In the summer solstice, we should adjust our daily routine to adapt to the changes in the natural world, where yang energy is at its peak and yin energy is declining. It is advisable to sleep late and wake up early, and make up for any lack of sleep at night by taking a nap during the day. However, the elderly and weak should go to bed early and wake up early, aiming to get around 7 hours of sleep every day. In the hot summer, excessive sweating can lead to dizziness, chest tightness, palpitations, thirst, and even fainting. When arranging outdoor work and physical exercise, it is important to avoid the hottest times of the day and strengthen protection. Taking a midday rest can help avoid the heat and relieve fatigue.
Taking a warm water bath every day is also a recommended fitness measure. It not only washes away sweat and dirt, keeping the skin clean and cool to prevent heat-related illnesses, but also serves as a form of exercise. When taking a warm water bath, the water pressure and mechanical massage can lower the excitability of the nervous system and dilate the blood vessels on the surface of the body. This speeds up blood circulation, improves the nutrition of the skin and tissues, reduces muscle tension, eliminates fatigue, improves sleep, and enhances resistance. In addition, in the hot summer, the spleen is prone to deficiency and external pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, and dampness can invade the body. It is not advisable to have a fan blowing directly during sleep, and the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor in air-conditioned rooms should not be too large. It is especially important not to sleep outdoors at night.
It is best to do exercise in the early morning or in the evening when the weather is cooler during the summer. Choose places with fresh air, such as riversides, parks, and courtyards. If conditions allow, people can go to forests or seaside areas for recuperation and vacations. Walking, jogging, Tai Chi, and radio exercises are good exercise options. It is not advisable to engage in excessively strenuous activities. If sweating excessively during exercise, it is recommended to drink a moderate amount of diluted saltwater or mung bean saltwater soup. It is important not to drink a large amount of cold water and to avoid immediately rinsing the head or taking a shower with cold water, as this may cause various diseases such as chills and dampness obstruction, and excessive sweating.
In this solar term, let's talk about the "seven harms and eight benefits" in ancient sexual activities, so that readers can refer to them during sexual intercourse. The book "Talk of the Ultimate Dao" explains the "seven harms" very clearly: "One day of closure, two days of excessive discharge, three days of exhaustion, four days of abstinence, five days of restlessness, six days of cessation, seven days of waste." The first harm refers to the pain in the penis during sexual intercourse, the blocked ejaculation, and even the inability to ejaculate, which is called internal closure. The second harm refers to excessive sweating during sexual intercourse, which leads to the leakage of yang energy. The third harm is the lack of control and excessive sexual activity, causing excessive loss of semen, leading to exhaustion or weakness. The fourth harm refers to the inability to have an erection during intercourse, hence the phrase "abstinence." The fifth harm refers to the accelerated breathing, shortness of breath, mental distress, dizziness, and confusion during intercourse, which is called restlessness. The sixth harm is when the female partner has no sexual desire or demands, and the male partner becomes impatient, unable to wait, and even behaves rudely, forcing intercourse. Such sexual activity is naturally very uncoordinated and will cause great pain to the female partner, not only harming her physical and mental health, but also affecting the quality of pregnancy and causing harm to the next generation. Therefore, it is called "cessation," meaning being trapped in a desperate situation. The seventh harm refers to the rapid and excessive pursuit of pleasure during intercourse, resulting in the dissipation of semen and energy, hence the term "waste."
The "eight benefits" refer to eight measures that benefit the body through the practice of qigong during sexual activities. The book "Talk of the Ultimate Dao" states: "The first is to regulate the qi, the second is to produce saliva, the third is to know the timing, the fourth is to store the qi, the fifth is to harmonize the saliva, the sixth is to accumulate the qi, the seventh is to hold the victory, and the eighth is to be steady." The first benefit refers to practicing qigong and guiding the flow of qi before sexual intercourse, ensuring smooth circulation of qi and blood throughout the body, hence "regulating the qi." The second benefit suggests keeping saliva under the tongue and occasionally swallowing it, which can nourish the body. It also refers to the production of vaginal secretions, which are essential during intercourse. These are all referred to as "regulating saliva." The third benefit emphasizes the importance of timing in sexual intercourse, hence "knowing the timing."
The fourth benefit is to store and nourish the essence and energy, avoiding ejaculation. The fifth benefit refers to swallowing saliva upwards, without swallowing semen, ensuring a harmonious sexual experience for both partners. The sixth benefit is to stop intercourse at the appropriate time, avoiding exhaustion of energy and allowing the accumulation of essence and energy. The seventh benefit suggests leaving room during intercourse, maintaining sufficient essence and energy, and achieving "holding the victory." The eighth benefit emphasizes that during sexual intercourse, the male partner should not linger in pleasure, hence the term "being steady" to prevent excessive indulgence. From the above, it can be seen that the "seven harms and eight benefits" are very beneficial to health. They are of great significance for a healthy sexual life, reducing hidden dangers in sexual intercourse, and even for the quality of future generations.
