How to Maintain Health and Wellness During the Grain in Ear Season?
During the Grain in Ear season, it is recommended to go to bed late and wake up early to ensure sufficient rest for the body. As the weather remains relatively hot during this period, attention should be paid to heatstroke prevention and cooling down. Hot weather can easily lead to emotional distress, so it is important to regulate psychological emotions, relax the mind, and have a light diet to avoid greasy food that may cause internal heat.
1. Go to bed late and wake up early. Before and after the Grain in Ear season, people should adapt to the seasonal characteristics of long days and short nights, going to bed late and waking up early. However, "going to bed late" here does not refer to staying up late. In ancient times, it was believed that 11 pm had already entered the midnight hour, which was considered "late." Additionally, it is essential to appropriately expose oneself to sunlight while avoiding direct sunlight and taking precautions against heatstroke, which helps to align with the prosperous yang energy and facilitates the flow of qi and blood.
2. Relax your emotions. During the Grain in Ear season, the wind and fire coexist, which can easily lead to poor mental condition, lack of concentration, and anxiety. At this time, it is crucial to adjust one's mood, maintain a happy and broad-minded attitude, allowing the body to relax and the excretion to flow freely. Therefore, the public should learn to regulate their emotions through various methods, such as listening to music, taking a walk, and thinking about pleasant things.
3. Have a light diet. Regarding dietary nourishment, Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty advocated that people should consume "light, sweet, and mild foods, with barley malt and japonica rice being the best choices." He also said, "Those who are good at health preservation should often eat less meat and more rice." While emphasizing a light and nourishing diet, he cautioned people not to eat too much salty or sweet food.
