Preventing Heatstroke: Techniques to Clear Heart Fire and Maintain Well-being

"The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" pointed out: "The south is hot, heat generates fire, and fire is mainly associated with summer, which corresponds to the heart internally." In summer, many people may experience symptoms of "fire" such as dry mouth, oral ulcers, reddish-yellow urine, and constipation. Therefore, in summer, we need to master some techniques to prevent heatstroke, in order to eliminate heart fire and maintain overall well-being. Diet: Bitter foods to clear heart fire According to traditional Chinese medicine, the four seasons and five flavors correspond to the internal organs of the human body. As the saying goes, "Food is better than medicine for nourishing the body," the same principle applies to removing fire in summer. Consuming a small amount of bitter foods in summer can help clear heart fire. Bitter fruits include apricots, grapefruits, oranges, and aloe vera. Bitter vegetables include bitter gourd, lettuce, celery, fennel, radish leaves, and bitter vegetables. Bitter beverages include bitter tea and bitter buckwheat tea. However, bitter foods are not suitable for everyone. According to traditional Chinese medicine, excessive consumption of bitter and cold foods can harm the stomach and spleen. People with weak stomach and spleen should avoid excessive consumption of bitter foods, as it may lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Additionally, bitter foods can easily cause dryness and damage the body's yin fluids, so those with a yin deficiency constitution should consume them in moderation. Mental state: Calm the mind and dispel heat In terms of mental well-being, it is said that in the third month of summer, if one wants to calm their spirits, they should maintain a tranquil state of mind, avoid external distractions, reduce the intake of rich flavors, spend time in high places with a clear view, go to bed and wake up early, not be tired of the sunlight, and follow the natural yang energy to dispel heat. "The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" emphasizes that in summer, it is more appropriate to calm the mind and maintain inner tranquility, so that the heat will have less impact on the heart. It is clear that in the scorching summer, achieving a calm and peaceful state of mind is particularly important, which is also why ancient people advocated the concept of "a calm mind naturally feels cool." Techniques: Massage and tapping to calm the mind Massaging acupoints can also help clear heart fire and calm the mind. Acupoints such as Shen Ting, Bai Hui, and Tai Yang on the head, Hegu on the hand, and Taichong on the foot all have the function of regulating the circulation of liver meridian qi and blood and calming the mind. Similarly, tapping the armpits can also relieve heat and remove fire. There is a Jing Quan acupoint in the armpit, located at the point where the pulse can be felt at the top of the armpit. The method is as follows: raise the left hand with the palm facing upward, use the right palm to tap the left armpit, then raise the right hand and use the left hand to tap the right armpit, tapping 30-50 times each time, for a total of 5 rounds.