Its getting Drier and Haze is coming! Discover the Art of TCM Wellness!

My friend,

I am Dr Clement Ng, founder of TCM and You.

Learn how climate changes, especially the upcoming haze issues, can impact your health. Our live session will explore traditional Chinese medicine’s approach to staying healthy amidst environmental challenges.

A live online sharing of this article and coming courses was conducted on 03/08/2023. For those who have missed it or would like to revise the content delivered, you can assess the following video by clicking the link

https://vimeo.com/tcmandyou/aug23

For friends coming from Southern Hemisphere, please refer to Article on Spring

中文版本: https://tcmandyou.com/home/tny-aug-23-c/ 

Its getting Cooler, Drier and Haze is coming! Discover the Art of TCM Wellness!

I still remember the last time I contacted you all was in early May this year, as Singapore entered her unique summer, characterized by hot, humid weather and thunderstorms. As time passed, I believe you have experienced it. Some countries in the Northern Hemisphere have been experiencing abnormally high temperatures, leading to incidents of heat-related fatalities! I hope those who participated in my “sharing session” have adopted the health and wellness approaches recommended in the course to actively prevent possible symptoms.

On August 8, 2023, we welcomed a new solar term in the Northern Hemisphere, “立秋” (Liqiu), which marks the “Beginning of Autumn”. During this seasonal transition, the region is expected to experience the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in hot weather along with dry southwest monsoons. I believe you will feel even hotter and drier. Many people may find their throats becoming drier in the morning and experience dry cough without phlegm. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these symptoms fall under the category of “autumn dryness.” “秋燥”

While many of those living around the equator, like Singapore always commented that they don’t experience Four seasons, however depending on whether you are north or south of the line, your general weather pattern follow that hemispheric seasonal changes, the following is the Singapore average temperature over a 30 years period

Recently, neighboring countries have been facing frequent forest fires, and as the Southwest Monsoons arrive, we will also face the problem of haze. This makes us aware of the direct impact of climate and environmental changes on our health.

I have always emphasized the importance of “disease prevention” and how weather changes can affect our health based on our different constitutions. The climate during “Beginning of Autumn” is a transition from hot to cool, and it’s a period when the body’s yang energy gradually recedes, and yin energy gradually grows. Those with a deficiency in yang may begin to feel cold as time passes. However, the lingering heat of the past few months and humid weather will continue until the middle to late October before cooling down.

In accordance to the Five Elements Theory which I shared in my courses, the autumn period correspond to the Metal Element and is associates with the Lung Visceral System in our body, aligning with sorrow and melancholy in emotion. As the days progress, the day light time will gradually shortened, there is a tendency for people to develop a state of saddens or depress mode, thus its prudent to consciously maintain a calm, balance state of mind and be mindful of friends and relative who may be prong to such emotional imbalance.

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the haze enters the body through the mouth and nose, enveloping the entire body. The lungs govern the skin and body hair, responsible for the upper respiratory systems including our skins and the mouth and nose directly encounter the haze. This can lead to conditions like chest fullness, wheezing, and itchy skin. For those with respiratory conditions, it is advisable to take more proactive preventive measures, improve their condition, and boost their immune system.

I have always stressed the importance of “health preservation in daily life” and how “everyone needs to take responsibility for their own health.” At this time, in terms of health preservation, we should focus on relieving heat and paying attention to nourishing Yin, moisturizing the lungs, and generating fluids to prevent heat-related diseases and upper respiratory tract diseases. For those with a relatively weak constitution, it is also recommended to strengthen the spleen and reinforce Qi(vital energy).

In your daily diet, you should consume foods that nourish Yin and generate fluids, such as pear, lily, lotus seeds, white fungus, red dates, water chestnut, adzuki beans, honey, and luo han guo.

Now, let me introduce four medicated diets recipes and acupressure points to all of you.

Medicated Diets

  • Lily white fungus and lotus seed soup:
    • [Ingredients] 20 grams of lily, 40 grams of white fungus, 15 grams of lotus seed, rock sugar to taste.
    • [Efficacy] nourishing the lung and invigorating the body, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and soothing the heart and mind.

  • Honey Stewed Pear
    • [Ingredients] A pear, 2 red dates, 10 grams of honeys
    • [Efficacy] nourishing the lung, relieving cough, promote fluid secretion and eliminating dryness.

  • Lily Almond Red Bean Porridge
    • [Ingredients] 15 grams of lily, 6 grams of almond, 30 grams of red bean, 50 grams of rice.
    • [Efficacy] clear lung,  moisten dryness and address depression.

  • Chicken with Lung Yin Nourishing soup 
    • [Ingredients] Lung Yin Nourishing Formula (15 grams of Adenophora, 15 grams of ophiopogon, 5 grams of Wolfberry, 5 Red dates), 4 slices of ginger, 200 grams of chicken
    • [ Efficacy] Nourishing Yin, supplementing Qi and improve Qi circulation suitable for those recovering from cough.

Acupressure Massage Techniques:

  • Guan Yuan 关元穴
    • Beginning of Autumn (立秋) is the best time to massage Guan Yuan, as this action can help to converge the body’s Yang Qi, which will be beneficial in maintaining health, and strengthening the body.
    • Guan Yuan acupoint is an important Ren meridian acupuncture point, it is located in the lower abdomen, along the mid body line, 3 Cun below the naval. Kneading the acupoints with both hands at that same time, with an bulging sensation. 2 times a day, about 1 – 3 minutes.

  • Yu Ji 鱼际穴
    • Yu Ji acupoint is located at the midpoint between the root of the thumb and the wrist. During the dry seasons such as the Beginning of Autumn (立秋) massaging the Yu Ji Acupoints can help relieve respiratory diseases, such as cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, etc.
    • When massaging, you can use the thumb of the other hand to push along the Yu Ji Acupoint, or using the Yu Ji Acupoints of the two hands to hit each other. 1 to 2 times a day, about 10 minutes.

  • Ying Xiang  迎香穴
    • With the start of Beginning of Autumn (立秋), diseases associated with the Lung Visceral System are prompt to develop. Massaging the Ying Xiang Acupoint has the function of cleansing the heatiness, moistening dryness and nourishing the Lung Visceral System and help clear nasal congestion.
    • Ying Xiang acupoint is located beside the nasal about 0.5 Cun away, in the nasolabial groove. When massaging, use you’re the edge of the index finger to rub for 20 to 30 times, 1 to 2 times a day.
    • If you are practicing the 5 Element Facial Massage Technique I shared in the “Acupressure Massage” course, you will have already been massaging this Acupoint!

  • Chi Ze 尺泽穴
    • While having cough that occurred after a cold or fever, massaging Chi Ze acupoint can help to relieve the symptoms and clear phlegm from the lung.
    • Chi Ze acupoint is located on radial side of the cubital crease. This point is located with the elbow slightly flexed. When massage, use the thumb of one hand to knead the opposite side Chi Ze point and slowly knead for 20 to 30 times. Then alternate to the other hand, 1 to 2 times a day.

Thank you for being a part of my health maintenance and leaning community.

I look forward to share TCM health betterment knowledge and skill with you and hope you’ll someday join me to learn even more by taking my class-room training or an online course or training in the convenience of your home.

Warmest regards

Dr Clement Ng （黄欣杰）

Updated: 27/07/2023

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