The Start of Summer (Li Xia) is the seventh of the 24 solar terms, succeeding Guyu. The arrival of Li Xia means the end of spring and the beginning of summer. How can preserve health in Li Xia? The four key points of health preservation in Lixia include going to bed and getting up early, eating a light diet, nourishing the mind and calming the nerves, and dredging the meridians.
Early to bed and early to rise
According to the theory of Chinese medicine, it believes that “Xiaqi (Summer-Qi) is interlinked with heart Qi”. In order to keep healthy in Li Xia, we should go to bed early and get up early, and take a well-earned break and avoid excessive exercise and sweating. Excessive sweating may damage the Yang Qi, and sweat is the fluid of the heart, so it is advisable to exercise until you sweat slightly. It is recommended to do stretching, Tai Chi or Baduanjin after getting up, which help improve the overall immunity of the body and prolong your life.
Light Diet
As the temperature start rising gradually after the day of Lixia, people may feel angry and irritable, and the appetite is reduced. The diet in Lixia’s should be “nourishing yang in spring and summer”, in which nourishing heart is the key point. It is recommended to drink milk and eat soy products, chicken, lean meat, etc., which can not only supplement nutrition but also strengthen the heart.
In diet, it should stick to the principle of “increasing acid and reducing bitterness, tonifying kidney and liver, and regulating stomach qi”, you should eat light foods that are easy to digest and rich in vitamin, and reduce intake of greasy and spicy foods. The japonica rice cooked with mung beans, lotus seeds, lotus leaves, reed roots, lentils have the effects of strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing yin and promoting body fluid, and dispelling heat. In daily life, it is recommended to eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains, which can increase the supply of cellulose, vitamin B and C, and help prevent arteriosclerosis.
Spiritual health preservation
After Lixia, the weather will start to get scorching, and high temperature can easily cause emotional anxiety. Therefore, during Lixia, it should pay special attention to mental health and strengthen the maintenance of the heart. Especially the elderly should not have excessive emotions and should maintain a happy mood, enjoy yourself at ease, keep your spirits calm, and avoid violent joy and sorrow.
Beware of Exogenous Sensation
Most people have the habit of combing the hair in the morning, but fewer people do at night. In the respective of Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), it believes that the hair is the “head of all yang”. Combing hair can stimulate the acupoints on the head, which helps to dredge the channels and collaterals, regulate nerve function, enhance endocrine, Improve blood circulation and promote metabolism.
The combing here refers to finger combing rather than a comb. How to do it? First, use five fingers to knot or massage the Governor Vessel in the middle of the head, the Bladder Meridian on both sides, the Gallbladder Meridian, and the left and right meridians in total. It’d better to comb 3 to 5 times each day for no less than 3 to 5 minutes each time. Regular combing your hair can help you look refreshed. In addition, it also can prevent insomnia, dizziness, heart palpitations and stroke.
Tips for health preservation in Lixia
During the period of Lixia, the fire in the heart is flourishing, thus inducing dry mouth and throat, upset and irritability, and heat in the palms and soles. In diet, it is recommended to eat light and use less spicy seasonings to prevent the fire from hurting the yin. Furthermore, you can also eat more bitter foods to reduce the fire at the beginning of summer, such as bitter gourd, Kudingcha, lotus seed heart and herbal tea. If you have red tongue or oral ulcers, you can take some herbal medicine to reduce the heart fire or make a consultation at our clinic.
