As we transition into the cool, dry weather of autumn, many people experience symptoms such as cough, phlegm formation, atopic dermatitis, or nasal allergies. How can we make use of what are known as “solar terms” in the Chinese culture to keep ourselves healthy? Dr. Guo Dawei, director of Fuyuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan, provides different health-preserving options and dietary formulas for each solar term in autumn.
What Are Solar Terms?
There are twenty-four “solar terms” in Chinese culture. each year has four seasons, and each season has six solar terms, which reflect the gradual transformation from one season to another as well as its gradual changes in weather. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the physiology and pathology of the human body are influenced by nature. If one can adjust their lifestyle according to the solar terms, it will result in many health benefits.Common Illness Accompanying Autumn
Dr. Guo said that the dry weather of autumn is a favorable breeding season for atopic dermatitis and can cause irritations, coughing, phlegm, dryness of skin, mouth, nose, and throat, and other dry phenomena typical of the season. Autumn dryness also makes the lungs more vulnerable to damage. Therefore, moistening the lungs, resolving phlegm, nourishing yin, and keeping oneself moisturized become the prime focus of health care during autumn. Ways to avoid lung damage and preserve yin fluid are to drink ample water, eat plenty of nourishing food, and avoid excessive sweating at noon.Autumn is a season often associated with sadness and melancholy. Patients suffering from mental illness or menopausal women experience greater fluctuations in emotions during autumn, and the increase in incidence may trigger cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, autumn is a time to pay more attention to guarding against cardiovascular diseases.
