How to effectively drive away the cold? Take care of your back during the last days of summer

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine states, "Yang Qi is like the sky and the sun. If it loses its proper place, life will be shortened and its manifestations will be insignificant." The sun is the purest source of yang energy in nature, and the ancients called it "celestial fire." Its warming power can penetrate the skin, reaching the meridians and internal organs, dissolving stagnant yin and cold. The principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) warming and moxibustion are based on mimicking the sun's penetrating power, using the fire of mugwort to warm and circulate Qi and blood.

 

Sunbathing your back is a key component of maintaining good health during the last days of dog days, but the timing and method should be adjusted according to your physical condition:

Those with weak constitutions: Choose the mild, non-drying sunlight between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM to avoid heatstroke.

Those prone to getting irritated: Sunbathe your back after 5:00 PM to balance yin and yang with the lingering warmth of the setting sun.

Those with spleen and stomach deficiency or depression: Sunbathe your front and back abdomen to promote digestion and emotional well-being.

Those with joint pain or ankylosing spondylitis: Focus on sunbathing your back and joints to dispel cold and blood stasis.

Healthy individuals: Sunbathe your back in the morning to boost overall yang energy.

Start with a gradual increase, starting with 10 minutes and gradually increasing to 30 minutes.

Avoid cold drinks before and after sunbathing to prevent the intrusion of cold air.

Keep your head covered to prevent damage to your "spiritual spirit" and drowsiness.

Focus on the buttocks and back of the thighs, as cold and dampness easily accumulate there. Thorough sun exposure can relieve coldness in the lower limbs.

Ancient sunbathing methods for "powerful cold dispelling" include: bluestone slabs and pepper and ginger soup. If the cold and dampness are more severe, try the ancient method of exposing bluestone slabs to the sun for a day. After 5 pm, spread a towel on the slab, lie on it, and cover yourself with the towel to keep warm.

The last day of summer is the "last train" for health preservation. Seize this crucial period to let the sun infuse your body with abundant energy.

Adhere to Warm Therapy

"Warm Therapy" is a unique traditional Chinese medicine health therapy for the dog days of summer. It's based on the TCM theories of "correspondence between heaven and man," "treating winter diseases in summer," and "nourishing yang in spring and summer." Through warm stimulation of meridian acupoints, the therapy allows yang energy to penetrate the acupuncture points and meridians,achieving a nourishing effect.