Welcome to the last solar term of summer....and the hottest period of the year! Therefore it is imperative to stay hydrated during this time.
Yesterday started the second phase of the Canicular Days (San Fu). We have posted a separate article about it under our 'Special Edition' section -- Moxibustion
How to Maintain -- Sweating to Get Rid of Heat
During summer, it is beneficial to allow the body to sweat in order to get rid of heat from the body. This is why we have been suggesting performing moderate exercises during summer to allow the body to perspire and improve circulation. However, do keep in mind that after exercising, try to avoid: consuming cold drinks right away, taking a cold shower, or stepping into an air conditioned room (that’s of low temperature). This will be too much of a shock to the body as the blood vessels quickly constrict which can increase the risk of a mild stroke.
Diet
Continue to eat light. So try to avoid spicy, greasy, and cold food or drinks (ex. food right out of the fridge). There are a lot of fruits and vegetables that are great for clearing heat and nourishing Yin including but not limited to: bean sprouts, seaweed, tomato, winter melon, pumpkin, cucumber, sponge gourd, dried lily, Chinese yam, etc.
Teas:
Brown sugar, ginger, and honey with bitter melon
Mix and match herbs such as: Poria (China root, Wolfiporia extensa), lotus leaf, dang shen (pilose asiabell root), maimendong (Ophiopogon japonicus), Magnolia berry (five-flavor fruit), hawthorn, Japanese honeysuckle (lonicera japonica), heal-all (prunella vulgaris, self-heal).
- Add 1 teaspoon of salt into 300ml of water. Put the clams into the water to allow the clams to spit out the sand for 1 hour. Then rinse the clams with clean water.
- Cut the ginger into thin strips, peel the loofah and cut into pieces for later use.
- Heat the pan, add a little bit of cooking oil, add the loofah, and stir fry a little. After the loofah is slightly transparent, add 1 cup of water about 250~300ml (if you want to make a soup, add more water), and then add the clams.
- Cover the pot to let simmer until the clams are all opened. Try a bit for taste (the clams already have a salty taste, if you feel that it is not salty enough, you can add some salt).
- Turn off the stove and add shredded ginger and goji berries. Slightly mix it and it's ready to serve.
Lifestyle
The temperature has been high and may even be on the rise so the first thing that comes to mind may be to take a cold shower or to drink a cup of ice water. Even though a quick drink of cold water would feel refreshing and a cold shower is perceived as the quickest way to cool the body down, it may actually cause more damage than good, contrary to common perception. It is recommended to not get into the habit of drinking cold beverages or to take cold showers to avoid damaging the Yang and accumulating cold in the body.
Performing exercises to allow the body to sweat is good but make sure to dry up afterwards and stay hydrated to prevent heat stroke. When staying in an air conditioned room, try to avoid being directly under the ventilation and it is best to have the neck and shoulder area covered with a light scarf or towel to prevent neck and shoulder pain.
Overall, it is good to continue massaging the different meridians mentioned in the past posts, take naps, and to avoid staying up too late.
Aromatherapy Techniques
All of the blends introduced during the summer time can continue to be used during the period of Da Shu to carry on with nourishing the body and preparing it for autumn while Yin energy continues to extend.
Use the Stomach Meridian blend or any warm property essential oils/blends to massage the abdomen area. Stimulate ST 25 and REN 4 to keep the area warm and promote gastrointestinal motility.
Foot soak at least once a week using warm property essential oils/blends to promote sweating and eliminating cold from the body. Drink warm water after the foot soaks.
Use the Spleen Meridian blend to massage and stimulate the Spleen Meridian to replenish Qi and eliminate edema (water retention in the body).
Use the Heart Meridian blend throughout the day (afternoon and before sleep) to calm the heart, mind, and spirit.
Use the Small Intestine blend to keep good circulation around the shoulder and neck area which can help prevent having frozen shoulders.
Spend more time outdoors more during the summer time. It’s good to take precaution by using natural insect repellents to prevent getting unnecessary bug bites.
Simple insect repellent blend:
Lavender (15 drops)
Geranium (4 drops)
Mint (6 drops)
Mogwhort (3 drops)
Lemongrass (2 drops)
doTERRA’s TerraShield blend is great and it comes in a spray bottle.
Single oils such as Tea Tree works well too.
*some essential oils to mix and match for massages or foot soaks are: ginger, cinnamon bark, lavender, clove, geranium, wild orange, tangerine, etc. I personally like to use doTERRA’s On Guard.
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Once again I would like to thank Yu Wei Huang L.Ac for designing the character for Da Shu.
The essential oil blends are based off of the book "Four Seasons of Aromatherapy" by Elizabeth S.
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終於進入了夏季的最後一個節氣－大暑！大家都感受到了這一波波了熱浪了嗎？在小暑篇我們有大略提到過關於夏天溫度最高的三伏天（2021年的三伏天為初伏7月11日、中伏7月21日以及末伏8月10日），也是天地及人體的陽氣達到巔峰的時期，傳統中醫會在這段期間利用艾灸或是辛熱類中藥對於特定穴位進行刺激，充實人體內陽氣和正氣，將人體裡日積月累的寒邪之氣排出，以達到「冬病夏治」的目的。昨天開始了三伏天的【中伏】， 各位可以去參考我們介紹有關艾灸和三伏天的特別篇～
大暑的保養重點：清熱利暑，健脾祛濕
可以吃／喝什麼？
大暑飲食宜清淡、多樣化。食用營養豐富的果蔬和蛋白質，還有清熱、生津、養陰的食物，例如豆芽菜、白木耳、紫菜、蕃茄、冬瓜、南瓜、黃瓜、絲瓜、百合、山藥等。日常可適當服用紅糖生薑茶、蜂蜜苦瓜茶；中藥茶可用茯苓、荷葉、黨蔘、麥門冬、五味子、山楂、金銀花、夏枯草等搭配飲用。
禁忌：少吃辛辣油膩及生冷的食物。
節氣食譜－蛤蠣絲瓜
材料：
絲瓜 1條
蛤蠣 10-15顆
薑 1小塊
枸杞 15顆
鹽巴 適量
約300ml的水加入1茶匙的鹽，將蛤蠣放入調好的鹽水，水不用淹過蛤蠣，靜置約1小時讓蛤蠣吐沙，之後再將吐沙完的蛤蠣用清水洗淨備用
薑切成細絲，絲瓜削皮切塊後備用
先熱油鍋，油可以多放一點，放入絲瓜，稍微翻炒一下，待絲瓜外觀呈現微透明後加入1杯水約250~300ml（想做成湯可多加水），再放入蛤蠣，蓋上鍋蓋
悶煮到蛤蠣都打開後，開鍋蓋嘗試鹹度以及調味（蛤蠣已自帶鹹味，如果覺得不夠鹹的話可再加入適量鹽巴），最後加入薑絲及枸杞拌勻便可起鍋
蛤蠣絲瓜可以搭配白飯或是麵線都非常美味喔
生活習慣
縱然在這麼熱的氣溫下，還是要請大家不要洗冷水澡或是喝冰水，以免損傷體內的陽氣，導致寒邪累積在體內，到冬天時身體就容易出現問題。另外要避免中暑，適時補充水分。在冷氣房時，最好在頸部肩膀上披一件披肩或是衣物保暖，這樣可以避免產生頸肩痠痛的問題。
芳療
所有前五篇夏季節氣中所介紹的精油配方都可以繼續使用。
夏天在戶外的活動會比較多， 所以要做好防蚊蟲的準備。
防蚊蟲精油配方：
薰衣草 (15滴)
天竺葵 (4滴)
薄荷 (6滴)
艾草 (3滴)
檸檬草 (2滴)
我個人喜歡用多特瑞的【天然防護複方】TerraShield 。 我都會帶著噴瓶版的出門。
單方的茶樹精油也非常好用哦！ *如果真的被蚊蟲叮咬了， 它也有不錯的止癢效果哦～
在這裡也推薦一些大家可以拿來搭配用來泡腳的單方精油：姜， 肉桂， 薰衣草， 丁香， 天竺葵， 橘子， 等。 我個人很喜歡用多特瑞的【保衛複方精油】On Guard。
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非常感謝中醫師黃昱瑋所提供有關【大暑】時期的養生方法還有可愛的插畫。
精油配方是來自沈莉莎的24節氣經絡芳療自療全書
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