As we come to the second solar term of Autumn, the Canicular days has come to an end, which means the heat is lessening and it will start to become cooler.
For this solar term, we’ve decided to go a bit creative with the illustration to not only demonstrate the cooler temperature through the character’s outfit but to also incorporate the Chinese Valentine’s Day that’s based on the lunar calendar and is on 8/14 this year.
How to Maintain -- Strengthen the Pericardium Meridian
The Pericardium is a thin, double-walled membrane wrapping around the Heart, protecting it from pathogenic attacks. Like the Heart, the Pericardium governs Blood and houses the Mind. By massaging along the Pericardium Meridian, it can invigorate or cool Blood while stimulating or calming the Mind. The Pericardium is related to the Liver as both Meridians being the Terminal-Yin (Jue Yin) channels. Therefore, by taking good care of the Pericardium during the Autumn, the Liver will be nourished and allow it to function well when Spring comes around.
Overall, strengthening the Pericardium Meridian allows the body to have good circulation of Qi and Blood and stabilizes the mental-emotional state (lifts mood, treats depression, calms the mind).
[TCM FACT]
The Pericardium channel originates from the chest and enters the pericardium. It then descends through the diaphragm to the abdomen to communicate with the Triple Burner. A branch from the centre of the chest emerges laterally from the nipple to run along the superficial channel to the axilla and down the medial aspect of the arm to end at the medial side of the middle finger.
Acupressure point PC 6 (Nei Guan - Inner Gate) is a very important point for it has a great number of functions.
moves Qi and Blood in the chest- a good point to stimulate if experiencing any discomfort or pain of the chest.
calms the Mind - feeling overwhelmed, anxious, busy mind, depression, insomnia, etc.
harmonizes the Stomach - nausea, vomiting, hiccup, stomach discomfort in general.
Diet
During Autumn, the air is drier so it is recommended to consume fruits and vegetables that are high in water content. Drink plenty of fluids as well to help reduce the discomfort caused by the changes in the weather during this season. For example: eggplant, sesame, yam, lentils, sponge gourd, cucumber, celery, water chestnut, tomato, taro, white radish, pear, sugar cane, orange, persimmon, pineapple, etc.
As for drinks, some recommendations include: longan with red date tea, lily with white fungus soup, honey water, etc.
It is recommended to avoid spicy, greasy, and cold foods during this period.
Ingredients (1 serving):
2 tomatoes
vegetables and protein of your personal liking and amount
one bundle of noodles
water
cooking coil
salt
black pepper
Directions:
- Soup Base:
- Remove the stem of the tomatoes and boil them in hot water for a few minutes to easily remove the skin.
- Cook the tomatoes in a large pot with a little bit of cooking oil until slightly soft and the aroma of the tomatoes comes out.
- Add 600ml of water or broth (any kind of bone broth of your choice) into the pot and cook until boil. *if use broth, then don't have to add any salt/other condiments.
- Toppings:
- Wash the vegetables and cut into desired size. Can put into soup base to cook.
- Meats/Seafood can be cooked in the soup base pot as well. If have large chunks of meat, would recommend to cook in a separate pot.
- Yu-Wei's personal favorite: mushrooms, bok choy, sweet corn, and cha-shu pork or thinly sliced pork/ beef (the ones used for hot pots).
- Noodles: prepare a separate pot, filled with water and cook until boil. Put in the desired amount of noodles. Once the noodles are cooked, pour through a strainer and put the noodles into a bowl.
*if you're cooking noodles to save for later, best to add some vegetable oil (of your choice) and mix evenly to prevent the noodles from clumping together. - Add on the toppings of your desire and a few scoops of the soup base...enjoy!
Lifestyle
Autumn is a good time to start nurturing and collecting Qi. The best way to do so is having good quality sleep (11pm is when the body starts to replenish and collect Qi and Blood, so it is preferable to be in bed before that time). It is also beneficial to take a 30~45 minute nap in the afternoon.
The weather and temperature change drastically during Autumn, therefore it is important to be mindful of your clothing choices and to dress in layers to counteract weather changes and avoid catching a cold or getting heatstroke.
It is important to continue to keep the body active by performing moderate exercises throughout the week. Some movement is better than no movement, so even if you’re just performing some stretches, they are still a good way to stimulate the whole body.
Essential Oil Blend -- Hand Jue Yin Pericardium Meridian
Rose (3 drops)
Sandalwood (2 drops)
Mandarin Petitgrain (3 drops)
Lime (10 drops)
Bergamot (10 drops)
Melissa (1 drop)
Cold-pressed sesame oil (30ml)
Sea buckthorn oil (1 drop)
Apply the blend along the Pericardium Meridian and then massage with your hand or with a massage tool for 3 minutes.
The Pericardium Meridian is the most active from 7~9pm, therefore it is suggested to massage during this time frame.
Simply using any type of floral essential oils can uplift mood and calm the mind~
During this new solar term, let's take good care of our heart's defense wall--the pericardium, so we can maintain a calm mind and good circulation of Qi and Blood.
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Once again I would like to thank Yu Wei Huang L.Ac for designing the character for Chu Shu and providing all of the great suggestions for this time period.
The essential oil blends are based off of the book "Four Seasons of Aromatherapy" by Elizabeth S.
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雖然迎來了秋天的第二個節氣，但是暑熱還在，天氣依然是很不穩定的。另外也剛好進入了農曆七月，可能大家已經知道農曆七月對於華人就像是西方文化裡的萬聖節或是墨西哥的亡靈節，代表著我們對先人的追思以及對於自然的敬畏之心。但是這個月裡也有一個非常浪漫的日子喔！也就是七夕－中華文化裡的情人節（農曆七月七日／2021年8月14日）。希望大家都能開開心心，平安健康每一天～
處暑的保養重點：滋陰潤燥，補氣養肺
可以吃／喝什麼？
在處暑裡服用水分含量多的蔬果，可有效預防秋燥，而且也可以降低多變的天氣帶來的不適感。例如：茄子、芝麻、山藥、扁豆、絲瓜、黃瓜、芹菜、荸薺、番茄、芋頭、白蘿卜、梨、甘蔗、橘子、柿子、菠蘿等。湯水類可飲用桂圓紅棗茶、百合銀耳湯和蜂蜜水等。
禁忌：辛辣油膩及寒涼生冷的食物。
節氣食譜－香濃番茄湯麵（1人份）
材料：
牛番茄 2顆
蔬菜 適量
肉類 適量
麵條 一把
水
食用油
鹽巴
黑胡椒
湯底：牛番茄去除蒂頭用熱水川燙除去表皮，再將去除外皮後的番茄下油鍋炒香，待番茄香味出來後加入600毫升左右的清水或是高湯煮滾當成湯底備用（加入高湯好處是可不用另外調味）。
備料：將蔬菜清洗，切成適當大小後，放入番茄湯內一起煮；肉類除火鍋肉片以外建議另行烹煮。一般我會使用蘑菇、青江菜和甜玉米粒，肉類則是用叉燒肉或是火鍋肉片，供大家參考；大家可依個人喜好改變蔬菜以及肉的種類。
煮麵：準備一鍋水，水燒開後加入麵條，麵條煮好後立刻撈起瀝乾放入麵碗中，加入煮好的菜、肉以及湯底，進行最後的調味即可享用香噴噴的番茄湯麵囉（如果沒有要立刻食用麵條，可加入少許食用油拌勻防止麵條沾黏結塊）！
生活習慣
秋天是收養精氣神的好時期，所以保持充足的睡眠為最佳（補養氣血的睡眠時間為晚上11時），在中午時最好也能小睡1個小時。另外根據氣溫的變化調整穿著，避免著涼或是中暑。還有就是保持規律的運動習慣。如果不喜歡出汗，可以多做伸展運動，一樣有增進氣血循環功效。
如何保養身體？強健心包經
夏秋之交的冷热变化， 加上秋燥， 會需要一段時間適應， 也比較容易心神不定， 引發呼吸道、腸胃炎、感冒等。
心包是保護心臟的第一防線。 同時， 它也有如心主血脈、神志的功能本經主要治療心、胸、胃、神志病證。這個時段強健心包經有助於安神、加強心、肺、腸胃的功能。 另外， 心包和肝都是厥陰經， 所以在秋季保養好心包， 使得每晚有好的睡眠可以滋養到肝。
中醫小知識－心包經
心包經起於胸中，出於心包，向下通過橫膈，聯繫三焦（胸、上腹和下腹）。其胸部支脈，循胸中，出胸肋，從腋下3寸向上走至腋窩中，沿上臂內側，繼續下行於肺經與心經之間，過肘窩，經前臂、手掌直達中指指端。另一小支脈則掌中分出，於無名指指端與三焦經相接。
生理解剖中心包是包圍在心臟外圍的一層薄膜，在中醫理論中有邪氣要侵擾心臟時，會由心包絡先代心受邪，是一種防禦機制。因此保持心包經的通暢對於保養心臟也是具有非常大的功效。
特別為大家介紹一下內關穴這個穴位。內關穴在心包經上，在手腕橫紋上3寸（4根手指併攏取最寬處的長度），位於兩筋之間。治療心胸胃區問題，刺激這個穴位可改善胸悶、睡眠障礙、暈動症及高血壓等。常按摩心包經對於緩解壓力也有很好的效果喔。
精油配方－手厥陰心包經
大馬士革玫瑰 (3 滴)
印度檀香 (2 滴)
桔葉 (3 滴)
冷壓萊姆 (10 滴)
佛手柑 (10 滴)
香蜂草 (1 滴)
冷壓芝麻油 (30ml)
沙棘油 (1 滴)
沿著心包經塗上精油後開始按摩三分鐘。 按摩心包經主管的時段為晚上7～9 點， 不只是可以幫助睡眠， 還有助消化才吃完的晚餐哦～
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非常感謝中醫師黃昱瑋所提供有關【處暑】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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