August is called "Late Summer" in China and these are the "dog day afternoons" in late August. The hotter and damper days are rich in humidity and a feeling of heaviness in the air. This often parallels the way our bodies feel during this period.
Dampness is associated with the element earth and is most active in late summer. Ailments of excessive dampness can be induced by sudden exposure to fog or mist, immersion in water or exposure to rain, and living in excessively damp locations or climates. The surface pores on the body are open. Because summer is humid, the pathogenic factors, which cause diseases in this season always mix with dampness. Symptoms of excessive dampness include abdominal pains, vomiting, intestinal spasms, diarrhea, lethargy, aching joints, and heaviness in the chest. These are characteristically heavy and sluggish in nature and tend to block the flow of qi energy throughout the body. "Inner-dampness" is caused by excess cold consumption of liquor, tea, cold melons, and sweet, greasy foods. These impede spleen functions. Jade for spleen meridian is the yellow jade.
If you have trouble sleeping at night, jade pillows covers are cooling and relaxing, and help to balance your body qi at night, or during the day if you need a nap. In China, it is traditional to take a nap or at least a rest following lunch. Noon is the hour for the heart meridian and a short nap on a cool jade pillow cover is restorative and refreshing
To prevent imbalance, consider a healthy, nutritional diet, getting good quality sleep and moderate exercise. Although cold drinks seem appealing on hot days, drinking cold in heat contributes to inner dampness
No comments:
Post a Comment