Autumn Dryness Is Stirring—Act Now to Moisturize
Humans are closely linked to natural climate. Southern China lies in a subtropical zone, characterized by fire and damp-heat. Combined with local climate, geographical environment, and frequent consumption of wild delicacies and cooking styles like stir-frying, stewing, braising, and frying, people tend to become dry and prone to internal heat. Thus, “moisturizing” becomes a top priority for Guangdong residents as soon as autumn arrives.
What Makes Autumn So Dry?
A Ning loves traveling during holidays—whether visiting friends or exploring new places. This National Day, she spent six days in Jiangxi. Traveling by train and long-distance bus was exhausting, and her rest was inadequate. Coupled with cold, dry weather in Jiangxi, she returned looking worn out and listless—clearly, she had “paid money for discomfort.” A Ning felt distressed: just six days, her skin became dry and yellow, flaky, her throat sore, and she felt generally uncomfortable—she didn’t even want to speak.
Dr. Li Aihua, Chief Physician at the Internal Medicine Department of Guangdong Provincial Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, says that upon autumn’s arrival, people first notice tight skin, dry mouth, dry tongue, and sore throats. She believes autumn’s key feature is “dryness.” Dry pathogens easily deplete body fluids, causing dry, cracked skin, dry mouth and nose, and sensations of thirst and dry throat. Dryness also damages the lungs, impairing lung function and leading to dry cough with little phlegm or even blood-tinged sputum.
Moisturize Against Both External and Internal Dryness—Early and Late Autumn Require Attention
Many traditional Chinese medicinal recipes and cooling teas serve as viable options for autumn moisturization, Dr. Li Aihua notes. Dryness can cause illness—if not moisturized, disease ensues. Autumn dryness falls into two types: external and internal. External dryness results from exposure to dry climates; since dryness typically enters via mouth and nose, it initially manifests as dryness in these areas and commonly affects the lungs first. Internal dryness stems from internal fluid deficiency, often seen in high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, or after significant blood loss. Because causes differ, treatments vary: treat external dryness with light, dispersing methods; treat internal dryness with moistening, nourishing approaches.
Additionally, external dryness includes warm dryness and cool dryness. Early autumn retains residual summer heat, often manifesting as warm dryness; late autumn approaches winter, with increasing cold and decreasing atmospheric moisture, typically showing cool dryness.
Autumn Cooling Teas Focus on Nourishing Yin
Dr. Li Aihua points out that autumn cooling teas differ from those used in spring, summer, midsummer, and winter. In spring and summer, yang energy rises—light, clear cooling teas are suitable to avoid excessive dispersion and depletion of qi and yin. During midsummer, heat and dampness prevail—cooling teas should focus on clearing heat, eliminating summer heat, and removing dampness. In winter, yin energy dominates, the body’s pores close tightly, and yang energy remains inward—cooling teas should not be overly cold or intense to avoid damaging yang energy. During autumn, when dryness prevails and dryness easily harms the lungs, the appropriate tea is one that clears the lungs, moistens dryness, and nourishes yin.