Summer Nourishment: Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer, Seizing the Heat to Drive Out Cold - joint health workshops and seminars

Summer Nourishment: Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer, Seizing the Heat to Drive Out Cold"The hottest time is in the dog days of summer," After the start of the dog days, it's often the hottest period of the year. However, this year's dog days are a bit unusual, and we might be facing "humid heat" with alternating hot and cold days and frequent rain

Summer Nourishment: Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer, Seizing the Heat to Drive Out Cold

"The hottest time is in the dog days of summer," After the start of the dog days, it's often the hottest period of the year. However, this year's dog days are a bit unusual, and we might be facing "humid heat" with alternating hot and cold days and frequent rain.

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I. This Year's Dog Days, a Little Different

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We often say "the hottest time is in the dog days of summer," After the start of the dog days, it's often the hottest period of the year. The poem says, "", the summer heat of the dog days can make anyone feel stuffy and depressed. However, this year is a bit different, we may be facing a dog days period with alternating hot and cold days and frequent rain. Compared to previous years, it might not be as hot, but the sticky humid feeling is still quite uncomfortable.

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1. Late Dog Days: Temperature Rises after Midsummer

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On the one hand, this year is a "late dog days." According to the calendar, "," which means starting from the summer solstice, the dog days start on the third day of the week that starts with "." This usually happens 20 days after the summer solstice, known as late dog days. The summer solstice this year is on June 21st, and the dog days begin on July 15th, a gap of 25 days.

According to the lunar calendar, the dog days start in the fifth lunar month are considered early dog days, while those in the sixth month are late dog days. This year, the dog days start on the tenth day of the sixth lunar month, making it truly "late dog days." As the proverb goes, "early dog days are cool, while late dog days can kill cattle," Late dog days mean that the temperature will be significantly hotter than during midsummer.

2. Wind and Dampness Contend: Tail End of the Third Qi, Fluctuating Temperatures

On the other hand, the fourth qi is "wind and dampness contend." This summers weather has been erratic, with alternating hot and cold days, sporadic drought and floods, a phenomenon that everyone has experienced. This is due to the influence of the third qi, the solar cold and water that governs the sky. The dog days this year will fall on the tail end of the third qi, which means that the early dog days wont be as hot as usual.

Starting from the Great Heat (July 22nd), the fourth qi arrives, with the major qi being jueyin wind wood. According to the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, this time period will have a "windy climate, with wind and dampness contending, wind turning into rain." Since the cold water withdraws, wind wood takes over, and we will feel a noticeable increase in temperature, along with more wind and rain.

I have previously written about the five movements and six qi, so I won't elaborate here. In short, the climate is abnormal, so its important to be cautious.

II. A Dog Days Period with "Wind + Dampness", the Worst Time for Delicate Individuals

We usually say someone is "delicate" when referring to their qi and blood. A general deficiency in qi and blood obviously indicates delicacy, such as those recovering from a serious illness or the elderly. A lack of balance in qi and blood is also a sign of delicacy, such as insufficient qi and blood in the kidneys, which implies kidney deficiency, while the spleen may appear relatively strong. For example, qi and blood are all concentrated in the limbs and exterior, leaving the interior deficient. This can occur after strenuous exercise or in hot weather. The dog days are precisely like this.

1. The Hottest Time is in the Dog Days of Summer: Qi and Blood Disperse Outward, Delicate Individuals are Prone to Fatigue

The hottest time is in the dog days of summer, with vigorous yang qi pushing qi and blood outward. For those with abundant qi and blood, this can lead to a feeling of vitality and strength in the limbs. However, for those with weak qi and blood, it can cause excessive sweating, fatigue, and shortness of breath because theres not enough qi and blood in the interior.

2. Wind and Dampness Contend: Spleen Deficiency and Qi Deficiency, More Susceptible to Discomfort

This year's dog days also have the influence of wind and dampness, making it even worse for delicate individuals, and the discomfort caused by spleen deficiency and qi deficiency is particularly prominent. Wind wood overpowers earth spleen, while dampness insults it, making it difficult for the entire earth spleen to function properly. When the spleen fails to function properly, the energy from the food we consume is not distributed, leading to inner heat, which in turn depletes qi, further exacerbating the deficiency. The Classic of Internal Medicine states that the fourth qi "causes people to become feverish with shortness of breath, muscles atrophy and limbs become weak, and red and white discharge occurs in the stool," which is exactly what happens. Spleen injury and qi deficiency cause muscle atrophy, leg weakness, and diarrhea, even bloody stools.

3. Dog Days are Both "Dangerous" and "Opportunities": Summer Heat Can Drive Out Cold

However, for delicate individuals, the dog days with wind, dampness, and heat are both "dangerous" and "opportunities." Delicate individuals often have remaining cold pathogens in their body due to insufficient qi and blood. By leveraging the natural tendency for qi and blood to disperse outward during this period, we can completely push out those lingering cold pathogens that are difficult to eliminate normally, which is the essence of "treating winter illnesses in summer."

III. The Right Time for "Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer", Miss It and You'll Have to Wait a Year!

The Classic of Internal Medicine states: "Nurture yang in spring and summer, and yin in autumn and winter." Following the natural rhythm of the seasons, we have always practiced nourishing health in accordance with the principles of nature. "Treating winter illnesses in summer" is a clever way to supplement yang qi in summer.

1. Two Types of "Winter Illnesses": Accumulation of Cold Pathogens

There are two types of "winter illnesses": one is the lingering root cause of winter illnesses, and the other is diseases that are more prone to occur in winter. Both are inextricably linked to "cold." Individuals with winter illnesses typically have a constitution that is prone to cold and deficiency. Add to that the cold weather in winter, with two chills working in tandem, theres almost no chance of dissolving the cold pathogen. Therefore, "treating in summer" can achieve a leverage effect.

2. Abundant Yang Qi in the Dog Days: An Opportunity to Expel Cold, Cannot Be Missed

Especially during the dog days, with the peak of yang heat, qi and blood also tend to disperse outward. By utilizing this naturally bestowed yang qi and following the body's state, we can dissolve the latent cold pathogens and expel them, which is the perfect combination of timing and conditions. Even the deepest cold pathogens cannot hide from this.

IV. Specific Methods for "Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer": Sunbathing and Eating Ginger

1. Sunbathing: Nourishing Yang, Dispersing Cold, Strengthening Yang Qi

Unlike modern people who focus on sun protection, sunbathing was a method of nourishing health for ancient people. When you have free time, consume a light meal in the morning. If you encounter sunny and calm weather, sit close to a south-facing window, with your back facing the sunlight. This is called "basking in the warmth of the sun."

The sun's yang qi during the dog days is abundant, and our backs are also the place where yang qi is strongest. The governor vessel located on the back governs all six yang meridians in the body. By utilizing the sun's strong yang qi during the dog days, we inject energy into the body's main channel. When the spine is warmed by the sun, yang qi naturally penetrates the branches and flows throughout the body, making it warm and smooth.

Sunbathing Time:

• Best Time: 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. The morning is full of vitality, while the evening is relaxing and romantic, with less intense sunlight.

• Sunbathing in the Dog Days: During the dog days, between 9 am and 3 pm ( 9:0011:00, 11:0013:00, 13:0015:00), take a sunbath in the scorching sun with bare skin. This can cure all illnesses, regardless of their age or severity. Women can also sunbathe during their menstrual cycle. The important thing is not to cover yourself with clothes, as it will lead to excessive heat. However, one crucial point is that it's hard for ordinary people to withstand six hours of sunbathing in the dog days. If used as a type of sun (moxibustion), it could be worth trying to treat cold and damp conditions. But for daily health maintenance, the sunbathing methods mentioned below are sufficient.

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