Why nourish Yang in summer?

Generally speaking, summer should be a time when Yang energy is at its peak. Many people ask why we need to nourish Yang energy at this time, as it might "add fuel to the fire."

In fact, the human body tends to sweat more in summer. "Sweat is the sum of Yang and Yin," meaning sweating is inseparable from both Yin and Yang. The reason we sweat is because Yang pushes Yin out of the body, resulting in sweat. Therefore, excessive sweating not only damages Yin, but initially it's a "double injury to Qi and Yin," and over time it becomes a "double injury to Yin and Yang." Sometimes, after sweating profusely, a person feels extremely tired and exhausted, which is actually a manifestation of damaged Yang Qi. Furthermore, the body's instinctive reaction to heat is to seek cooling, but excessive cooling can also damage Yang. For example, excessively low air conditioning temperatures over a long period can easily damage Yang Qi, leading to "air conditioning sickness."

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments are called "following the natural course of events." Warming and tonifying Yang in summer takes advantage of the season, as Yang energy is at its peak then, making it more effective than tonifying in winter. This is the principle behind applying Sanfu patches and treating winter illnesses in summer. Some people have questioned the effectiveness of Sanfu patches, holding skeptical attitudes. However, health preservation is inherently a process of correcting one's constitution, so the effects will inevitably be slow. Don't expect many TCM health preservation methods to be miraculous; persistence is key. For example, to observe the effectiveness of Sanfu patches, the first year is almost imperceptible, the second year shows little difference, but by the third year, noticeable effects begin to appear.

So-called "Sanfu Patch" is more suitable for people with Yang deficiency and should not be used indiscriminately. For example, people with a "hot" constitution will definitely not benefit from Sanfu Patch. Another point is that it depends on where the patch is applied. Some acupoints are suitable for everyone, such as Zusanli, which is a strengthening acupoint suitable for men, women, and children of all ages. However, some acupoints should not be applied indiscriminately. Therefore, whether it's Sanfu Patch or Yang-tonifying medicine, misuse may lead to ineffectiveness or even adverse effects. It is recommended that you seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have any of the above problems. (This column is published every Friday)