Why nourish Yang in summer?

Generally speaking, summer is when Yang energy is strongest. Many people ask, why do we still need to nourish Yang at this time? Won't it be "adding fuel to the fire"?

In fact, the human body sweats easily in summer. "Yang combined with Yin is sweat." Sweating is inseparable from Yin and Yang. The reason why people can sweat is because Yang pushes Yin out of the body, which is called sweat. Therefore, excessive sweating not only damages Yin, but initially it is "damage to both Qi and Yin," and over time it becomes "damage to both Yin and Yang." Sometimes after profuse sweating, people feel very tired and fatigued, which is actually a manifestation of damaged Yang energy. In addition, when it's hot, people's natural reaction is to seek cooling, but if the cooling is excessive, it can also damage Yang. For example, if the air conditioning temperature is too low for a long time, it can easily damage Yang energy and cause "air conditioning sickness."

Traditional Chinese Medicine's treatment method is called "adapting to the situation." In summer, warming and tonifying Yang actually utilizes the timely advantage, as Yang energy is strong during this period, making it more effective than tonifying in winter. This is the principle behind Sanfutie (Moxibustion patch therapy) and treating winter illnesses in summer. Some people have questioned Sanfutie in TCM, holding a skeptical attitude towards it. However, health preservation itself is a process of correcting one's constitution, so the effects will definitely be slow. Many health preservation methods in TCM should not be expected to be miraculous; persistence is the key. For example, to observe whether Sanfutie is effective, in the first year, there is almost no noticeable effect, and in the second year, there is still no significant difference. After persisting into the third year, the effects begin to become obvious.

The so-called "Sanfutie" is more suitable for people with Yang deficiency and should not be overused. For example, for people with an excessively hot constitution, Sanfutie will certainly not be effective. Another point is where it is applied. Some acupoints are suitable for everyone, such as Zusanli, which is a strengthening acupoint that can be used by men, women, old, and young. However, some acupoints should not be applied indiscriminately. Therefore, whether it is Sanfutie or Yang-tonifying medicine, misuse may lead to ineffectiveness or even adverse effects. It is recommended that if you have any of the above problems, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. (This column is published every Friday)