July 22nd this year is the Great Heat solar term, which is the twelfth solar term among the 24 solar terms and the last solar term of summer, marking the arrival of the hottest period of the year. Wang Xuyun, chief physician of the Department of Andrology at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Capital Medical University, introduced that "shu" means heat, with "great shu" being the "extreme heat". Folk saying goes, "small shu and great shu, steaming on the top and boiling on the bottom". At this time, the sunlight is intense, high temperature and high humidity are intertwined, and "damp heat steaming" reaches its peak. The key to health preservation is to dispel heat and spleen dampness. Wang Xuyun pointed out that during the Great Heat season, due to high temperatures and humidity, it is easy for people to experience discomfort such as restlessness, mental fatigue, loss of appetite, chest tightness, and insomnia. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that heat and dampness can easily invade the human body. If not protected properly, it can lead to heatstroke, digestive tract diseases, and skin diseases. At the same time, the Great Heat falls during the "early summer" of the "three fu days", and the natural yang energy is strong. It is the best time for "winter diseases and summer nourishment", especially for regulating chronic diseases that are prone to occur in winter, such as chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, rheumatism and rheumatism. At this time, we should take advantage of the favorable weather, arrange our diet and daily life reasonably, and maximize the support of yang energy in the body to achieve the goal of health preservation. How to prevent heatstroke and dispel dampness during the Great Heat? Wang Xuyun suggests that in daily life, one should adjust their routine according to the characteristics of summer - during the Great Heat period, the days are long and the nights are short. People should adapt to the changes in the natural sun and yin, and stay up late (not exceeding 23:00) and wake up early appropriately. At noon when the temperature is at its highest, taking a nap or closing your eyes to rest can help relieve fatigue and restore energy. In terms of diet, it is advisable to have a light and invigorating spleen. ”Wang Xuyun introduced that during the hot summer season, physical exertion is high and digestive function is weak. Therefore, it is advisable to have a light and easily digestible diet, eat more foods rich in vitamins and proteins, and consume fresh vegetables and fruits appropriately. Eat less greasy, spicy, and fried foods. If working outdoors for a long time, pay attention to replenishing water in a timely manner. People with cold constitution should mainly drink hot or warm water. It is easy to damage fluid and consume gas in summer. At this time, it is suitable to use Congee to nourish fluid and qi. You can choose porridge made of mung bean, lily, job's tears, red bean, etc. These ingredients have the effects of tonifying qi, clearing summer heat, strengthening spleen and stomach. In addition, bitter foods such as bitter gourd, bitter vegetables, and bitter buckwheat can clear heat and strengthen the spleen. Moderate consumption can prevent skin diseases caused by dampness and heat. Exercise and emotional regulation are also important. Wang Xuyun reminds that outdoor exercise should avoid the high temperature period at noon and be done in a cool place in the morning or evening, such as Tai Chi, jogging, and other gentle exercises, to avoid excessive sweating, gas consumption, and damage to fluids. After exercise, warm water or a moderate amount of electrolyte rich drinks (such as diluted salt water) can be consumed. Emotionally, one should avoid restlessness and anger. Hot weather can easily cause restlessness and anxiety. Listening to soothing music and dealing with cold situations can help prevent "emotional heatstroke". (New Society)