Summer Wellness Wisdom: Exploring the Great Heat in China's Twenty-Four Solar Terms

Are you familiar with China's twenty-four solar terms? As a traditional wisdom that has been passed down for thousands of years in China, each solar term profoundly influences people's production and daily lives. As one of the traditional twenty-four solar terms in China, the Great Heat marks the beginning of the hottest period of the summer. It will arrive on July 22nd to the 24th, signifying the peak of "heat,” where the sun is at its strongest and temperatures are at their highest for the year. At this time, knowing some useful health tips to cool down becomes especially important. Would you like to learn more? After reading this article, I believe this summer will no longer be a struggle!

Dietary Adjustments

Eating Cooling清凉的(qīnɡ liánɡ de) Foods

清凉的 (qīnɡ liánɡ de), adjective, cooling

Examples:

1. Summer is good for eating some cooling food.
   夏天适合吃一些清凉的食物。
   xià tiān shì hé chī yì xiē qīnɡ liánɡ de shí wù 。
2. The food should be kept in a cooling place.
   这种食物应该放在清凉的地方。
   zhè zhǒnɡ shí wù yīnɡ ɡāi fànɡ zài qīnɡ liánɡ de dì fɑnɡ 。 

During the scorching heat of the Great Heat, opting for cooling and refreshing foods is particularly beneficial for the body. For instance, watermelon, cucumber, bitter melon, lotus seeds, and mung beans are excellent choices. Not only can they effectively help cool the body and alleviate the irritability caused by high temperatures, but they can also bring a sense of tranquility to your mood. Try incorporating mung beans, lotus leaves, or bitter melon into congee to make mung bean congee, lotus leaf congee, or bitter melon congee. Not only are they nutritious, but they are also delicious!

Moderate Consumption of Hot Foods

Despite the high external temperatures, it is beneficial to consume moderate amounts of hot foods such as lamb, ginger, and garlic. These foods can promote sweating to help regulate body temperature, as prolonged exposure to air conditioning can lead to physical discomfort. Properly balancing hot and cold foods is a small secret to staying healthy during the Great Heat.

Hydration

Hydration is an essential aspect not to be overlooked during the Great Heat. Due to the hot weather, the body can easily lose a significant amount of fluids through sweat, making timely replenishment of fluids crucial. You can opt for drinking lightly salted water or refreshing mung bean soup. Not only can they quench thirst, but they can also replenish lost minerals, maintaining the body's water and electrolyte balance.

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Going to bed early and waking up early is a lifestyle that aligns with the natural order, especially recommended during the Great Heat. With the longer daytime hours, we should adjust our daily rhythm according to the natural changes between yin and yang, ensuring an adequate amount of sleep to allow the body to rest fully. A short nap in the afternoon is undoubtedly a small pleasure during summer days. During midday, when the body's yang energy is at its peak, people tend to feel lethargic. Taking a brief rest at this time can not only help the body quickly recover energy but also enhance productivity in the afternoon, making the hot afternoons more relaxed and enjoyable.

Maintaining inner tranquility is particularly crucial in high-temperature environments. High temperatures often lead to irritability. At such times, consider trying meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques to help adjust your mood, allowing your mind to return to a peaceful state. These methods not only alleviate stress but also enhance overall happiness, making summer life more comfortable and pleasant!

Traditional Customs

In addition to some health tips, there are many customs derived during the Great Heat period. For example, in places like Putian, Fujian, eating lychee on the day of the Great Heat has become a unique tradition known as "Passing the Great Heat." Locals firmly believe that consuming lychee on this day has excellent nourishing effects, with its nutritional value even comparable to precious ginseng, making it a great choice for replenishing energy and boosting spirits in summer. In certain regions of Guangdong and Taiwan, it is a traditional custom to enjoy grass jelly during the Great Heat season. The ice-cold dessert made from grass jelly not only relieves heat炎热(yán rè) and thirst but is also praised for its refreshing and cool taste, considered an indispensable delicacy in the summer. In provinces like Hunan and other southern regions, people have the tradition of drying ginger slices during the Great Heat period. After drying the fresh ginger slices in the sun, they are stored for later use in winter. Since ginger is warm in nature, it can be used to dispel internal cold and protect the stomach from cold invasion.

炎热 (yán rè), noun, heat

Examples:

1. At times, the heat was barely tolerable.
   有时天气炎热得几乎令人难以忍受。
   yǒu shí tiān qì yán rè dé jī hū lìnɡ rén nán yǐ rěn shòu 。
2. The heat made him feel faint.
   炎热使他觉得快要晕倒了。
   yán rè shǐ tā jué dé kuài yào yūn dǎo le 。 

These traditional customs and health tips not only reflect the Chinese people's keen awareness of natural changes but also highlight the wisdom of ancient people in dietary health. By following these customs, people can find comfort during the scorching summer days and obtain nourishment and health. I believe that by understanding and inheriting these ancient wisdom, you will have a more pleasant and comfortable summer!