Traditional Chinese medicine believes that yang qi is the key to maintaining the vitality of the human body, influencing aspects such as body temperature regulation, organ function, and mental state. However, in the fast-paced modern life, especially in the hot summer days, some daily habits may inadvertently deplete our yang qi, leading to issues like cold hands and feet, fatigue, and weakness. To help everyone better nurture their yang qi, the following content will reveal those potential harmful habits and share a few simple and easy-to-follow summer health strategies.
In hot weather, people tend to enjoy the coolness of air conditioning for long periods or consume a large amount of cold drinks and ice products, which, while temporarily relieving heat, may seriously harm the spleen and stomach, thus suppressing the generation of yang qi. In addition, staying up late has become a norm, disrupting the body’s yin-yang balance and preventing yang qi from being adequately nourished. Lack of exercise and unhealthy dietary habits, such as frequent consumption of raw, spicy, and greasy foods, are also common factors that weaken yang qi.
Facing these challenges, the following summer yang-nurturing tips are particularly important:
Enjoy the morning or evening sunlight: Sunbathing moderately can enhance yang qi, with preferred times being in the morning or evening, directly exposing the head and back for about 10-15 minutes each time, ensuring warmth without risking heatstroke.
Stick to foot soaking: Soak your feet in warm water, optionally adding mugwort and other herbs to promote blood circulation, warm the whole body, and continue for 20-30 minutes until a slight sweat appears.
Adjust diet structure: Summer diet should focus on warm-tonifying ingredients such as lamb, leeks, ginger, and longan, while ensuring the intake of vegetables and fruits to maintain a balanced diet.
Moderate exercise: Choose light to moderate exercises suitable for the summer, like jogging, badminton, swimming, to promote the rise of yang qi, and remember to hydrate and replenish energy promptly after exercising.
Self-massage acupressure points: Regularly massage acupressure points like Zu San Li and Yongquan to help strengthen the body, gently pressing each point for 5-10 minutes.
Maintaining yang qi is an investment in health. This summer, let’s adopt a proactive lifestyle adjustment and fill each day with vitality and sunshine.
