The Minor Heat Health Preservation Chapter of the 24 Solar Terms

July 7th is a minor summer day. When the sun reaches its peak, it is called Minor Heat. At this time, the weather is already hot but has not yet reached the extreme point of blood stasis, hence the name. The sun's ecliptic longitude is 105 degrees. The weather is already very hot, but it's not yet the hottest time, so it's called Minor Heat. By the time of Minor Heat, it is already around the beginning of the Dog days of Summer. Everywhere is covered with lush green trees and thick shade. The average temperature in many areas has approached 30 degrees Celsius, and there is often a feeling of heat waves. Heavy rain also frequently visits most parts of China during the Minor Heat solar term. Due to the concentrated rainfall during this period, flood prevention and waterlogging control are particularly important. There is a farming proverb that goes, "In the major heat and minor heat, rats can be killed." There are also experience summaries such as "South wind in Minor Heat and drought in Major Heat" and "Thunder in Minor Heat and collapse of embankments in Major Heat". If the south wind blows during Minor Heat, there will definitely be no rain during the Major Heat period. That is to say, the south wind is the most taboo during Minor Heat; otherwise, there will surely be a severe drought. If there is thunder on the Minor Heat day, there is bound to be a flood that will burst the embankment. During the Minor Heat solar term in the southern coastal areas of our country, including Taiwan, typhoons are approaching. The "Taiwan Prefecture Annals" records: "Strong and fierce winds are hurricanes, and in severe cases, they are typhoons..." The terrace often lasts day and night, or lasts for several days. ... Those that depart in May, June, July and August are called "Tai". During the Minor Heat period, it is the time when fireflies become active. Under the reeds and in the grass, these are the birthplaces of fireflies. Wherever there is green grass and dew, at night, one can see those flickering white lights, just like stars in the sky, twinkling and moving, accompanying people through the long night in the gentle breeze. At this time, most areas of our country are also busy with the field management of summer and autumn crops. It is precisely because it is the busy season that we must not neglect the care of our bodies. In Laozi's "Tao Te Ching" : "Therefore, the Dao is great, heaven is great, earth is great, and man is great too." There are four great elements in the domain, and human habitation is one of them. Xunzi further pointed out: "Water and fire have energy but do not generate; grass does not grow but is ignorant; beasts have knowledge but lack righteousness; humans have life, knowledge and righteousness. Therefore, they are the most precious in the world." The "Suwen: The Complete Treatise on the Protection of Life" also states: "Heaven restores and earth supports, all things are complete, and nothing is more precious than human beings." The Taoist classic "Taiping Jing" also repeatedly discusses the proposition of valuing life and health, and enjoying life while hating death. It is pointed out that "people live between heaven and earth. Everyone has one life and cannot be reborn." Therefore, we should cherish life. The most virtuous person is one who always desires to live a happy life. For this reason, the health preservation theory of "self-love and self-care" was proposed, which means that "those who wish to avoid misfortune and stay away from harm and enjoy a long life should always know how to love, care for and be close to themselves. Only by doing so can they be free from misfortune and harm." It should be noted that only through self-care and active exercise can one achieve a long life. During the Minor Heat season, the weather is hot and people are prone to feeling irritable, restless, and tired. When taking care of oneself and exercising, we should follow the principle that the heart governs summer and protect the heart Yang, keep calm and composed, and ensure the vigorous function of the heart, in line with the principle of "nourishing Yang in spring and summer". The Ling Shu: The Beginning of All Diseases states: "When joy and anger are not controlled, they harm the internal organs." This is because the emotional activities of the human body are closely related to the internal organs and follow certain patterns. Different emotional stimuli can damage different internal organs and cause different pathological changes. Traditional Chinese medicine advocates the concept of "moderation" in health preservation, meaning that one should not engage in any extreme behavior under any circumstances. For instance, excessive joy can harm the heart, and when the heart is hurt, the heart beats restlessly, the spirit scatters, the mind cannot concentrate, and in severe cases, mental disorders may occur. The heart is the supreme ruler of the five internal organs and six viscera. All life activities are concentrated manifestations of the functions of the five internal organs, and all of this is governed by the heart. There is a saying that "when the heart moves, all the five internal organs and six viscera tremble." However, if the heart spirit is damaged, it will inevitably affect other internal organs. In terms of emotions, joy is the aspiration of the heart. This "joy" is to relieve tense emotions in a state of moderation, making the mood pleasant and the blood and qi smooth. Therefore, the key point of summer health preservation is to emphasize the two words "calm mind" for this reason. Summer is also a season when digestive tract diseases are prone to occur. In terms of dietary adjustment, it is necessary to change the bad habits of irregular, unclean and partial eating. Diet should be moderate. Excessive hunger leads to insufficient food intake, a lack of vital energy sources, and a deficiency of qi and blood, causing physical fatigue and emaciation, weakened vital energy, reduced resistance, and secondary diseases. Overeating can exceed the digestive, absorptive and transformative functions of the spleen and stomach, leading to food stagnation and symptoms such as distension and fullness in the epigastrium and abdomen, belching, acid reflux, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, which are all diseases that damage the spleen and stomach due to food. The "Bi Lun" chapter of the "Suwen" states: "If one doubles one's diet, the stomach and intestines will be harmed." This is the principle that one should be moderate in diet. Unclean diet in summer is the main culprit causing various gastrointestinal diseases, such as dysentery and parasitic diseases. If one consumes spoiled and toxic food, it can also lead to food poisoning, causing abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, it may result in coma or death. Dietary preference is one of the causes of malnutrition. Only by adjusting the diet appropriately can the nutrients needed by the human body be guaranteed. There is a preference for overly cold or hot food, as well as a preference for the five flavors. Eating too much raw, cold and cool food can damage the Yang qi of the spleen and stomach. Due to the internal generation of cold and dampness, abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur. A preference for spicy, warm and dry hot food can cause heat accumulation in the stomach and intestines, leading to thirst, abdominal distension and pain, constipation and eventually hemorrhoids. The bias of the five flavors means that a person's spirit, qi and blood are all nourished by the five flavors. The five flavors correspond to the five internal organs, such as sourness entering the liver, bitterness entering the heart, sweetness entering the spleen, and saltiness entering the kidneys. If one has a long-term preference for a certain food, it will cause the functions of the internal organs to be either excessive or insufficient. Over time, this can damage the internal organs and lead to diseases. If one has a preference for salty food, it will cause blood stasis and a lackluster complexion. Eating too much bitter taste can cause dry skin and hair loss. Eating too much spicy food can cause the tendons and meridians to become constricted and the claws and nails to become dry and withered. Eating too much sour food can make the skin and flesh thick, wrinkled and shriveled, and the lips dry, thin and lifted. Eating too much sweet food can cause bone pain and hair loss easily. What is important is that excessive habits not only lead to malnutrition but also harm the spleen, stomach and other internal organs, causing diseases such as beriberi, night blindness and goiter. So I suggest that in dietary therapy and health preservation, the five flavors of food (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty) should be appropriate. One should not be picky about food in daily life and follow dietary restrictions when ill. As stated in "Thousand Gold Prescriptions: Preface to Cultivating One's Nature" : "Do not eat when extremely hungry; do not eat too much." Don't drink when you are extremely thirsty; don't drink too much. When one eats too much, it leads to accumulation; when one drinks too much, it results in phlegm 澼. When people are extremely hungry or thirsty, they are most likely to overeat and binge eat. Therefore, when one is extremely hungry or thirsty, they should eat slowly. Additionally, when there is no appetite, one should not force themselves to eat or overeat. Tao Hongjing, a medical expert of the Liang Dynasty, pointed out in his "Record of Nourishing Nature and Prolonging Life" : "Drinking too much when not thirsty causes stomach distension, and eating too much when not hungry causes spleen fatigue." The above arguments all illustrate the significant importance of having a balanced, clean and diverse diet. Recipe for the Minor Heat solar term: Stir-fried mung bean sprouts: [Ingredients] 500 grams of fresh mung bean sprouts, a few Sichuan pepper grains, an appropriate amount of vegetable oil, white vinegar, salt and monosodium glutamate. [Method] Wash the bean sprouts with clean water and drain them. Heat oil in a wok, add Sichuan pepper and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the bean sprouts and stir-fry for a few times. Pour in white vinegar and continue to stir-fry for a few minutes. Before serving, add salt and monosodium glutamate, and serve on a plate. [Functions] Clearing heat and detoxifying, treating sores and ulcers. Stir-fried bean curd sheets: [Ingredients] 2 bean curd sheets, an appropriate amount of vegetable oil, salt, scallions, and monosodium glutamate. [Method] Cut the bean curd sheets into thin shreds and wash the scallions, then cut them into thin shreds. Heat the oil in a wok until it reaches 60% of its smoking point. Add the shredded scallions and stir-fry until fragrant. Then add the shredded bean curd sheets and stir-fry for a few minutes. Add the monosodium glutamate and drizzle with sesame oil, stir well and serve. [Functions] Tonifies deficiency and stops sweating. Suitable for people who sweat excessively, sweat spontaneously or sweat at night to consume. Vegetarian stewed Gluten: Selected from "Su Xi Ju Diet Spectrum" [Ingredients] 500 grams of water gluten, an appropriate amount of scallions, ginger, salt, starch, vegetable oil, and monosodium glutamate. [Method] Cut the water gluten into thin slices, and wash the scallions and ginger, then shred them and set aside. Heat the oil in a wok, add the water gluten and stir-fry until it turns golden brown. Add scallions and ginger and stir-fry for a few minutes. Pour in a bowl of water and add salt. When the gluten is thoroughly cooked, add monosodium glutamate and thicken with starch. The sauce is clear and transparent. [Functions] Reduce fever, relieve irritability and quench thirst. Beef stewed with Broad Beans: [Ingredients] 120g fresh broad beans or rehydrated broad beans, 250g lean beef, a little salt, an appropriate amount of monosodium glutamate and sesame oil. [Method] Cut the beef into small pieces. First, blanch them in a pot of water, then remove and add water. Put an appropriate amount of water in a clay pot. When the water reaches a certain temperature, add the beef and simmer until it is 60% cooked. Add the broad beans and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low, add salt and simmer until the meat and beans are thoroughly cooked. Add monosodium glutamate and sesame oil, and serve. [Functions] Strengthening the spleen and promoting diuresis, tonifying deficiency and strengthening the body. Watermelon and tomato juice: [Ingredients] Half a watermelon, 3 tomatoes of moderate size. [Method] Peel and remove the seeds from the watermelon. Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, then peel and remove the seeds. Squeeze the juice from both at the same time, combine the two liquids and drink as much as you need. [Functions] Clearing heat, promoting the production of body fluids and quenching thirst. It is especially suitable for people with summer colds, thirst, irritability, loss of appetite, indigestion and hot and red urine.