節氣「芒種」注意皮膚、腸胃問題

As temperatures gradually rise, June 5th marks the arrival of "Grain in Ear," the third solar term of summer. This solar term, named for the awns that begin to grow on grains, typically occurs around the Dragon Boat Festival, signifying the official arrival of typical summer weather. Due to the combination of high temperature and humidity during this period, people are prone to fatigue. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners specifically point out that skin and gastrointestinal problems are common around Grain in Ear. Dietary recommendations include prioritizing foods that strengthen the spleen, remove dampness, and clear heat to help the body adapt to seasonal changes.

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the incidence of skin and gastrointestinal diseases increases significantly after the transition to hot and humid weather in summer. TCM practitioner Wu Mingzhu stated that clinically, there is a marked increase in patients with skin symptoms during this period. Common problems include excessive facial oiliness, recurring acne, or atopic dermatitis triggered by sweating, leading to redness, swelling, and itching in the elbows. In addition, there is an increase in heatstroke patients, often accompanied by symptoms such as stiff neck and shoulders, nausea, and diarrhea. Therefore, dietary adjustments around the Grain in Ear (芒种) period should focus on…Strengthen the spleen and remove dampness」

The two main directions are "clearing heat and relieving summer heat".

Choose seasonal fruits carefully; melons and fruits are a good choice for health.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables are always the top choice for seasonal health maintenance, but mangoes, lychees, and other fruits that are abundant around the time of Grain in Ear (芒种) are quite sweet. Dr. Wu Mingzhu reminds that although the general public can eat seasonal fruits in moderation to supplement nutrition, people with inflamed skin should control their intake to avoid aggravating their symptoms and can choose melons and fruits as alternatives.

Fruits and melons not only replenish fluids but also offer various health benefits. Examples include loofah, bitter melon, winter melon, cucumber, watermelon, aloe vera, and okra. These foods can promote urination and reduce swelling, clear heat and reduce inflammation, and also resolve phlegm and quench thirst, making them ideal for summer consumption. However, doctors also specifically advise against certain foods.Spleen and stomach deficiency and coldPeople with insufficient Yang energy should not consume large quantities at once to avoid causing gastrointestinal discomfort.

People with skin inflammation need to be more careful about their diet; homemade "mung bean water" is both cooling and safe.

In response to the common summer need for cooling down, Dr. Wu Mingzhu mentioned that aiyu jelly, grass jelly, mung bean soup, and mung bean and barley are all familiar cooling foods. However, these foods are cooling in nature, and some people may experience discomfort after consuming them.diarrheaAt this time, you might as well choose "mung bean water", which can also achieve the effect of clearing heat, and is less of a burden on the stomach and intestines.

Especially for those with excessive dampness and heat in their body and a thick, greasy tongue coating, doctors recommend drinking only mung bean water and avoiding overcooking the mung beans. The preparation method is simple: wash the mung beans and soak them in warm water, allowing them to naturally release chlorophyll. When the soaking liquid turns light green, filter out the mung bean water, let it cool, and then refrigerate it before drinking. It is crucial to note that you should never boil the mung beans—overcooking them will release starch, which may actually increase dampness in the body and reduce the health benefits.

Regarding the once-popular red bean water, Dr. Wu explained that while both mung beans and red beans have diuretic effects, mung beans are more focused on clearing heat, while red beans are more focused on promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. From the perspective of summer heat relief needs, mung beans have a more prominent heat-clearing effect. The Compendium of Materia Medica also records mung beans, stating that they "can replenish vital energy and harmonize the five internal organs," and have the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, moisturizing the throat and quenching thirst, and improving eyesight and lowering blood pressure. This shows the unique value of mung beans in summer health preservation.

Summer sleep schedule adjustment: "late to bed and early to rise" combined with a short afternoon nap

In summer, not only should diet be adjusted, but daily routines should also be optimized to suit the season. Dr. Wu Mingzhu suggests adopting a "late to bed, early to rise" sleep pattern in summer, but "late to bed" should not exceed midnight, while waking up as early as possible to align with the natural rhythm of longer days and shorter nights. In addition, an afternoon nap can be arranged to help restore energy, but the nap should not exceed 40 minutes, otherwise it may disrupt the normal sleep rhythm at night and negatively impact physical condition.