三伏天是一年中最热的一段时间，而今天的三伏又特别的长，从7月12日开始，到8月20日结束，总共有40天。虽然这段时间是雨水不断，但是三伏天的酷热迟早会到来。
In people’s subconscious, during the hot three periods, special attention should be paid to preventing heatstroke. Indeed, high temperatures can easily lead to heatstroke, so it is important to take measures to prevent overheating. However, since heat is a well-known issue, people instinctively take precautions against heatstroke. In fact, during the hot three periods, preventing cold is more important.
Why is that? Because in high-temperature conditions, the body’s pores open up, blood vessels are in a dilated state, and the measures people take to cool down, such as drinking cold drinks, using air conditioning, and fans, can easily allow external cold evil to enter the body. Especially for elderly people, children, those who are weak after illness or childbirth, and those who have a colder constitution, it is even more important to focus on preventing cold.
The hot three periods were originally a time for our bodies to sweat, allowing us to expel accumulated cold and dampness. However, modern living conditions are too comfortable, and tall buildings nowadays are not as cool as the old houses in rural areas, so it’s unbearable without air conditioning. This is a last resort; it hinders the natural sweating process that should have occurred. Sweating is a natural way for the body to regulate temperature and can help dissipate heat. Spending too much time in air-conditioned rooms decreases the opportunity for this natural perspiration, weakens the body’s self-regulating ability, and many people may suffer from the so-called “air conditioning syndrome.”
Therefore, it’s advisable to reduce the use of air conditioning, and if unavoidable, take breaks to open windows and ventilate the room, or walk around the staircase to mitigate the negative impact of prolonged air conditioning use on the body.
While a summer without ice cream is incomplete, many people tend to overindulge. Various cold drinks, ice creams, and chilled fruits take turns. At this time every year, hospitals’ gastroenterology departments often receive a variety of acute gastrointestinal patients. Indulging in temporary cravings for coolness can damage the intestines and stomach, leading to acute conditions. Regular consumption of cold foods on hot days will weaken the spleen and stomach, accumulate more dampness, and if the spleen malfunctions, affecting the normal functioning of the entire body’s organs, things won’t go well.
During these hot days, it’s better to drink hot tea or soup to induce sweating, clear heat, and promote circulation. If one has excessive internal heat, it’s advisable to consume cooling foods such as mung bean porridge, watermelon, mangosteen, or plum soup. Also, avoid overeating at once, as it depletes the spleen yang.
It’s not recommended to consume any type of chilled food.
There is a saying: “Eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer,” which reflects the long-standing wisdom of health preservation.
These individuals are highly recommended to consume a few slices of ginger daily:
The method is simple; you can brew a few slices of fresh ginger in tea or ingest them directly: slice and peel fresh ginger, chew slowly in the mouth for about 15 minutes until soft, releasing the ginger flavor in the mouth, then swallow.
Procedure: slice the ginger, soak it in vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, covering the ginger entirely. You can add honey or brown sugar according to personal preference, store in a sealed container for a week, and consume 3-5 slices every morning.
