The Start of Autumn, the first solar term of fall, marks the official beginning of early autumn. "Autumn" signifies the transition from heat to coolness, a transitional season where weather shifts from warmth to chill and eventually to cold. "Dryness" is the predominant quality of autumn. As the dry climate becomes increasingly pronounced, people should prepare to address "autumn dryness syndrome."
Distinguishing Two Types of Autumn Dryness Symptoms
Autumn dryness is generally categorized into warm dryness and cool dryness. Warm dryness is one type of dryness-related illness, commonly occurring during the Start of Autumn when residual heat lingers from summer's heat or prolonged dry spells with intense sunlight prevail. In terms of pathogenesis, it often involves concurrent warm-heat factors; from a yin-yang perspective, its nature is yang.Warm dryness combines heat with dryness, characterized by yang properties and fluid depletion with heat. It simultaneously causes dryness and heat: dryness injures lung fluids, while heat damages lung yin, thus exhibiting yang characteristics.
Mild warm dryness manifests as pathogenic factors attacking the exterior, affecting the lung meridian, and impairing fluid metabolism. This disrupts the lung's clearing and descending functions. Primary symptoms include mild body heat, dry cough without phlegm, or scant viscous phlegm that is difficult to expectorate, dry throat and thirst, red tongue with little coating, and a floating rapid pulse.
Severe warm dryness involves intense dry-heat depleting both lung qi and yin. Symptoms include headache, body heat, dry cough without phlegm, dry throat and nose, wheezing with chest tightness, restlessness with thirst, and a dry tongue with no coating.Nourish Yin and Boost Qi to Ward Off "Autumn Dryness"
During the Start of Autumn solar term, preventing "autumn dryness" hinges on nourishing yin and strengthening qi. Nourishing yin prevents lung dryness, while boosting qi warms and sustains lung qi. This can be achieved through daily life practices:
1. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables to Combat Autumn Dryness
Traditional Chinese Medicine views dryness as one of the six pathogenic factors, dominant in autumn. Its nature is parching, easily depleting bodily fluids.Therefore, dietary choices should emphasize vegetables and fruits, as they replenish bodily fluids, promote fluid production, moisten dryness, clear heat, and facilitate bowel movements. Additionally, consume nourishing concoctions like lily congee, sweet rice porridge, or milk congee made with honey, lily bulbs, lotus seeds, carrots, lotus root, pears, sesame seeds, and wood ear mushrooms.
2. Adjust clothing promptly to guard against autumn dryness
Adjust clothing according to weather changes and individual constitution to prevent catching wind-cold. Avoid overdressing too early; instead, practice cold-hardening exercises—commonly known as "autumn frost training."Engage in appropriate cold-weather exercises and aerobic activities like hiking, walking, tai chi, cycling, or dancing. Moderate cold water therapy can also help prevent colds, runny noses, and bronchitis. Try washing your face and feet with cold water, rinsing your nose, or taking cold baths if you're physically fit.
3. Regulate Emotions to Prevent Autumn Dryness
After the start of autumn, the "autumn heatwave" inevitably brings hot weather that can easily cause irritability. Actively guard against "emotional heat exhaustion." Older adults have poorer adaptability and tolerance to autumn climate changes, making prevention especially crucial.
Cultivate inner tranquility, mental calmness, and emotional ease. Avoid sadness and melancholy; actively resolve any distressing events. Simultaneously, gather your spirit to align with autumn's serene energy.Traditional Chinese medicine holds that laughter, in varying degrees, harmonizes the respiratory organs, chest cavity, abdomen, internal organs, and muscles. Thus, "frequent laughter promotes lung function." However, individuals with hypertension, arteriosclerosis, or those recovering from surgery should avoid loud or unrestrained laughter.