🌿 Folk Prescriptions

When discussing mental health preservation in summer, The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon explicitly states: “Let the will not be angry, let the brilliance flourish, let qi be freely discharged, as if one’s affection is directed outward—this is the way to harmonize with summer’s energy, the essence of health preservation.” This means in summer, one’s spirit should be as beautiful and blooming as a flower about to open. One must avoid anger, ensure smooth flow of qi, and maintain outward-directed emotions, showing keen interest in external affairs—this is the proper way to adapt to summer. In mental health preservation, traditional Chinese medicine teaches that “winter requires storage,” “spring requires growth,” and “summer requires release.” That is, mental state should be vibrant, full, and outward-oriented. Only with abundant spirit can bodily functions remain vigorous and coordinated. If spirit dissipates, all bodily functions are disrupted. As The Medical Texts state: “Those who properly preserve life do not exhaust their spirit or strain their body. When spirit and body are at peace, how can misfortune arise?” Yet, summer heat often causes restlessness. Restlessness intensifies heat, making calming the mind and spirit especially crucial. Qiu Chuji said: “In the three months of summer, to keep the spirit stable, one should ‘calm the mind, cut off external sounds and colors, reduce indulgence in tastes, live in high places, gaze far into the distance, go to bed early and rise early, not resent the long days, follow the positive yang energy to dissipate summer heat.’ He further emphasized: “To avoid summer heat, it is best to cool down in clean, open spaces like pavilions, water halls, or under tree shade. More importantly, regulate breathing and purify the heart, always maintaining a mind as clear as ice and snow—then even in heat, inner warmth diminishes. Do not regard heat as heat, or you will generate more heat.” This insight is profound—tranquility brings coolness. An ancient poem says: “The secret to escaping heat is not hiding in mountain springs; simply have no thoughts, and you’ll be in a cool mountain.”
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon states: “South produces heat, heat produces fire,” and fire governs summer, corresponding internally to the heart. The heart governs blood and houses the spirit, serving as the sovereign official. Extreme emotions can all harm the heart, causing spiritual unrest. As The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon notes: “Sorrow and worry stir the heart; when the heart moves, all five zang organs tremble.” This illustrates that abnormal emotions can damage heart function, and conversely, any impairment of heart function can affect all bodily activities. Thus, mental health preservation in summer is extremely important.
Especially during summer, when heat dominates, intense sunlight and scorching heat cause pores to open and sweat to be released. Since sweat is the fluid of the heart, heart qi is easily depleted—what TCM calls “excessive fire consumes qi.” Because “heat easily affects the heart,” and “the heart governs spirit,” many mental symptoms arise, such as irritability, delirium, and unconsciousness. Many heatstroke patients fall into coma, requiring acupuncture or pressing the “Renzhong” point (located at the junction of the upper third of the nasal-lip groove) or the “Shi Xuan” points (at the fingertips of both hands), with needle pricking and bloodletting.
If it is long summer, with predominant damp-heat weather—high temperatures, no wind, minimal temperature variation between morning and evening—people often feel chest tightness, leading to irritability and frustration, easily triggering psychiatric disorders.
Overall, mental activity is closely linked to heart function. Ancient people experienced this in daily life: heart activity differs under different mental states. Calmness brings steady heartbeat; excitement speeds it up. The heart’s connection to emotions stems from “the heart stores blood, and blood houses the spirit.” Blood, or the bloodstream, enables the heart to govern spirit and emotion through blood circulation. When blood is abundant, the spirit is clear, thinking sharp, and energy robust. When blood is deficient, heart blood insufficient, insomnia, vivid dreams, forgetfulness, dizziness, and mental dullness often result. Thus, the foundation of summer mental health preservation is ensuring the heart’s normal function in governing blood. How to maintain this?
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon says: “The heart corresponds to the blood vessels… eating too much salt causes blood vessels to constrict and change color”; it also says: “Excessive saltiness suppresses heart qi.” This indicates that excessive salt intake harms the heart. Modern nutrition science holds that heart muscle development and blood circulation require high-quality protein, which must be replenished promptly. Overconsumption of fatty foods leads to “fatty heart” and increases risk of arteriosclerosis. It is best to choose foods that lower blood lipids, such as soybeans, mushrooms, peanuts, ginger, garlic, onions, tea, yogurt, soft-shelled turtles, seaweed, corn oil, and hawthorns. Low-salt diets greatly benefit cardiovascular disease prevention, as excess sodium increases cardiac workload and raises the risk of hypertension.
Excess body weight also burdens the heart, so weight management is essential. There are many ways to lose weight, but physical exercise and dietary control are key. Regular physical activity enhances coronary artery blood flow, greatly benefiting the heart.
In sum, the foundation of summer mental health preservation is protecting the heart. Beyond this, one must also “let the brilliance flourish.” How to achieve mental vitality?
First, have meaningful spiritual pursuits. Humans possess thoughts and ambitions. With goals, one can overcome life’s obstacles. Positive beliefs generate voluntary actions and positive emotions. Numerous activities—painting, calligraphy, carving, music, chess, gardening, stamp collecting, fishing, traveling—can provide spiritual fulfillment, cultivate emotions, and serve as effective methods for emotional regulation and health promotion.
Second, constantly refine one’s character. Regularly monitor your emotions—when experiencing irritability, anxiety, sadness, anger, or narrow-mindedness, actively work to prevent recurrence. This requires self-study and cultivation. The Guanzi’s “Inner Practice” states: “To stop anger, poetry is best; to remove sorrow, music is best; to moderate joy, ritual is best; to uphold ritual, respect is best; to uphold respect, stillness is best; inner stillness and outer respect enable one to return to true nature, achieving great stability.” The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon describes the sage’s health preservation method as: “No resentment or anger,” “No mental distress,” and “Pursue tranquility and joy.” Thus, cultivating a broad-minded, smiling attitude toward unsatisfactory people and situations is essential personal virtue.
First, having meaningful tasks prevents mental emptiness; second, good mental cultivation shields against external negative influences. When both are achieved, mental vitality naturally follows, enabling one to “not resent the long days”—this is the fundamental principle of summer mental health preservation.