasing peripheral resistance to blood circulation. This places a heavier load on the left ventricle and the brain, leading to high blood pressure. Additionally, people are less active in cold weather, blood flow slows down, and the food consumed is often higher in fat. These are all reasons for the high incidence of stroke. To prevent stroke, it is first necessary to properly treat underlying diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Secondly, one should pay attention to a light diet, reducing high-fat and high-salt foods, and take some traditional Chinese medicines, such as patent medicines that invigorate blood, resolve stasis, nourish the liver and kidneys, and nourish yin to suppress yang.
Pay attention to the prevention of myocardial infarction. The deep winter is a peak period for myocardial infarction. This is because when the body is stimulated by cold, blood vessels constrict, fibrinogen in the blood increases, and blood viscosity increases, making it easy to form clots. This can lead to myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, triggering angina pectoris, and in severe cases, myocardial infarction. Therefore, the elderly should strengthen outdoor physical exercise, pay attention to cold protection and warmth, and keep the room temperature between 18°C and 21°C to prevent the invasion of cold evil and trigger new illnesses. They can also use thrombolytic and lipid-lowering, vasodilatory, and drugs for preventing and treating myocardial ischemia and hypoxia under a doctor's guidance.
Finally, prevent stomach diseases. In the deep winter, when the body is stimulated by cold, the stomach and intestines can have spasmodic contractions. Therefore, elderly people with stomach problems are prone to relapses in winter, such as peptic ulcers, which can even lead to serious complications like gastric bleeding or perforation. Therefore, in winter, the elderly should pay special attention to keeping their stomachs warm. The diet should be warm, soft, light, and easy to digest. It is advisable to eat small, frequent meals and avoid raw, cold foods, as well as quit smoking and alcohol to reduce the chance of developing stomach problems.
Major Cold Herbal Cuisine for Nourishment
Chinese Yam, Red Date, and Longan Soup
Ingredients: 8 red dates, about 100g of Chinese yam, some longan pulp, a little white sugar.
Effects: Red dates nourish blood and qi; Chinese yam strengthens the spleen and benefits the stomach; longan is warming to yang.
Method: Soften the washed red dates in advance. Peel the Chinese yam and cut it into small pieces. Then, put both into a pot of water and bring to a boil, cooking until soft. Then, add the longan pulp and half a spoon of sugar to the pot. Bring to a boil again, and turn off the heat once the longan pulp is soft and ready to eat.
Dogwood and Cistanche Lamb Soup
Ingredients: 600g lamb, 20g dogwood fruit (Shan Zhu Yu), 20g cistanche (Rou Cong Rong), 20g longan pulp.
Method: Cut the lamb into pieces and blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove, rinse, and place in a clay pot. Bring the water to a boil, then add the dogwood fruit, cistanche, longan pulp, and ginger slices. Simmer over medium heat for 3 hours. Add a little salt to taste and serve.
Effects: This soup has the effects of tonifying the kidneys, warming yang, and strengthening the body. It is suitable for those with cold hands and feet, soreness in the lower back and knees, frequent urination, constipation, or impotence.