🌿 Folk Prescriptions

"When the Big Dipper points to Ji, it is Grain Full; everything grows here, filling out but not yet full. Wheat is just beginning to fill but not yet ripe, hence the name." This means that from Grain Full onward, crops like barley and winter wheat have set grain, with kernels gradually becoming plump but not yet mature, hence "Grain Full." Grain Full corresponds to a solar longitude of 60 degrees. It is a solar term reflecting phenological changes. Phenology refers to the seasonal activities of plants and animals—flowers blooming, trees budding, birds migrating, insects hatching—activities closely tied to climate changes. These phenomena serve as seasonal markers, such as plant germination, leafing, flowering, fruiting, leaf fall, animal hibernation, awakening, singing, breeding, and migration—all influenced by climate shifts. People call these phenomena "phenology."
China is the world’s earliest nation to study phenology. The *Book of Songs* records: "In April, the honeysuckle blooms; in May, cicadas sing; in August, dates are harvested; in October, rice is gathered." The *Xia Xiao Zheng* from early Han Dynasty is China’s earliest specialized text on phenology, recording phenology, meteorology, astronomy, and important political and agricultural activities—like farming, silkworm rearing, horse tending—by month throughout the year. Later, *Lüshi Chunqiu* and *Li Ji* also recorded phenological content, gradually developing into the 24 solar terms and 72 phases. Ancient China divided each month into five-day periods, with three periods forming one solar term. From minor cold to grain rain, these eight solar terms contain 24 phases, each associated with a flower blooming. People call the wind blowing when flowers open "flower message wind" (meaning the wind carrying the news of blooming). Thus arose the concept of "24 Flower Message Winds." To accurately represent, people selected one plant per phase whose blooming time was most precise, designating it as the representative flower of that phase.
The 24 Flower Message Winds are: Three phases of Minor Cold (plum blossom, camellia, narcissus); Three phases of Major Cold (winter sweet osmanthus, orchid, mountain sail); Three phases of Start of Spring (winter jasmine, cherry, early spring); Three phases of Rain Water (rapeseed, apricot, plum); Three phases of Awakening of Insects (peach, magnolia, rose); Three phases of Spring Equinox (Chinese hawthorn, pear, magnolia); Three phases of Qingming (catalpa, wheat flower, willow); Three phases of Grain Rain (peony, wild grape, oak). From this, we know plum blossoms appear first, oak blossoms last. After the 24 Flower Message Winds, summer begins with Start of Summer. These 24 winds not only reflect natural floral cycles but also help determine farming seasons and guide agricultural activities. Folk proverbs reflect phenology, such as: "When peach blossoms bloom, swallows return—prepare seedlings for the field." At this time, most of China has entered summer. Nature’s vegetation flourishes, and spring crops are in full growth. Southern regions average above 22°C, presenting lush summer scenes. Indeed: "Plums turn golden, apricots fatten, pomegranate flowers blaze, peaches and plums fall, dragonflies perch on lotus leaves, crops thrive—everything brims with prosperity and promises harvest."
Grain Full falls in late May, with temperatures rising noticeably. Sleeping in cool places will likely trigger rheumatism, damp skin diseases, and similar ailments. In health preservation during Grain Full, we emphasize the principle of "preventing disease before it occurs." This means taking preventive measures before illness strikes. Even with this principle, we still uphold the holistic view of harmony between man and nature and the idea that "if righteous qi resides within, evil cannot invade." Traditional Chinese medicine views the human body as an organic whole, interconnected with the external environment. Humans must master natural laws, adapt to environmental changes, and maintain internal and external balance to prevent disease. Medicine also holds that disease arises from both righteous qi and pathogenic factors. Pathogenic factors are critical triggers, but insufficient righteous qi is the internal cause and basis. Yet, external factors can dominate under special circumstances. Thus, "treating pre-disease" should focus on strengthening the body’s righteous qi and preventing invasion by pathogenic factors.
Since Grain Full is a high-risk period for skin diseases, we focus here on preventing and treating "wind rash" (urticaria). *Jin Kui Yao Lue·Zhongfeng Lijie Pian* states: "When pathogenic qi invades the meridians, the body itches and develops rashes." Ancient physicians already recognized this condition. Causes of wind rash fall into three categories: First, dampness stagnates in the skin, compounded by wind-heat or wind-cold, binding in the skin and pores; Second, intestinal heat accumulates, compounded by wind pathogen, trapped internally and unable to disperse outward, accumulating in the skin and pores; Third, related to constitution—food allergies (e.g., fish, shrimp, crab) lead to spleen-stomach imbalance, generating dampness and heat, which then manifests as skin rash. Wind rash can occur anywhere on the body, appears suddenly, with varying-sized rashes—patches or papules—rising and falling irregularly, accompanied by severe itching that worsens with temperature changes. Understanding the mechanism allows targeted prevention and treatment.
Based on clinical symptoms, it is generally classified into three types: (1) Wind-Heat Syndrome: Rash is bright red, intensely itchy, worsening with heat, pulse floating and rapid—indicating wind-heat invasion; (2) Wind-Damp Syndrome: Rash is white or slightly red, accompanied by heaviness in the body, pulse floating and relaxed—indicating wind-damp invasion; (3) Intestinal Heat Syndrome: Rash is red, accompanied by abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, pulse mostly rapid—red rash indicates heat, abdominal pain and constipation indicate intestinal stagnation and heat. Treatment should focus on dispersing wind, removing dampness, and clearing blood heat.
Dietary adjustment for similar skin conditions should emphasize light, refreshing vegetarian foods. Regularly consume foods that clear damp-heat, such as red adzuki beans, coix seed, mung beans, winter melon, loofah, cucumber, daylily, water celery, water chestnut, black fungus, lotus root, carrots, tomatoes, watermelon, yam, snake meat, crucian carp, grass carp, duck meat. Avoid greasy, rich, sweet, fatty, damp-producing, and heat-inducing foods—such as animal fats, seafood, acidic, pungent, spicy, hot-natured items, fried or grilled foods—like raw garlic, raw onion, ginger, mustard, pepper, fennel, cinnamon, leeks, eggplants, mushrooms, shellfish, beef, lamb, dog, goose meat, etc.
Below are three recommended herbal remedies:

Celery Mixed with Tofu:
[Ingredients] 150g celery, 1 block tofu, salt, MSG, sesame oil, each in small amounts.
[Preparation] Cut celery into small segments, tofu into small cubes. Blanch both in boiling water, cool in cold water, drain and set aside.
Mix celery and tofu, add salt, MSG, sesame oil, stir well.
[Benefits] Calms liver, clears heat, removes dampness, detoxifies.
[Features] Refreshing and crisp—ideal summer dish.

Winter Melon and Grass Carp Pot:
[Ingredients] 500g winter melon, 250g grass carp, salt, MSG, vegetable oil, all in appropriate amounts.
[Preparation] Peel and wash winter melon, cut into triangular pieces. Gut and clean grass carp, keep tail. Fry fish (with tail) until golden brown. Use a clay pot, add sufficient water, place fish and winter melon in, boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours until broth turns white. Add salt and MSG for seasoning.
[Benefits] Calms liver, expels wind, removes dampness, clears heat.

Green Pepper Stir-Fried Duck Pieces:
[Ingredients] 150g green peppers, 200g duck breast, 1 egg, cooking wine, salt, dry starch, fresh broth, MSG, water starch, vegetable oil, all in appropriate amounts.
[Preparation] Slice duck breast into 2-inch long, 6-fen wide thin pieces, wash and pat dry. Mix egg white, dry starch, and salt, coat duck pieces. Wash and slice green peppers (remove seeds and stem).
Heat wok, add oil to 40% heat, add duck pieces, stir until 80% cooked, add green peppers, cook until done, transfer to colander to drain oil.
Leave a little oil in wok, add salt, cooking wine, fresh broth, bring to boil, add duck and green peppers, thicken with water starch, stir, serve.
[Benefits] Warms the middle, strengthens spleen, promotes diuresis, reduces swelling.

Those with resources can also drink the following beverages during this season.
Water Chestnut and Rock Sugar Lotus Root Porridge:
[Ingredients] 250g water chestnuts, 150g lotus root, rock sugar, appropriate amount.
[Preparation] Wash and peel water chestnuts, cut lotus root into small pieces. Add water to a clay pot, boil, add water chestnuts and lotus root, simmer gently for 20 minutes, add rock sugar, simmer 10 more minutes, serve.
[Benefits] Clears heat, removes dampness, strengthens spleen, stimulates appetite, stops diarrhea, consolidates essence.