Don't do these 7 things during the 'dog days'. You think you are in health preservation, but in fact, you are in health preservation!

As the saying goesA year of Yang cultivation looks like spring and summer, and a year of Yang cultivation looks like three seasonsThe 'dog days' are the most prone to illness and also the most nurturing'Nourishing the right' may achieve twice the health benefits with half the effortNot nurturing properly may lead to the root cause of illnessEven triggering a fatal crisisWhat are the health misconceptions of the "three dog days"?How should one maintain proper health?Prioritize01 What are the health misconceptions of the "three dog days"?Mistake 1: Excessive warm and sunny weather in summerMany circle friends know the phrase 'eat carrots in winter and ginger in summer', but not many people truly understand its meaning. If misunderstood, it not only fails to achieve the goal of health preservation, but also has the opposite effect

As the saying goes

A year of Yang cultivation looks like spring and summer, and a year of Yang cultivation looks like three seasons

The 'dog days' are the most prone to illness and also the most nurturing

'Nourishing the right' may achieve twice the health benefits with half the effort

Not nurturing properly may lead to the root cause of illness

Even triggering a fatal crisis

What are the health misconceptions of the "three dog days"?

How should one maintain proper health?

Prioritize

01 What are the health misconceptions of the "three dog days"?

Mistake 1: Excessive warm and sunny weather in summer

Many circle friends know the phrase 'eat carrots in winter and ginger in summer', but not many people truly understand its meaning. If misunderstood, it not only fails to achieve the goal of health preservation, but also has the opposite effect.

People with dampness and heat constitution, or those with yin deficiency and heat in the body, or those who have been eating warm food, if they eat too much ginger, it will "add fuel to the fire" and cause a fever.

Similarly, some people advocate drinking more lamb soup in summer, which is also the same principle. Drinking lamb soup for tonifying in summer is only suitable for people with yang deficiency. Most people tend to have a high level of yang in summer. Drinking too much lamb soup or eating too much lamb can actually lead to fever, dry stools, and even bleeding. Even for people with yang deficiency constitution, summer tonifying should be moderate and not excessive tonifying.

Myth 2: Overexercising in the summer

People often say, 'Practice three nines in winter and three volts in summer'. In summer, middle-aged and elderly people can be seen walking wildly in parks and squares, despite sweating profusely, they still persist in exercising.

Little does it know that sweating can damage the body's yang and body fluids, especially for middle-aged and elderly people who must not exercise excessively in the midsummer, as excessive sweating can cause blood viscosity and easily lead to the occurrence of heart disease, cerebral infarction, and other diseases.

The "three dog days" regimen should focus on avoiding summer heat, nourishing the heart with calmness, and being more calm and less active. At this point, exercise must avoid high temperatures and be carried out in a cool place and at a cool time. It is advisable to engage in mild exercises such as gymnastics, walking, and Tai Chi, as long as you sweat slightly, and should not exercise too much.

Myth 3: Drinking a large amount of mung bean soup every day

Many families cannot do without mung bean soup during the summer, not only drinking it in large quantities every day, but also drinking it as water. But mung bean soup is cold and cold, and drinking it for too long can easily damage the spleen and stomach.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, people with a Yang deficiency constitution or a cold body, such as those with symptoms such as cold limbs, bloating, diarrhea, and loose stools, should not drink mung bean soup too much, otherwise it will worsen the symptoms and even cause other diseases. People with blood deficiency and blood deficiency are also not suitable to drink mung bean soup.

Myth 4: Only preventing heatstroke but not cold

For many summer enthusiasts who enjoy eating cold drinks and blowing air conditioning, and for those who enjoy being cool, cold prevention is even more important.

Frequently staying in an air-conditioned room can lead to a lack of awareness of heat and cold, decreased immunity, and increased susceptibility to colds. The neck is blown against the air conditioner, causing the muscles in the neck and back to get cold, causing continuous neck spasms and back pain. Moreover, in hot weather, there is a lot of sweating. It is important to avoid drinking chilled beverages quickly and in large quantities. Sudden cold stimulation can cause vasoconstriction, angina, and even myocardial infarction. Cold food can also cause stomach discomfort and affect digestion.

Myth 5: Cool down after rain to exercise

After the rainstorm in summer, it is often cool. Many people choose to go out for a walk and exercise at this time, but going out for exercise after the rain will increase the moisture in the body.

After the rainstorm in summer, the humidity goes up with the evaporation of hot air, and the humidity in the air will actually increase. Walking after the rain is more likely to cause chest tightness, dizziness and even nausea, which is caused by the mixture of humidity and heat.

To dispel dampness, it is best to reduce exposure to humid environments in daily life. It is recommended to reduce outdoor activities on humid and rainy days.

Myth 6: Unable to take a cold shower after sweating

On the 'dog days', the weather is hot, and if you move a little, you will sweat all over, not to mention how uncomfortable it is. At this time, many circle friends can't wait to take a shower, and they also like to use a cooler water temperature, which is quite dangerous.

When a person is sweating profusely, their pores are all in an open state, and their skin wrinkles are also in an open state. At this time, when you shower with cooler water, you feel very comfortable. However, the pores will suddenly contract due to the stimulation of cold water, which suppresses the heat in the body and prevents it from being emitted, leading to heatstroke.

In addition, it can also cause vasoconstriction, significantly increase the amount of blood returning to the heart, and stimulate the secretion of adrenaline. Combined factors can lead to an increase in blood pressure, especially in patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease, which can easily lead to dangerous events in the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system. In severe cases, there may be a risk of sudden death.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the frequent entry of yin, cold, dampness, and cold qi into the human body not only damages the yang qi of the body, but also traps the dampness in the body, which can cause various diseases and diseases, inevitably leaving behind old roots in the human body.

Myth 7: Vegetables and fruits replace meals

During the "three dog days", the body sweats a lot, consumes a lot, and is prone to fatigue and loss of appetite. Many circle friends choose to directly replace their meals with vegetables and fruits, but this method can easily lead to a decrease in immune function, and over time, it can easily lead to diseases.

Even if it gets hot, it's important to eat some lean meat, fish, beans, milk, eggs, etc. appropriately. When your appetite is not good, you can change your taste and eat summer foods such as lotus root, winter melon, loofah, and lentils.

02 "Three dog days" for health preservation

Get twice the result with half the effort

Firstly, nourishing qi

During the 'three dog days', excessive sweating can easily consume qi and damage yin, leading to insufficient physical strength and vitality, and a decrease in body function. Therefore, it is particularly important to pay attention to "nourishing qi" in health preservation, in order to prevent the deficiency of yang qi in winter and a decrease in the ability to resist diseases.

Suggestion for tonifying qi: making tea with American ginseng

Panax quinquefolium, also known as Chinese ginseng, can regulate the heart, lungs, and kidney meridians, replenish qi, nourish yin, clear heat, and promote fluid production. The "Western Record of Ginseng in Medical Purposes" states that "American ginseng has a cool and nourishing nature, and anyone who uses ginseng without being warmed by ginseng can replace it.

American ginseng can nourish both qi and yin, especially when sweating too much and people feel tired and flustered. It is suitable to brew tea with American ginseng, which is beneficial for those who suffer from bitter summer. But American ginseng is not suitable for patients with cold nature and Qi deficiency with cold syndrome.

Secondly, nourishing the mind

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the heart corresponds to summer, and the yang qi of the heart is most vigorous in summer. Summer sweats a lot, causing heartbreak and consuming heart yang. Therefore, summer is still the most tiring season for the heart. Therefore, it is important to focus on nourishing the heart, especially for patients with a history of heart disease.

Heart nourishing suggestion: eat red food regularly

The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic points out that the five colors match the five flavors, and the five flavors enter the five organs. The green color nourishes the liver, the red color nourishes the heart, the yellow color benefits the spleen and stomach, the white color moistens the lungs, and the black color nourishes the kidneys.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that in summer, it is advisable to eat more red food to nourish the heart. For example, red dates, tomatoes, cherries, grapefruit, saffron, and other ingredients can have the effects of nourishing the heart, warming the yang, and aiding sleep.

Thirdly, strengthening the spleen

Summer is hot and humid, especially during the long summer season. Long summer corresponds to the spleen of the five organs, and excessive dampness and heat can hinder the spleen and stomach. Therefore, lack of appetite and appetite in summer is a common disease among many people. And the spleen and stomach are the foundation of nurture, the source of qi and blood biochemistry. Once eaten poorly, it can cause many problems.

Suggestion for nourishing the spleen: tangerine peel tea

Take 10g of tangerine peel and an appropriate amount of rock sugar, soak in boiling water for future generations to drink tea. Chenpi tea has the effects of regulating qi and appetizing, drying dampness and resolving phlegm. It is suitable for drinking on summer days when the stomach is bloated, digestion is poor, or there is no appetite for eating.

Fourthly, dispelling dampness

Summer is often hot and humid, and people often feel heavy headaches and headaches, which can lead to depression, fatigue, chest tightness, and poor appetite. Heat dampness can cause symptoms such as stuffy chest and diaphragm, tasteless diet, sticky mouth, dizziness, bloating, and limb fatigue when affecting the human body.

Suggestion for dispelling dampness: Watermelon Cuiyi Soup

Watermelon skin, also known as watermelon green coat, is the outer layer of watermelon fruit skin. It has a sweet taste and a cool nature, and enters the heart, stomach, and bladder meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat, relieving thirst, promoting diuresis, and relieving drenching. It is suitable for heat and thirst, short urination, edema, and sore mouth and tongue.

Method: After washing the watermelon, cut off thin green skin, add water and boil for 30 minutes, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and drink after cooling.

Fifth, relieve heat

The "three dog days" have high temperatures and heavy humidity, and both hands should be grasped to relieve heat and dampness.

Suggestion for relieving heat: Boil cardamom with water and drink it

Cardamom has a warm nature and belongs to the lung, spleen, and stomach meridians. It has the functions of dispelling dampness and swelling, promoting qi and warming the middle, and promoting appetite and digestion. Boil the whole cardamom and rock sugar together, and the boiled cardamom water is not only very fragrant, but also has a sweet taste. It is a refreshing and heat relieving drink without damaging the spleen and stomach. You can drink some during the "dog days".

Sixth, clear the fire

Summer corresponds to the 'heart', and people tend to have a 'heart fire' during summer, which can also cause physical exhaustion. Heart fire can sometimes cause symptoms such as mouth sores, irritability, and insomnia.

Qinghuo Suggestion: Drinking Lotus Seed Heart Tea

The lotus seed heart, which is essential for health preservation in the "Three Fu Days", is the green core in the middle of the lotus seed. It can clear heat and eliminate heat, and the main thing to clear is the heart fire. If you have restlessness, insomnia, or long mouth sores on the tip of your tongue, you can use 20 lotus seed hearts, add some green tea, and brew them with boiling water before drinking. Lotus seeds have a cold heart and are not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency.

Seventh, detoxification

As the saying goes

Suggestion for detoxification: Gold and Silver Flower Dew

Honeysuckle has a sweet taste, a cold nature, and belongs to the lung, heart, and stomach meridians. It has the function of clearing heat, detoxifying, and dispersing wind heat. There are many ways to eat honeysuckle, which can be directly soaked in water instead of tea, or eaten as Congee or stew.

Method: Soak 5g~10g of honeysuckle in 500ml of pure water for half an hour, then boil for 30 minutes. Strain out the soup, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar, stir well, and boil before drinking.

Effect: This tea drink has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and relieving heat. It has a good effect on relieving heat, thirst, and pediatric rash. However, it should not be taken due to the cold nature of honeysuckle and spleen and stomach deficiency.

Eighth, Sleep

Many people may experience shallow sleep, restless sleep, and even problems such as restlessness and palpitations in the summer. In fact, this may be due to a lack of effort. If you want to nourish your heart in summer, and if the symptoms of heart blood deficiency are not severe and you don't want to drink soup medicine, you may want to try dietary therapy.

Sleeping advice: Congee with sour jujube kernel

Ingredients: 15g of sour jujube kernels, 10g of raw materials, and 150g of japonica rice.

Method: Place the dried sour jujube kernels in a frying pan and stir fry over low heat until the outer skin is bulging and turns a light dark green brown or yellowish color. Take them out and let them cool. Crush them and slowly fry them in the ground. Remove any residue, filter the juice, and set aside. Clean the japonica rice, add some water, boil it until the Congee is thick, add the medicine juice, and then boil it for 3~5 minutes. It is advisable to take warm medication.

Efficacy: This Congee has the effect of nourishing yin, nourishing blood and calming the nerves. It is suitable for insomnia caused by deficiency of yin and blood and internal disturbance of deficiency fire.

Attention: It is not suitable for those who suffer from excessive pathogenic heat or loose stools.

(Source: CCTV Life Circle)

Editor: Gu Xiaoyi