After I started to get rid of the cold, I began to pay special attention to what the dog days of summer are. I immediately googled it online and found out that during the annual dog days, one has to endure the heat to stay healthy. No problem, in fact I keep warm and ward off the cold 365 days a year! But it is also useful to understand the reason behind it!
"The dog days" are the days with the highest temperature, humidity and heat in the year. Humans are warm-blooded animals, and their body temperature should change with the changes in the external temperature.
: In summer, the natural yang energy is abundant, and the temperature and humidity are relatively high. In order to regulate the environmental temperature, the human body needs to open and close pores in time to expel excess moisture and heat from the body. Once the laws of nature are violated, it is easy to get sick.
[Update] Specific dates for the dog days of summer in 2023:
▌The dog days of 2023
The first 10 days of the dog days: July 11th - July 20th
20 days of mid-summer season: July 21 - August 9
The last 10 days of the dog days: August 10th - August 19th
It seems that the dog days are also a good time to get rid of the cold. Here are some health suggestions collected online:
1. Allow your body to sweat naturally
People should follow the natural environment, accept the stimulation of cold in winter and experience the test of heat in summer, so that the body can sweat more. But now we use air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. We are too comfortable and sooner or later our bodies will get sick.
2. Soak your feet
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, when it is very hot, the pores all over the body are open, so it is not advisable to take a shower immediately, otherwise the cold and damp air will invade the body and cause wind, cold and dampness. Therefore, you can soak your feet in hot water more often to maintain thermal care in summer. Soaking your feet in hot water can help blood flow smoothly, promote blood circulation in the body, enhance metabolism, and repair body cells.
3. It is better to drink ginger water than to eat raw or cold food
In summer, many people like to drink cold drinks and eat cold food to relieve heat. This is actually a big mistake. Eating cold dishes and drinking cold drinks will damage the spleen and stomach. It is better to drink more brown sugar ginger water. I have also heard that "eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer, no doctor's prescription is needed". Drinking more brown sugar ginger water in summer can warm the middle and dispel cold, strengthen the spleen and stomach.
4. "Non-revealing" summer clothes
In summer, women need more "heat nourishment". Women are less adaptable to heat than men, especially women with cold constitutions, who should be more careful to avoid catching cold. Therefore, women should pay attention to keeping their waist, abdomen, legs, feet and back warm in summer. It is recommended to change into ordinary summer clothes and avoid clothes that expose shoulders, waist or navel .
5. Do more exercise to eliminate sweat and moisture
Doing proper exercise, sweating out the moisture, and detoxifying during the summer are the most important ways to stay healthy right now.
The annual dog days of summer is the time when nature detoxifies the human body. Even if you have never had the habit of getting rid of the cold, you can seize this best detoxification opportunity of the year, follow the weather, and get rid of the cold for yourself!