🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Autumn brings not only comfortable temperature changes but also some discomforts. Dry air easily triggers internal heat: skin becomes dry, sensitive individuals suffer whole-body itching; lips constantly feel parched, throat dry and itchy, as if something blocks it; prolonged screen time causes dry, painful eyes; fine wrinkles around the eyes become more noticeable; constipation is common. Dr. Xu Zhiying, chief physician of respiratory medicine at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and professor at Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, believes these are all consequences of "autumn dryness."
Traditional Chinese medicine has long emphasized the impact of natural environment and seasonal climate on the human body, categorizing climate changes into "Four Seasons" and "Six Qi." "Four Seasons" refer to spring, summer, autumn, and winter; "Six Qi" denote six climatic characteristics appearing in different seasons: wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire. Among them, "dryness" is the dominant element in autumn. "Autumn dryness" affects the body primarily due to hot weather, high temperatures, low relative humidity, and dry air, causing excessive evaporation of moisture from upper respiratory mucosa and skin surface, resulting in the above symptoms. Natural climate changes affect everyone, so we must adapt our bodies to nature. How? First, understand your own physical condition.
One: Heavy burdens in middle age. Based on Dr. Xu’s decades of health preservation experience, she views human life as a parabola—the peak is middle age, when vitality and health are strongest. After this stage, decline begins. The rate of decline depends entirely on oneself. While defying the laws of life to remain eternally young is impossible, proper self-care can delay degeneration.
Two: Hydration is essential. In dry autumn, the body loses over 600 ml of water daily through the skin. Thus, hydration is crucial for autumn health preservation. An adult should drink at least 1500 ml daily, but 2000 ml in autumn ensures lubrication of lungs and respiratory tract. Best to drink 200 ml each in the morning and before bed, and 800 ml between meals. Some people find plain water ineffective; try green tea or brew herbs like fritillary bulb, goji berries, scrophularia, bamboo pith, ophiopogon, and monk fruit. Soups at meals are indispensable for hydration. Milk and soy milk nourish qi and blood, moisturize skin and hair—so never skip them daily. Also, eat more fruits like pears, apples, watermelons, bananas, peaches, sugarcane, grapes, and vegetables rich in fiber and water, such as radishes, tomatoes, cabbage, lilies, lotus root, bitter melons, and water chestnuts. Avoid spicy, aromatic, dry foods like ginger, scallions, garlic, pepper, Sichuan pepper, mustard, and grilled or smoked foods.
Three: Food therapy against autumn dryness. Autumn easily depletes body fluids, so use remedies that generate fluids, nourish yin, moisten lungs, and resolve phlegm. Examples: 30 grams each of northern sand-partisan root and lily bulbs, 150 grams of duck meat—boil together, drink soup and eat meat after duck is cooked; one pear (core removed), mix 3 grams of pinellia powder and 10 grams of rock sugar, gently place inside the pear, steam over water until cooked, eat the pear and drink the soup; 50 grams of fresh lily bulbs, 30 grams of honey—simmer into a decoction; 15 grams of scrophularia, 12 grams each of ophiopogon and raw rehmannia—decoct and drink as tea; 60 grams of red grapes, 30 grams each of water chestnuts and white foxglove roots—boil into a tea-like soup; grate cleaned carrots, mix with rice to cook porridge; 20 grams of silver ear fungus, a little rock sugar—stew until soft and eat.
Four: Excessive dates and oranges harm health. Red dates are a commonly used herb in TCM and popular in folk remedies. Last year, northern winter dates arrived in Hangzhou; some people ate too many and suffered diarrhea and oral ulcers. Though not hot in nature, dates are warm in property. Overconsumption generates internal heat, and failure to clear residual food creates a breeding ground for ulcers. Date skins are slippery and may cause diarrhea. Oranges easily cause internal heat, and their acidic substances damage oral mucosa. Moderation is key: one orange or ten large dates per day. Adequate vitamin C and other nutrients keep skin smooth and hydrated in autumn and winter, reducing cold susceptibility.
Five: Not everyone suits iron bark stone斛 (Dendrobium officinale) with ginseng. Combining iron bark stone斛 and American ginseng effectively treats yin deficiency, now popular in folk circles. Many citizens buy ingredients themselves, grind into powder, and consume. However, this supplement isn't suitable for everyone. Those with damp obstruction or yang deficiency should avoid it—wasting money and disrupting yin-yang balance. To determine if you’re yin deficient, check your tongue coating: if it’s smooth and peeled, you may be yin deficient and can consume it. Still, consult a doctor first. People often think American ginseng is cooling, but all ginsengs are qi-tonifying; American ginseng is simply relatively cooler than others.
Six: Expert health advice. Dr. Xu Zhiying, over 60 years old, sees patients daily, teaches classes, yet remains energetic. She writes articles late into the night. Her optimistic mindset means few dietary restrictions, but she often walks outside on weekends. Based on her body, she takes tonic supplements twice yearly—once between the first and second dog days of summer, consuming red ginseng, then in early winter using a thick paste formula with red ginseng. She doesn’t overly focus on facial care like younger people, instead following her mother’s method: applying glycerin diluted threefold with water—effective and simple.