Autumn Wind Rises—Elderly Should Beware of Autumn Dryness
★ Case: He feels dry mouth, thirst, and irritability
With autumn arriving, the weather grows cooler. But Mr. Liu constantly feels dry mouth and throat discomfort: his nasal cavity feels hot and dry, almost like smoke irritation, sometimes even bleeding; his throat itches, causing persistent dry coughs with only a small amount of sticky phlegm; his lips are dry and crack easily, painful enough to make drinking water or eating difficult—even water doesn't relieve the dryness; occasionally he experiences sore throat, headache, and nasal congestion, though not due to cold symptoms...
★ Diagnosis: Internal dehydration causes "autumn dryness"
In fact, all these symptoms Mr. Liu experiences are what traditional Chinese medicine calls "autumn dryness." Dr. Fu Shanlai, a deputy chief physician specializing in health preservation, explains that autumn brings dry weather, and after summer’s excessive sweating and bodily discharge, the body becomes dehydrated. Dry air accelerates moisture evaporation through skin and mucous membranes, leading to symptoms such as dry skin, nasal dryness, chapped lips, headaches, sore throats, dry coughs, hot palms and soles, and constipation—all typical signs of autumn dryness.
★ Prescription: Timely hydration, nourishing yin, clearing dryness
During autumn, pay attention to hydration—drink plenty of plain water, light tea, soy milk, and similar beverages. Eat foods that moisten the lungs and generate fluids, nourish yin, and clear dryness, such as radishes, lotus roots, water chestnuts, honey. Those with internal heat, lung heat cough, sore throat, or constipation can eat pears, which have functions of generating fluids, quenching thirst, clearing heat, and removing dryness. Minimize intake of spicy, fried, greasy foods like chili peppers, scallions, ginger, garlic, pepper, and strong alcohol.
Cough caused by autumn dryness is typically dry with no phlegm and often persists despite treatment. Dietary therapy can often prevent and treat this condition: for example, boil three pears with water for half an hour, strain out the pulp, then add 50 grams of rice to cook into porridge. This has a calming and cooling effect, especially suitable for those with lung heat cough.
To prevent autumn dryness, elderly individuals should walk regularly in fresh-air environments according to their interests and physical condition, practice deep breathing to expel stale air and absorb fresh air, and engage in activities like slow jogging, exercises, or martial arts to enhance lung function and improve the body’s resistance to the harsh, drying autumn climate.