After the White Dew solar term, temperatures in most regions of China begin to cool significantly, with daily temperature fluctuations reaching around 10°C.As the saying goes: "White Dew and Autumn Equinox nights grow colder by the night." With the sudden chill yet lingering warmth of White Dew, the body's regulatory functions struggle to adapt to abrupt temperature shifts, making this season prime for viral influenza outbreaks. What precautions should we take to navigate this period safely?
Four Key Protections for White Dew Wellness
First Protection: Preventing Colds
Prioritize prevention and treatment of respiratory illnesses.The Treatise on Health Preservation states: "At the start of autumn and end of summer, one must not shed clothing or expose the body to seek cool breezes." Wearing insufficient layers or exposing the body may lead to colds at best, and lung diseases at worst. After White Dew, dryness intensifies and combines with wind to form wind-dryness pathogens, which primarily attack the lungs and the areas governed by the lungs (such as the skin, hair, and nasal passages).If immunity weakens due to exposure, leaving the body unable to resist external pathogens, lung and respiratory diseases may arise—such as fever, cough, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Should wind pathogens invade the meridians and tendons, causing obstruction and numbness, limb paralysis may occur.
To prevent colds, maintain regular routines and boost immunity. Many people stay up late and have irregular schedules during summer. Carrying these habits into autumn can weaken resistance. During seasonal transitions, ensure consistent sleep patterns and daily rhythms: go to bed earlier, extend sleep duration appropriately, and drink plenty of water.
Second Precaution: Autumn Dryness
During the White Dew season, dryness becomes the predominant seasonal energy. Compared to spring and summer, autumn brings wind and dryness. As dryness easily damages the lungs, autumn dryness can deplete bodily fluids, often manifesting as dryness and bitterness in the mouth and throat, constipation, and dry, cracked skin.Traditional Chinese medicine attributes this to the lungs governing the skin and hair, while the large intestine is its paired organ. As autumn corresponds to the lungs, nurturing lung health is crucial during White Dew. Experts note that autumn's dryness readily invades the lungs, causing symptoms like dry throat, sore throat, dry cough with little phlegm, and skin dryness. Health preservation should thus center on preventing dryness and moisturizing the body.
Thus, dietary practices should follow the seasonal rhythms, emphasizing balanced nutrition and yin nourishment. As temperatures drop, appetite increases. During this dry season, prioritize sour-flavored foods that moisturize the lungs and replenish yin—such as silver ear fungus, pears, lotus roots, grapes, and apples—while reducing spicy foods. Moderate weight gain is encouraged.
Third Precaution: Preventing Injury
Autumn's pleasant climate makes it an ideal season for physical exercise. Strengthening physical fitness is a key focus during the White Dew solar term. While autumn is well-suited for outdoor activities, exercise choices during White Dew should be tailored to individual capabilities, performed within one's limits, and maintained consistently.Elderly individuals may engage in walking, jogging, Tai Chi, or self-massage; younger adults can participate in running, ball games, dancing, hiking, or swimming. Complement these dynamic exercises with "quiet practices" like controlled breathing and closed-eye meditation to achieve harmony between movement and stillness. Cold-hardening exercises can boost immunity, but be mindful of preventing sports injuries and overexertion.Autumn demands not only physical health but also heightened attention to mental well-being. As White Dew arrives and autumn deepens, nature takes on a desolate appearance, making people prone to melancholy. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, the body's yang energy retreats inward with these seasonal shifts, increasing susceptibility to low spirits or depression.Elderly individuals are advised to consciously increase physical activity, engage more with the outside world, and socialize. Those with mobility can climb hills after sunrise to breathe fresh air, purify body and mind, regulate emotions, nurture the spirit, and overcome the "autumn melancholy" complex.
Try These 4 TCM Therapies for White Dew Wellness
Beyond the four preventions above, consider these TCM therapies during White Dew:
1. Regular Ear Massage
The kidneys open into the ears, which contain dense reflex zones connected to every organ. Massaging the ears is thus an excellent wellness practice.
2. Laugh to Promote Lung Qi Circulation
As the lungs correspond to sadness among the five emotions, people tend to feel melancholy. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that laughter promotes lung qi circulation, regulates bodily functions, eliminates fatigue, and restores physical strength. Laughter enables the lungs to inhale ample fresh air and exhale stale air, accelerating blood circulation and harmonizing qi and blood in the heart and lungs.Regular laughter also serves as physical exercise, stretching chest muscles and increasing lung capacity.
3. Foot Soaking
From the White Dew solar term onward, as the weather grows increasingly cool, some people experience symptoms like cold hands and feet, aversion to cold, frequent urination, and fatigue. Therefore, starting from White Dew, it's essential to warm and nourish yang energy and replenish kidney qi.Nightly foot soaking is essential: Consistently soak feet in mugwort-infused water each evening, ensuring water covers ankles for 15–30 minutes until the body feels slightly warm.
4. Moxibustion
During White Dew, focus moxibustion on Liver Shu (BL18) and other Wood-element points.Simultaneously, to prevent winter yang deficiency, moxibustion can be applied to acupoints such as Shenshu (BL23), Guanyuan (CV4), Shenque (CV8), and Zusanli (ST36). On the day of White Dew, select the acupoints Qimen (LR14), Xiawan (ST11), Zhangmen (LR13), Ququan (KI4), and Zhongfeng (KI3). On the second day of White Dew, select the acupoints Jingmen (BL13), Dàimài (BL22), Yanglingquan (GB34), Xuanzhong (GB39), and Qiuxu (ST39).
Moxibustion Method and Precautions: Ignite the moxa stick and use the generated heat to stimulate the acupoints. Adjust the temperature and distance based on the individual's tolerance. Apply moxibustion in the sequence of selected acupoints. The treatment duration is 5 minutes for all points except Zhangmen and Zusanli, which require 10 minutes.For paired points, men should moxa the left point first, then the right; women should do the opposite. Moxibustion should be performed after 7 PM each evening. It may be done on one selected day or consecutively over two days. Allow a one-hour interval after eating. Avoid cold water and raw/chilled foods after treatment, and stay warm.