🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Summer routines generally suggest going to bed later and waking earlier, aligning with the natural shift from yang dominance to yin deficiency. The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon states: “In the three months of summer… go to bed late and rise early, do not resent the long days.” This means in summer, one should wake earlier to align with the abundance and strength of yang energy, and go to bed later to accommodate the deficiency of yin energy. With abundant sunshine in summer, one should not dislike long, hot days but should engage in appropriate activity to adapt to the summer’s nurturing and growing energy.
Due to late bedtime and early rising in summer, sleep is relatively insufficient. After a morning of study or work, fatigue may set in, requiring a nap for compensation. Especially for the elderly, who often have shallow sleep and wake easily, and who rise early, they feel sleepy at noon and thus need a brief midday rest. Moreover, due to high daytime temperatures, excessive sweating, greater physical exertion, and intense midday sun, blood vessels dilate, concentrating blood in the body’s surface, leading to uneven blood distribution and reduced cerebral perfusion. This often causes mental fatigue and drowsiness. A nap clears fatigue and revitalizes the mind, enabling better performance in afternoon work and labor. However, naps should not last more than one hour. Caution: Even though naps are short, one must not neglect sleep hygiene.
First, avoid lying down immediately after meals. Engage in slight activity to aid digestion. Do not sleep in drafty areas or lie face-down on desks, as this compresses the chest and hinders breathing. Best to remove outer clothing during naps and cover the abdomen with a towel to prevent coldness.
Summer sleep precautions: Avoid direct airflow from electric fans. Ideally, turn off fans. If too hot, direct the fan toward the ceiling. Do not sleep outdoors at night, as summer heat externally steams the body, causing profuse sweating and open pores, making the body highly susceptible to wind, cold, and damp pathogens—severe cases may lead to numbness, paralysis, or facial nerve paralysis. Avoid cooling down too late before bedtime, and refrain from prolonged stays in pavilions, under trees, in corridors, or on balconies.
What has been discussed concerns summer sleep. Now, let’s talk about summer clothing.
Clothing should first prioritize comfort, followed by style, color, and aesthetics. Summer garments should be lightweight, thin, and soft. The better the fabric’s breathability and heat absorption, the more effectively it aids in body heat dissipation, enhancing comfort and coolness.
In hot weather, the body can sweat about 500 ml per hour. Thus, summer clothing must have good moisture absorption and evaporation properties to quickly absorb sweat and evaporate it. Fabrics with poor moisture absorption or overly smooth interiors cannot efficiently remove sweat, leaving one soaked in sweat and feeling stuffy and uncomfortable.
Different fabrics have varying moisture absorption rates. At 24°C and 50%-70% relative humidity, artificial viscose absorbs 10%-14%, silk 8%-11%, linen 8.3%-11.7%, cotton 6%-9%. Synthetic fibers have the worst moisture absorption: polyester less than 1%, vinylon no more than 3%. Thus, even wearing a nylon shirt with large holes feels stifling, due to poor moisture absorption and inability to effectively absorb and evaporate sweat. Therefore, summer clothing is best made from rayon, silk, linen, or cotton knits.
Summer clothing should also have good breathability to aid heat dissipation. Breathability depends on fabric thickness and density—thinner fabrics dissipate heat better. Breathability also relates to weaving method: fabrics with straight-through pores are better than those with diagonal weave patterns. Higher fabric density reduces breathability. For the same material, doubling density reduces breathability by 50%. Thus, thinner, lower-density summer clothing offers better heat dissipation and greater coolness.
Size, fit, and coverage area of summer clothing also affect heat dissipation. “Loose and transparent” styles aid cooling, but overly tight clothing hinders it. Generally, smaller coverage areas lead to faster heat loss. Experts estimate that radiation heat loss in a naked body is ten times greater than in ordinary clothing. Thus, short shirts, skirts, and shorts are preferable. Among skirts, bell-shaped or dress-style skirts create better airflow when walking, making them cooler than tight-fitting ones. Openings (neck, sleeves, pant legs, waist) should not be too tight; wider openings improve ventilation and heat dissipation. Denim jeans and tight-fitting clothes are unsuitable for summer. Tight crotch areas in women’s pants hinder evaporation of genital heat and moisture, promoting bacterial growth—increasing risk of inflammation, skin itching, and urinary tract infections. Women should wear loose-fitting clothing. Similarly, men wearing tight pants suffer more harm than benefit: they easily cause jock itch, hinder testicular development, and constantly irritate the genitals.
Additionally, clothing color matters. Different colors absorb and reflect heat differently. Darker colors absorb more heat; lighter colors reflect more, absorbing less. Thus, light-colored clothing is recommended in summer to reflect radiant heat.
Now, a note on women’s summer attire: Summer dresses offer beauty, but minor oversights can mar elegance.
Suit skirts convey elegance and seriousness, but some people cross their legs in public—unbecoming. Suit skirt zippers and slits should align with the body’s centerline. Misalignment looks awkward. Rarely, women forget to fasten zippers properly, causing embarrassment. When wearing zippered skirts, periodically check with your hand.
Some wear wide-open collars in summer. If bra straps show, it appears unrefined. When wearing large-necked shirts, opt for strapless bras.
Now, let’s discuss summer hats.
Intense summer sun poses numerous health risks. UV rays come in two types: UVA and UVB. UVA darkens skin; UVB is harmful, causing cataracts, sunburn, and skin cancer. Over the past 20 years, skin cancer cases have surged—over 400,000 annually in the U.S. A U.S. report found long-term sun exposure triples cataract risk. Annually, 1 million Americans undergo cataract surgery. In China, age-related cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among the elderly, accounting for 49.77%. How to protect eyes? Wear a hat in strong sunlight—this cuts UV eye damage by half. Which hat offers best protection?
Protection mainly refers to blocking solar radiation heat. Higher resistance means better protection. Scientists tested: black plain cloth hats block only 1.6% of solar radiation heat; wheat straw hats and white plain cloth hats offer the best protection, blocking 48.4% and 50.1% respectively. For women, aesthetic appeal matters. Consider these cool options:
Wide-brimmed sun hat: Provides shade and adds beauty, adjustable for fit—suitable for young women or middle-aged women;
Travel hat: Made of nylon mesh, small crown, large brim, large forehead coverage, two- or three-color design. Light blue, light yellow, cream white preferred for women;
Foldable hat: Single-color wide-brimmed cool hat, folds into a small round shape like a handkerchief. White, white floral dots, or light blue preferred;
Formal hat: Flat top, rounded edge, moderate brim—gives a stylish look to young women;
Round-top hat: Fair-skinned individuals should wear dark-colored round-top hats; darker-skinned individuals should wear light-colored ones.
Naturally, protecting eyes from sun exposure requires more than just hats. Wearing tinted glasses or sunglasses reduces UV damage by over 90%. In short, to keep eyes bright, never forget your straw hat and sunglasses when outdoors.
Fourth, summer skincare.
First, choose suitable cosmetics: In hot weather, the body sweats easily. The following cosmetics are suitable:
Sunscreen: People often underestimate UV dangers compared to cold. UV rays not only tan the skin but also cause keratinization, loss of elasticity, premature aging, and serious conditions like sun rash and melasma. Sunscreen is essential. Common types include creams, ointments, lotions, and fatty formulations—these reduce UV damage. Using sunscreen in summer is like carrying an umbrella—eliminating fears of premature skin aging.
Perfume water: Made from about 3% fragrance and 70% alcohol, with added water. It has mild antibacterial properties. In summer, it can be used as a disinfectant—spraying in洗脸 water, bathwater, bedroom, living room, or on the body removes sweat odor, kills bacteria, relieves itching, and refreshes the mind, improving efficiency.
Body powder and heat rash powder: Their effects are similar—cooling the skin, absorbing sweat, relieving itching. But both must be applied to clean, dry skin.
Perfume: Similar to perfume water but contains no water. Its main function is to provide fragrance and aesthetic pleasure, usable year-round. Perfume is mainly applied to clothing, handkerchiefs, and hair.
Second, skillfully apply eye makeup: High summer temperatures mean people with dark skin cannot rely on makeup to appear paler—thick foundation soon becomes messy. Those with non-pale skin can enhance brightness by skillfully applying eye makeup. Use eyeshadow matching skin tone—brown, orange—with corresponding pink and orange lipsticks. These colors blend naturally with the skin.
For fair-skinned individuals, use light blue or purple eyeshadow for a brighter look. Gray or similar eyeliner gives a cooler feel.
Before applying eye makeup, apply a semi-transparent base to the eyelids, dust lightly with loose powder. Use light purple eyeshadow from lash line to eyebrow, blending evenly with no visible lines. Then use deep purple shades from inner corner to midpoint of upper eyelid, extending outward to brow and tail of eye, fading gently—no harsh transitions.
Draw eyeliner in brown or black. Use deep purple eyeliner pencil from inner to outer corner, then lightly smudge with fingertip—making the line subtle.
Finally, add a touch of very light purple eyeshadow at the brow bone, blending softly until invisible. Apply similarly to lower eyelid.
Also, don’t forget fruit and vegetable beauty treatments:
Chop leftover watermelon into chunks, rub on face for five minutes, rinse with water, then apply makeup. Twice weekly keeps skin soft and pale;
Cucumber not only firms and reduces wrinkles but also brightens dull skin. Chop cucumber, extract juice, dab onto face with cotton—apply more on wrinkle-prone areas. Once daily, results appear quickly.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins, nutritious when eaten, and beneficial for skin beauty. Method: Chop tomatoes, mash into pulp in a bowl, mix with a little honey, apply to face and arms. Regular application brightens skin, reduces wrinkles, and maintains youth.
Lemon has bleaching effects. To lighten skin, mix lemon juice with egg yolk, apply with cotton to face (avoid eye area), leave for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water. Twice weekly yields quick results.
Fifth, arranging summer living spaces.
First, remove unnecessary or temporarily unused furniture to create spacious rooms. Families with resources can replace sofas and chairs with rattan or bamboo ones—much cooler. Open north and south-facing windows daily to allow natural cross-ventilation, making the room cool and refreshing.
Second, decorate walls, ceilings, curtains, and sofa covers with light green, light blue, gray, or cream colors. Cool tones evoke psychological comfort and coolness. Hanging a painting of “ice mountains and snow peaks” can also create a cool sensation in the mind.
Third, install awnings above sunny exterior windows to block direct sunlight heat. Noise is more annoying in hot weather, adding to restlessness. Thus, creating a quiet, peaceful environment is key to cooling down. In summer, keep radios and TVs at low volume. Parents should avoid yelling at children, couples should avoid quarrels, neighbors should get along. “Calm mind brings coolness”—quietness enhances the feeling of coolness.
Sixth, avoid rinsing feet with cold water in summer.
During sweltering summer days, some people wearing light sandals or slippers enjoy rinsing their feet with cold water, feeling instantly refreshed. But doing this regularly harms health.
Medical research confirms: the feet are the farthest extremities of blood vessel branches; the fat layer is thin, offering poor insulation; foot skin temperature is the lowest in the body, making it highly susceptible to cold. Frequently rinsing feet with cold water causes further chilling, which through blood vessels triggers complex pathological reactions, ultimately leading to various diseases. Additionally, the foot’s sweat glands are highly active. Sudden cold water rinsing causes pores to close abruptly, blocking sweat ducts. Over time, this leads to sluggish sweat function. Particularly, when cold water stimulates foot sensory nerve endings, blood vessels contract violently, disrupting normal function. Long-term, this may cause peripheral arterial spasm, erythromelalgia, arthritis, and rheumatic diseases.
Seventh, proper use of electric fans.
On hot summer days, turning on an electric fan brings refreshing breezes, easing fatigue. Yet, doctors in outpatient clinics observe many people falling ill due to improper fan use—mainly due to lack of hygiene knowledge and correct methods.
Some people excessively seek coolness, placing fans very close to the body, blowing continuously. This causes rapid evaporation on the windward side, lowering skin temperature significantly; the leeward side evaporates slowly, keeping skin temperature higher. The body’s circulation becomes unbalanced, sweat secretion uneven, possibly causing headache, dizziness, general discomfort, and even stroke in severe cases.
Others, when overheated and sweaty, suddenly blast themselves with fans—prone to heatstroke. Sleeping with fans on also causes colds. How to blow correctly?
First, avoid excessive fan speed: Modern science suggests indoor wind speed should be controlled at 0.2–0.5 m/s, maximum not exceeding 3 m/s. Thus, avoid setting fans too high, especially in well-ventilated rooms or areas with cross drafts.
Second, avoid direct blowing: Direct airflow allows wind pathogens to enter the body, especially when weak or sweating heavily. Never blow directly on the body for instant relief. Best to aim fans toward a corner.
Third, avoid continuous fixed-direction blowing on any body part. Use intermittent or oscillating fans. Children, elderly, and weak individuals should minimize fan use—“where evil gathers, qi must be deficient.” Fans can be used to adjust indoor airflow indirectly for cooling.
Finally, avoid blowing fans immediately after sweating heavily while sitting or lying still. At this moment, skin blood vessels are dilated. Sudden cold wind causes abrupt contraction, stopping sweat release and disrupting the balance between heat production and dissipation. Excess heat cannot be expelled. Also, local defense weakens, allowing viruses and bacteria to invade, potentially causing upper respiratory infections, muscle and joint pain, or even abdominal pain and diarrhea.
In summary, using electric fans requires proper technique. Otherwise, what should be beneficial turns harmful—adversely affecting health.