How to Moisturize in Autumn
Chinese medicine experts remind us: "Nourish Yang in spring and summer, nourish Yin in autumn and winter." In autumn, we should follow the natural law of spring growth, summer flourishing, autumn harvesting, and winter storing. In terms of mental health, diet, daily routine, and exercise, we should adhere to the principle of "nourishing and collecting" and treat everything with a balanced mindset. Diet should focus on nourishing Yin and moisturizing the lungs.
After the beginning of autumn, people with Yin deficiency are more likely to have excessive liver fire, often getting angry easily. This is what people commonly refer to as "inability to control the fire." When the liver fire is excessively strong, it will deplete Yin fluids in the long run. In autumn, the dryness becomes more apparent. Therefore, preventing dryness in autumn must pay attention to mental health, break away from emotional changes brought by the climate, promptly adjust one's mental state, and maintain an optimistic and positive attitude.
At the same time, autumn is the season of dryness, which easily damages body fluids. Therefore, the diet should focus on nourishing Yin and moisturizing the lungs. Most vegetables and fruits have the effect of generating body fluids, moisturizing dryness, clearing heat, and promoting bowel movements. It is also beneficial to consume more honey, lily, lotus seeds, and other nourishing foods to adapt to the nature of the lungs. It is advisable to consume fewer spicy and fried foods such as ginger, star anise, fennel, fried chicken legs, fried quails, and dry puffed food to avoid worsening dryness.
After the beginning of autumn, it is advisable to go to bed and wake up early for daily routine adjustment. Going to bed early can nourish the yang energy in the body, while waking up early can allow the lung qi to stretch. Generally, it is suitable to go to bed around 10 pm and wake up around 6 am. Although autumn is the season of early autumn, there is still lingering heat, so it is not advisable to wear too much clothing. Otherwise, it will affect the body's ability to adapt to the cold weather and make one more susceptible to colds.
In addition, after the beginning of autumn is a good time to engage in various sports and exercises. "But exercise should not deviate from the principle of 'collecting and nourishing,' and taking care of the body's Yin energy should be the top priority. You can choose activities like jogging, walking, hiking, and ball sports, but excessive sweating should still be avoided to prevent depletion of body fluids."
