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Here's a translation of your provided content, focusing on clarity and natural English flow: Dog Days of Summer: The Most Dreadful Time of Year, How to Avoid Evil Qi and Eliminate Root Causes of Illness?The old saying goes, "Nourish in the nine coldest days of winter, nourish in the three dog days of summer." The dog days, which fall between the Minor Heat and the End of Heat periods, mark the hottest, most humid, and stuffy days of the year

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Dog Days of Summer: The Most Dreadful Time of Year, How to Avoid Evil Qi and Eliminate Root Causes of Illness?

The old saying goes, "Nourish in the nine coldest days of winter, nourish in the three dog days of summer." The dog days, which fall between the Minor Heat and the End of Heat periods, mark the hottest, most humid, and stuffy days of the year. The "dog" in "dog days" refers to "restraining evil," specifically "summer evil" one of the "six evils" (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire). The dog days are the 40 days of the year most susceptible to illness! The most dreadful time is upon us. If you don't take care during the dog days, you'll be left with the root causes of illness! Therefore, during the dog days, regardless of gender, everyone should follow these healthy practices!

Why are the dog days the hottest?

Let's take a look at the dog days this year:

• First Dog Day: July 15th July 24th, 2024 (10 days)

• Middle Dog Day: July 25th August 13th, 2024 (20 days)

• Last Dog Day: August 14th August 23rd, 2024 (10 days)

Starting July 15th, the dog days are here! Be prepared!

After the start of the dog days, surface humidity increases, absorbing more heat each day than it can radiate. This accumulated heat makes each day hotter than the last. When the dog days arrive, the accumulated surface heat reaches its peak, leading to the hottest temperatures. Additionally, the summer months experience heavy rainfall and high humidity. Water has a much higher heat capacity than dry air, contributing significantly to the muggy weather. During July and August, the subtropical high-pressure system strengthens, and under its influence, the sinking air within the high pressure leads to clear skies and less cloud cover. This allows for greater sunlight penetration, increasing surface radiation and intensifying the heat.

The summer evil during the dog days is incredibly potent.

Many "root causes of illness" originate during the dog days. As the saying goes, "Upon entering Minor Heat, the heat boils from above and below!" Combined with the onset of the dog days, the high temperature, humidity, and steaming "sauna-like" days become more frequent. The oppressive heat waves bring with them a range of health issues, including heatstroke, cardiovascular diseases, and heart failure. The dog days themselves are intensely hot, and our bodies sweat profusely, leading to exhaustion and decreased digestive function. Without proper dietary adjustments, improperly eating can lead to a weakened immune system and disease.

How to Navigate the Dog Days?

There's a common misconception during the dog days: "Should we focus solely on preventing heatstroke?" The answer, surprisingly, is no! During the dog days, you must: Prevent Cold!

Preventing cold in summer? If you're confused, read on!

As the dog days begin, the human body's yang qi reaches its peak for the year, blood vessels are dilated, and the pores open up. If you catch a chill, cold evils can easily invade the body. People in the summer tend to favor cold drinks and spend hours in air-conditioned environments. These habits of excessive coldness can unknowingly harm the body with cold evils. Many illnesses are a result of consuming cold foods that deplete yang qi or catching a chill from overindulging in coolness, leading to external evils invading the body. Don't underestimate the power of cold evils in summertime. Preventing cold may even be more important than protecting against heatstroke.

Winter illnesses treated in summer, summer is a crucial time for nourishing the body!

Three Techniques to Prevent Cold During the Dog Days

1. Avoid Direct Cold Drafts:

Whether it's air conditioning, fans, or sitting by a window to cool off, avoid prolonged exposure to direct drafts. When sleeping at night, make sure the windows aren't cracked open to prevent drafts of evil winds.

2. Protect Two Areas:

The throat and the back of the heart are the weakest points of the human body, easily susceptible to cold invasion. Protecting these areas can help buffer the body from the cold.

3. Dietary Focus on Reducing Coldness:

Limit cold drinks, particularly for children. Children are still developing their yang qi, and consuming excessive cold drinks can cause more significant harm than in adults, leading to nasal and throat inflammation, recurrent tonsillitis, fever, digestive imbalances, and other issues. Therefore, during the dog days, stick to drinking water at room temperature!

Nourishing Practices During the Dog Days:

Nourishing during the dog days primarily revolves around "promoting sweating and releasing the exterior." This involves using sweat to expel internal cold. There are several methods:

• Dog Day Patches: The "dog day patch" is a traditional Chinese external therapy where medicinal plasters are applied to specific acupoints during the dog days. The combined power of the medicine and the body's yang qi disperses internal cold, preventing and treating illness.

• Moxibustion: Moxibustion utilizes the heat from burning mugwort to warm acupoints on the body. Moxibustion possesses the ability to warm the yang, dispel cold, clear meridians, and regulate qi and blood. It effectively alleviates cold-related symptoms during the dog days.

• Foot Soaking: Soaking feet in hot water promotes blood circulation, expels cold, and strengthens the body's resistance. During the dog days, add warming, cold-dispelling herbs like ginger or mugwort to the water for enhanced benefits.

• Moderate Exercise: Exercise should be moderate during the dog days, avoiding excessive exertion to prevent fatigue. Opt for gentle activities like walking, Tai Chi, or yoga, which exercise the body while promoting sweat production and cold expulsion.

However, this is just one method of nourishing, while effective, it requires long-term dedication. Just one set of dog days won't eliminate all internal cold. Additionally, moderate exercise and foot soaks that induce mild sweating can help dispel cold, but consistency over extended periods is essential.

Beware of These Four Diseases During the Dog Days

As the saying goes, "Before forty, people seek illness; after forty, illnesses seek people." As we age, our immune system gradually weakens. During the dog days, it's crucial to be vigilant against these four illnesses. If you experience any discomfort, seek medical attention promptly.

1. Heatstroke: In high temperatures, prolonged outdoor activities can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and heatstroke symptoms. Elderly individuals, with their declining organ function, are at a higher risk.

Preventing heatstroke follows a three-step plan:

• Protect from the sun: Wear long clothes, use umbrellas, and wear hats.

• Stay hydrated: Drink at least 1.5 liters of water daily. After heavy sweating, replenish electrolytes with a diluted salt solution.

• Prioritize naps: Days are long and nights are short. Supplement sleep during the day for improved mental well-being.

2. Gastroenteritis: The high temperatures and humidity create an environment conducive to bacterial growth. Eating leftover food, undercooked food, or food that has gone bad can further weaken the spleen and stomach, leading to dysentery, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. Even though it's hot, avoid excessive coolness and minimize leftover meals.

3. Heat Stroke: In hot weather, the body is susceptible to dehydration, particularly in the elderly, who struggle with temperature regulation. They depend on sweat evaporation to cool themselves, which can thicken the blood, slow circulation, reduce blood flow to the brain, lead to oxygen deprivation, and trigger a heat stroke.

Avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures, replenish fluids promptly, and avoid prolonged exposure to direct air conditioning to maintain smooth circulation.

4. Skin Diseases: The hallmark of the dog days is high humidity. In such conditions, sweat can't evaporate well, leading to sticky skin and mild itching. Fungal growth flourishes, aggravating conditions like athlete's foot, hand eczema, jock itch, and tinea versicolor.

Increase the frequency of skin cleansing, strive for dryness and freshness, wear loose, breathable clothing, limit spicy foods and alcohol to prevent excessive sweating. Apply talcum powder or anti-chafing powder to the neck, armpits, and elbows.

Remember the "Three" Rule for Dog Day Dietary Therapy:

Meat: Eat Mutton During the Dog Days

Consuming mutton, a common winter tonic, during the dog days is a strategic choice. Nowadays, people indulge in excessive coolness, consuming cold drinks nonstop and spending entire days in air-conditioned environments. This leads to various ailments: Cold drinks disrupt the digestive system, while air conditioning causes muscle and joint pain. Eating warm mutton helps dispel the cold trapped within the body and clear blocked meridians. If you spend the night in an air