🌿 Folk Prescriptions

In autumn disease prevention, people must not be complacent, as climate changes are significant, and improper living habits can lead to illness.
Autumn weather varies significantly, divided at the Autumnal Equinox. Early autumn remains hot, hence the saying: "Fire burns on the 15th day of July, and osmanthus steam fills August." But "coolness comes early after Start of Autumn"—though midday remains hot, temperatures drop noticeably in the morning and evening, creating large daily temperature differences, allowing comfortable sleep at night. After the Autumnal Equinox, deep autumn brings typical cool weather—breezy and clear skies, dry air. By late autumn, frost descends, and the climate turns cold.
From this, we see autumn is a season of fluctuating temperatures—hot, dry, cold, and in some regions, damp (such as the Sichuan Basin). Therefore, autumn demands serious attention to disease prevention. Specifically, one should focus on preventing the following diseases:
(1) Malaria Prevention and Control.
Folk songs say: "When millet turns yellow in August, malaria strikes bedridden; ninety out of a hundred fall ill, none to bring medicine." This vividly reflects how malaria once severely impacted public health.
Malaria, commonly known as "cold and heat disease" or "shaking sickness," is the most common infectious disease in summer and autumn. Even today, millions worldwide contract malaria annually, with around 3 million deaths each year—highlighting the need for vigilance against malaria in autumn.
The pathogen causing malaria is Plasmodium, transmitted by mosquitoes. Plasmodium is a tiny parasitic organism primarily residing in human liver cells and red blood cells, feeding on hemoglobin. When a mosquito bites a person and sucks blood, it introduces Plasmodium into the bloodstream, triggering outbreaks.
Malaria is classified by attack cycle into tertian, malignant, and quartan types. Symptoms include intense chills followed by severe shivering (known medically as rigor), lasting several minutes, then high fever reaching up to 40°C. After 3–4 hours, profuse sweating occurs, and body temperature gradually returns to normal. Besides chills and fever, patients often feel weak, fatigued, lose appetite, experience dizziness, and suffer back and limb pain. Children may develop convulsions. Severe cases can result in coma, delirium, neck stiffness, and even death.
Prompt treatment is essential. Common drugs include chloroquine and primaquine. Chloroquine kills Plasmodium in the blood, while primaquine eliminates parasites in the liver and blood gametocytes. Treatment involves taking both drugs together for 8 days. To prevent recurrence, a suppressive treatment is recommended the following spring to achieve complete cure. Additionally, preventive medication is available. Commonly used drugs include pyrimethamine, taken once weekly for prevention, though continuous use is required. Traditional Chinese medicine also plays a role—herbs like Changshan, Yadanzi, and Qinghao have good preventive effects and can be taken under medical guidance.
Besides medication, key measures involve mosquito control and elimination. Clear garbage, weeds, and fill stagnant water pits; install door curtains and window screens in dormitories, and hang mosquito nets at night. Use DDT spray, mosquito killer, burn mosquito coils, or apply mosquito-repellent herbs like mugwort. Taking vitamin B1 tablets orally can also help prevent malaria. Personal protection is crucial: wear long sleeves and pants starting in the evening, apply repellents to exposed skin, and avoid lying directly against mosquito nets.
Since malaria spreads mainly through infected individuals and carriers, active treatment of both patients and asymptomatic carriers is essential. Carriers, lacking symptoms, are often undetected and only found during screenings, yet they play a major role in spreading malaria.
(2) Asthma Prevention and Control.
Asthma attacks are mostly seasonal, beginning in late summer and early autumn, peaking in mid-autumn, and subsiding in winter. Asthma is an allergic condition; the transition from hot to cool autumn weather makes it difficult for asthmatics to adapt. Combined with triggers like pollen, dust (gas, mold, cold air, etc.), asthma attacks occur.
Known colloquially as "the wheezing bag," asthma is a recurrent, hard-to-cure chronic disease, hence called "old wheezing bag." It affects people of all ages and genders, with an average prevalence of about 2%, making it relatively common. Once contracted, it tends to recur frequently.
Before an asthma attack, patients often experience warning signs such as repeated coughing, chest tightness, nasal itching, and frequent sneezing. If untreated, rapid onset of wheezing follows. Due to thick, sticky phlegm that is hard to expel, patients may be forced to sit upright. Severe cases exhibit cyanosis of lips and nails, cold extremities, sweating, dizziness, and palpitations. Attacks can last from minutes to days.
Main treatment measures for bronchial asthma include:
When early cold symptoms appear, drink more tea or use wild chrysanthemum and mulberry leaves (each 10 grams), steeped in boiling water as tea; or take traditional Chinese medicines like Yinhuang Tablets and Qingre Xiaoyan Pills;
When asthma warning signs appear, use Phenylpropanolamine tablets (12.5 mg each time, 2–3 times daily) or Promethazine tablets (2–4 mg each time, 2–3 times daily);
The most commonly used bronchodilator is Aminophylline (0.1–0.2 g orally, 1–3 times daily). Inhalation of Isoproterenol aerosol (0.25%–0.5% concentration) provides rapid relief. For moderate asthma attacks where the patient cannot lie flat, injections are necessary to relieve symptoms, along with anti-inflammatory and expectorant treatments.
Because asthma is a chronic condition prone to recurrence, preventive measures during remission are crucial:
First, avoid allergens: common allergens include wind-borne pollen (elm, castor bean, wormwood), mold spores, house dust, mites, certain industrial dusts (cotton dust, silkworm dust, yam powder), specific detergents, and chemical factory irritants. If a patient knows their specific allergens, they should avoid them. For those sensitive to airborne dust, collective environmental greening and air purification efforts are needed.
Second, treat during summer: from Minor Heat to Start of Autumn, known as "Three Fu Periods," the hottest and most yang-rich time of the year. "Nourish yang in spring and summer"—treating during this period strengthens yang energy and boosts resistance. Shanghai First Medical College and others found that using Yougui Wan (a formula warming kidney yang) during remission achieved a 90.8% success rate in preventing seasonal recurrence. Combining it with Bu Fei Tang or Yupingfeng San for dual lung and kidney tonification yields even better results.
Third, maintain emotional well-being: clinical data show that emotional factors trigger 30%–70% of asthma cases. Emotional triggers include excessive tension, anxiety, worry, resentment, and anger. Though not primary causes, they affect frequency and severity. Asthma patients must remain emotionally balanced, open-minded, avoid emotional stress, and prevent recurrence.
Fourth, pay attention to dietary regulation: eat more radishes—white or red radishes are both beneficial. White radish helps dissolve phlegm and regulate qi, ideal for asthma patients with excessive phlegm and qi stagnation. Red radish is rich in vitamin A, boosting immunity and preventing asthma triggered by colds. If certain foods (like shrimp or crab) trigger or worsen asthma, they must be strictly avoided.
Fifth, avoid overexertion: excessive fatigue depletes vital energy, damages organs, lowers resistance, and becomes a trigger for asthma attacks.
(3) Constipation Prevention and Control.
Emphasizing constipation prevention in autumn is due to dry autumn weather, which damages body fluids, leading to dry intestines and increased risk of constipation.
Constipation refers to difficulty passing hard stools, prolonged defecation intervals, or hard, dry feces that are difficult to pass. While not a serious illness, it usually resolves with proper treatment or lifestyle adjustments. However, improper treatment or overuse of laxatives may temporarily help but worsen the condition long-term. Severe constipation can cause abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, insomnia, and complications like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and rectal bleeding. Straining excessively during bowel movements may trigger hernias, especially dangerous for those with hypertension or coronary heart disease, potentially causing cerebral hemorrhage or myocardial infarction. Thus, constipation must not be ignored.
Treatment: address the underlying cause. For heat accumulation and fluid deficiency type: symptoms include yellow urine, bad breath, yellow coating, and wiry slippery pulse. Treatment should clear heat and nourish yin: use raw Rehmannia 12g, Ligustrum 10g, Hemp Seed 10g, and Golden Currant 10g. For blood deficiency and intestinal dryness type: symptoms include dizziness, palpitations, pale lips and tongue, fine pulse. Use raw Rehmannia 12g, Angelica 9g, Hemp Seed 10g, Peach Kernel 10g, and Platycladus Seed 10g. For qi stagnation type: symptoms include frequent belching, inability to defecate, abdominal distension, wiry pulse. Use Agalloch 9g, Sandalwood 10g, Areca 9g, Citrus Aurantium 6g, and Hemp Seed 9g. For turbid yin coagulation type: symptoms include cold limbs, clear and long urine, deep slow weak pulse. Use Pinellia, Cinnamon Twig, Cistanche, and Psuedostellaria each 10g. In addition to herbal formulas, traditional Chinese medicines like Runchang Wan, Mahuang Zhi Pi Wan, Qingning Wan, and Gengyi Wan can be used.
Prevention: first, maintain dietary discipline. Irregular diet is a major cause of constipation, mainly due to inappropriate food choices. Generally, vegetables, fruits, and oily foods help lubricate the intestines and promote bowel movements—consume more. Conversely, spicy, dry, and harsh foods worsen constipation—limit intake.
Second, pay attention to mental and daily routines. Emotional stress often leads to qi stagnation, affecting intestinal motility and worsening constipation. Thus, constipation patients should avoid excessive emotional stimulation and maintain a cheerful mood. Develop good bowel habits to establish conditioned reflexes for timely defecation.
(4) Pediatric Autumn Diarrhea Prevention and Control.
During autumn, some infants and young children are prone to vomiting and diarrhea. These children vomit immediately after eating, and pass 5–10 loose stools daily resembling egg-drop soup, leading to noticeable weight loss. This is a classic seasonal illness, known by doctors as "autumn diarrhea."
"Autumn diarrhea" is a viral infection caused by rotavirus, prevalent not only across China but worldwide—an epidemic disease globally.
This condition develops rapidly. Besides prompt hospitalization, proper home care is critical, as appropriate family care greatly aids recovery. In diet, ensure adequate intake of food and fluids—principle: replace what is lost. Keep infants' abdomens warm, as autumn brings cooler weather, making abdominal chilling likely. Diarrhea already accelerates intestinal movement; further cooling worsens it, delaying recovery.
Preventing "autumn diarrhea" hinges on controlling "pathogens entering through the mouth." Avoid giving children raw water, insist on washing hands with running water before meals and after toilet use, and maintain hygiene during breastfeeding. For infants, promote breastfeeding, as breast milk is the ideal natural nutrition source containing many immune antibodies, bactericidal substances, and digestive enzymes—infants are less likely to get infectious diarrhea and grow healthier. If a case is detected, isolate and treat early to prevent spread.
(5) Autumn Hair Loss Prevention.
The emphasis on preventing hair loss in autumn stems from dry autumn weather. Poor care easily injures lung qi. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the lungs govern the skin and hair. Lung qi deficiency leads to inadequate defense and loose hair. Hence, hair loss increases in autumn. Neglecting care or using unsuitable medications can worsen hair loss.
Causes of hair loss stem from both congenital genetics and acquired factors. Numerous acquired factors exist, so correct bad habits to prevent hair loss:
First, maintain a pleasant mind and avoid stress. Ensure sufficient sleep and rest daily. Overworking and chronic insomnia easily lead to premature hair loss;
Second, limit intake of greasy, spicy, and stimulating foods like coffee, tobacco, and alcohol. Avoid drug overdose and toxic substances;
Third, properly care for hair—wash every 3–5 days to keep hair clean. Avoid hot water and alkaline soaps. Minimize use of tap water high in chlorine.
Fourth, perform regular scalp massage. Before bedtime, brush hair 30 times with a hairbrush. This removes accumulated dust and stimulates scalp circulation, promoting hair growth, strength, and shine.
If hair loss has occurred, seek timely treatment. For blood heat and wind-dryness type: symptoms include dry, sparse hair, itchy scalp, red tongue, rapid pulse. Use Cool Blood and Eliminate Wind Decoction with modifications: Raw Rehmannia 12g, Angelica 12g, White Peony 12g, Schizonepeta 6g, Cicada Slough 6g, Ligusticum 6g, Sophora 6g, Lycium Fruit 10g, Ligustrum 10g, Eclipta Prostrata 10g. For spleen-stomach damp-heat type: symptoms include damp hair resembling oil or water-soaked, sparse hair, yellow greasy coating. Use Strengthening Spleen and Nourishing Hair Decoction with modifications: Stir-fried Atractylodes 12g, Alisma 12g, Poria 12g, Dictamnus 12g, Raw Rehmannia 10g, Polygonum Multiflorum 10g, Cinnabarite 10g, Atractylodes 10g, Ligusticum 3g, Chuanxiong 3g, Hawthorn 18g, Polygonum 15g.
(6) Prevention and Control of Chronic Pharyngitis in Autumn Dryness.
Autumn requires special attention to pharyngitis prevention due to dry, sunny weather with little rain. Untreated acute pharyngitis often becomes chronic.
Chronic pharyngitis is a diffuse inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, submucosa, and lymphoid tissue, commonly part of chronic upper respiratory tract inflammation, a common ENT condition. Main symptoms include dryness and pain in the throat, dark red throat—usually due to yin deficiency and fluid injury, with upward-floating false fire. Treatment should nourish yin, clear heat, and relieve throat discomfort. Formula: Raw Rehmannia 12g, Ophiopogon 9g, White Peony 6g, Cortex Moutan 9g, Fritillaria 9g, Scrophularia 6g, Licorice 6g, Mentha 10g, Sterculia 12g, Green Fruit 6g. Alternatively, use Ophiopogon 3g, Licorice 1.5g, Honeysuckle 3g, Prunus 3g, Green Fruit 3g, steeped in boiling water and consumed regularly. Dietarily, consume mung bean drink or snow pear juice. Mung bean drink: boil mung beans, green fruit, and prunes with honey. Snow pear juice: place sliced pears, lotus root, and white radish in a large bowl of cold, pure water, and consume regularly. Or extract juice from pears, lotus root, and white radish.
(7) Men Should Not Forget Impotence Prevention in Autumn.
The reason impotence incidence is higher in autumn is because statistics show 772 out of 1,102 impotent men exhibit clear seasonal patterns: 386 in autumn (50%), 116 in summer (15%), 39 in spring (5%), and 231 in winter (30%). This indicates higher autumn incidence.
Impotence refers to male genital weakness, inability to achieve or sustain erection, or inability to complete sexual intercourse. Statistics show that in recent years, 3/4 of divorce cases were initiated by women, largely due to husbands’ sexual dysfunction, especially impotence.
Psychological factors are the most common and primary cause, accounting for 85%–90% of cases. Examples include marital disharmony, hostility toward the partner; unsatisfactory sexual coordination, failure to achieve desired satisfaction, leading to aversion to sex and resulting in impotence. Unfavorable sexual environment—such as sharing a room with multiple people, fear or anxiety during intercourse—can also cause impotence. Many cases arise from lack of sexual knowledge, fear of failure, concern that the partner won’t be satisfied, leading to self-diagnosis of impotence. Or after one unsatisfying encounter, mistakenly believing oneself impotent. Due to anxiety or fear, despite desire, tension arises at the moment of intercourse, causing the erect penis to shrink, preventing intercourse. Other causes include excessive masturbation and overindulgence in sex. Frequent sex, especially repeated intercourse, requires stronger stimuli to achieve erection and ejaculation. Over time, the erectile center becomes inhibited, leading to functional impotence.
Some cases are organic, currently harder to treat, caused by anatomical defects in the reproductive organs.
Traditional Chinese Medicine links this condition to the Liver, Kidney, and Yangming meridians. Clinically, it can be categorized as:
Kidney Yang Deficiency: symptoms include cold limbs, lower back and knee soreness, inability to achieve erection, pale swollen tongue, deep fine pulse. Treatment: warm and supplement kidney yang. Use Yougui Wan with modifications: Raw Rehmannia 10g, Cornus 8g, Lycium 10g, Dodder Seed 10g, Cinnamon 8g, Aconite 10g, Morinda 10g, Epimedium 15g, Epimedium 8g, Deer Antler Gelatin 8g.
Heart-Spleen Deficiency: symptoms include inability to achieve erection, palpitations, forgetfulness, poor appetite, pale tongue, weak pulse. Use Gui Pi Tang with modifications: Codonopsis 10g, Atractylodes 10g, Poria 8g, Astragalus 30g, Longan 8g, Sour Jujube 8g, Sandalwood 3g, Angelica 10g, Dodder Seed 10g, Psoralea 10g.
Liver Qi Stagnation: symptoms include inability to achieve erection, rib-side distension, wiry pulse. Treatment: soothe the liver and resolve stagnation. Use Xiao Yao San with modifications: Bupleurum 10g, White Peony 10g, Angelica 10g, Atractylodes 9g, Poria 8g, Dodder Seed 8g, Licorice 5g, Cyperus 5g, Psoralea 10g, Lycium 10g.
Damp-Heat Descending: symptoms include inability to achieve erection, damp scrotum, red and painful urination, yellow greasy coating, wiry slippery pulse. Use Longdan Xiegan Tang with modifications: Gentiana 10g, Scutellaria 10g, Plantago 10g, Gardenia 6g, Alisma 8g, Eucommia 6g, Smilax 8g, Phellodendron 6g, Atractylodes 30g, Coix 60g.
Besides medication, acupuncture therapy can be used: select points such as Shenshu (BL23), Mingmen (GV4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zusanli (ST36), Guanyuan (CV4), and Baliao (BL32). Choose 3–5 points each time, use filiform needles with tonifying method, or combine acupuncture and moxibustion. Dietary therapy: use 90g leeks, washed and chopped, 120g lamb liver sliced, stir-fried quickly in a wok with vinegar—effective for impotence due to deficient life gate fire.
(8) Prevention and Control of Ginger Fluke Disease.
Autumn calls for ginger fluke prevention because infection peaks in autumn. Adult ginger flukes measure 3–7 cm long and 1.2 cm wide, appearing reddish when alive, resembling ginger slices. They reside in the small intestine, causing gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea. Severe cases may lead to anemia, edema, and developmental delays. Since ginger fluke infection results from consuming raw lotus roots, water chestnuts, etc., infections predominantly occur in autumn during harvest season. Especially during harvesting, eating while picking increases infection risk. For severe cases, supportive treatment is essential—improve nutrition and correct anemia before deworming. Deworming drugs include Bithionol and Hexachloro-1,2-diphenylbenzene.
Prevention hinges on avoiding raw consumption of lotus roots, water chestnuts, and lotus rhizomes. Do not bite the skin. When eating raw, thoroughly wash and soak in boiling water for several minutes or sun-dry for a day before consumption. Maintain hygiene—do not drink raw water. Wash hands thoroughly after contact with aquatic plants or dirty water to prevent cyst infection.
(9) Mosquito Control in Autumn.
This is because mosquitoes are vectors for malaria and other diseases. Early autumn is peak mosquito activity and malaria outbreak season. Mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water—ponds, ditches. Autumn follows the hot, rainy summer, leaving many low-lying areas with standing water, forming stagnant pools ideal for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes’ egg, larval, and pupal stages all require stagnant water.
Mosquito species number over 2,000 worldwide. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood. Mosquitoes dislike bright light and generally avoid daytime activity. At dusk, they emerge from dark corners in swarms, seeking targets and landing lightly on human skin. Given the many diseases mosquitoes transmit, effective mosquito control is essential. The most effective method is maintaining hygiene—clearing yard and indoor standing water, especially non-flowing ditches, promptly draining them. Protect natural mosquito predators like swallows, bats, dragonflies, and frogs, letting them control mosquito populations.