🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Every year, White Dew falls between September 7 and 9. White Dew is a typical autumn solar term, named for the increasing density of dew formed at night. According to lunar calendar: “When the constellation points to Guǐ, it is White Dew. Yin energy gradually intensifies, condensing into dew, hence the name White Dew.” At this time, the sun’s ecliptic longitude is 165 degrees. As the weather turns cool, moisture in the air condenses into white dew on trees and plants every night, and birds begin preparing for winter. The "Li Ji · Yue Ling" describes this season: “Blind winds arrive, swallows migrate south, swallows return, birds store food.” This means that swallows fly south to escape cold, and birds begin storing dry fruits and grains for winter. Clearly, White Dew symbolizes the onset of cooler weather.
Although White Dew is the same solar term across China, regional scenery differs. In the north, dew condenses, while in some southern areas, flowers still bloom abundantly—there is even a saying: “Osmanthus fragrance fills the air at White Dew.” Folklore warns against wind and rain during White Dew, such as: “A northeast wind on White Dew day means nine out of ten cotton bolls turn to pus; a northwest wind means nine out of ten are empty.” These proverbs reflect farmers’ deep respect for solar terms.
White Dew marks the true beginning of cool weather. Many people, in caring for their health, overemphasize supplements like seafood and meat while ignoring seasonal illnesses, inadvertently harming themselves and their families, affecting study and work. I must warn everyone: during White Dew, avoid nasal diseases, asthma, and bronchitis. Especially for those whose conditions stem from allergic constitution, dietary adjustments must be cautious. Patients with bronchial asthma triggered by allergies should avoid or minimize fish, shrimp, sea products, raw, grilled, pickled, spicy, sour, salty, greasy foods—common examples include hairtail, crab, shrimp, chives, yellow flower, pepper, etc. Instead, opt for light, easily digestible foods rich in vitamins. Modern medical research shows high sodium intake increases bronchial reactivity; in many regions, asthma incidence correlates positively with salt sales volume, indicating asthmatics should avoid overly salty diets. Foods have different “natures,” “flavors,” “meridians,” “ascending/descending/sinking/rising,” and “tonifying/eliminating” actions. Different attributes yield different effects and suit different people. Thus, everyone must adjust their diet according to seasonal changes.
Dietary health measures primarily aim to prevent disease and prolong life. The nourishing effect of food itself is a crucial preventive measure. Proper diet ensures adequate nutrition, strengthens the five zang organs, and enriches qi and blood. As the "Inner Canon" states: “When righteous qi resides within, evil cannot invade.” When the body’s righteous qi is strong, evil pathogens have no opportunity to attack, naturally maintaining health. Modern medical research confirms that lack of certain nutrients leads to illness. Protein and carbohydrate deficiencies cause liver dysfunction; vitamin deficiencies result in night blindness, beriberi, stomatitis, scurvy, rickets, etc.; mineral deficiencies—such as calcium deficiency causing rickets, phospholipid deficiency causing neurasthenia, iodine deficiency causing goiter, iron deficiency causing anemia, zinc and molybdenum deficiency causing poor development—must be addressed through balanced food combinations or targeted additions. Ancient Chinese physicians documented using animal liver to prevent night blindness, kelp to prevent goiter, bran and wheat germ to prevent beriberi, and fruits and vegetables to prevent scurvy over a thousand years ago.
In autumn health preservation, especially during seasonal transitions, we must not only implement comprehensive dietary adjustments and target specific nutrients to prevent disease but also leverage the unique properties of certain foods to directly prevent specific ailments. For example, scallions, ginger, cardamom, and coriander can prevent and treat colds; beet juice and cherry juice can prevent measles; white radish and fresh olive decoction can prevent diphtheria; lychees can prevent stomatitis and halitosis caused by gastritis; red radish porridge can prevent dizziness. As Chinese people increasingly pursue better quality of life, the international medical community pays growing attention to food’s role in disease prevention. Scientists have discovered and confirmed that many foods possess anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties—such as bitter melon, asparagus, purslane, etc. Additionally, dietary habits and methods are gaining increasing attention from scientists in disease prevention.
The "Nan Jing" states: “People rely on food for survival. The flavors of grains nourish the skin, fill the body, and enrich the hair.” This was ancient Chinese commentary on the nutritional role of food. Clearly, food nourishment is not only the foundation for human survival, but when nutrients (called “water and grain essence” in traditional Chinese medicine) are transformed into the body’s tissues and energy, they become the material basis for life processes. The famous physician Bian Que from the Warring States period said: “The foundation of physical well-being depends on diet. Those who do not understand dietary suitability cannot survive.” He emphasized that food properties vary by individual.
White Dew is a typical autumn climate, so we cannot ignore autumn’s climatic characteristics—dryness, commonly referred to as “autumn dryness.” We speak of dryness harming the body, easily depleting body fluids, resulting in dry mouth, lips, nose, throat, constipation, and dry skin. Numerous methods exist to prevent autumn dryness: appropriately consume foods rich in vitamins, or use herbs like ginseng, adenosma, American ginseng, lily, apricot kernel, and Fritillaria to clear lungs, resolve phlegm, nourish yin, and boost qi—these are highly effective against autumn dryness. For ordinary people, simple and practical herbal soups and dietary therapies are easier to accept.
Below are several herbal soup and dietary therapy formulas.
Lotus Seed and Lily Soup:
[Formula] 30 grams lotus seeds, 30 grams lily bulbs, 200 grams lean meat.
[Preparation] Soak lotus seeds and lily bulbs in clean water for 30 minutes. Wash the lean meat, place in cold water, boil briefly (blanch), then remove. Add clean water to a pot, place lotus seeds, lily bulbs, and lean meat together, boil until cooked (add refined salt and monosodium glutamate as needed).
[Efficacy] Clear lung dryness, relieve cough, reduce inflammation. Suitable for chronic bronchitis patients.

Yu Zhi Chicken:
[Ingredients] One winter citrus (optimal in winter), one rooster, appropriate amount of refined salt.
[Preparation] Remove feathers and internal organs from the rooster, wash clean. Peel the citrus, keep the flesh. Place the citrus inside the rooster’s cavity, steam in a vapor pot until cooked. Season with refined salt before serving.
[Efficacy] Tonify lungs and qi, resolve phlegm, relieve cough.

Ginkgo Chicken Cubes:
[Ingredients] 100 grams ginkgo nuts (white fruit), 250 grams boneless tender chicken, 2 egg whites, clear broth, granulated sugar, Shaojiu (Chinese cooking wine), starch, monosodium glutamate, sesame oil, salt, oil, scallions, etc.
[Preparation] Remove shells from ginkgo nuts, stir-fry in oil until about 60% cooked, then remove and peel off the thin outer layer. Cut chicken into 1 cm cubes, place in a bowl, add egg whites, salt, and starch, mix well. Heat a wok with oil (use more oil), when oil reaches 60% heat, add chicken cubes, stir to separate, then add ginkgo nuts and continue stir-frying until cooked. Transfer to a colander to drain excess oil. Heat another wok with a little oil, stir-fry scallion segments, then add Shaojiu, clear broth, salt, and monosodium glutamate. Add the prepared ginkgo-chicken cubes, stir-fry, thicken with wet starch, drizzle with sesame oil before serving.
[Efficacy] Tonify qi and blood, relieve asthma and vaginal discharge. Suitable for elderly patients with chronic bronchitis, pulmonary heart disease, emphysema, and women with leukorrhea.

Crunchy Yam:
[Formula] 500 grams fresh yam, 125 grams sugar, 100 grams bean flour, 750 grams vegetable oil (actual usage 150 grams), vinegar, monosodium glutamate, starch, sesame oil, etc.
[Preparation] Wash yam, steam until soft, peel, cut into 1-inch lengths, split in half, and flatten with a knife. Heat oil in a wok until 70% hot, add yam, fry until golden brown, remove. Heat another wok, add fried yam, add sugar and two spoons of water, simmer over low heat for 5–6 minutes, then switch to high heat, add vinegar, monosodium glutamate, thicken with starch, drizzle with sesame oil, and serve.
[Efficacy] Strengthen spleen and stomach, nourish lungs and kidneys. Particularly suitable for those with spleen deficiency, poor appetite, lung deficiency, cough, and shortness of breath.