🌿 Folk Prescriptions

When discussing mental health preservation in summer, the Huangdi Neijing explicitly states: "Let the will not be angry, let the brilliance flourish, let qi flow freely, as if drawn outward by affection—this is the way to harmonize with summer’s energy and the essence of health preservation." This means that in summer, one’s spirit should be as beautiful and blooming as a flower in bud. One must avoid anger, ensure smooth and free flow of qi, and display an outward emotional orientation—showing strong interest in external affairs. This is the proper way to adapt to summer’s energy. In mental cultivation, traditional Chinese medicine teaches that winter calls for storage, spring for growth, and summer for release—spiritual energy should be abundant and expansive, with emotions directed outward. Only when spiritual energy is full can bodily functions remain vigorous and coordinated. If spiritual energy dissipates, all bodily functions collapse. As the Medical Book puts it: "Those skilled in preserving life do not overexert the spirit or strain the body. When spirit and body are at peace, how could misfortune possibly arise?" Yet summer heat often causes irritability, and irritation only intensifies heat. Thus, calming the mind and soothing the spirit are especially crucial. Qiu Chuji said: "During the three months of summer, to keep the spirit stable, one should 'calm the mind, shut out sounds and colors, minimize tastes, stay in high, open spaces, gaze far into the distance, go to bed early and rise early, and 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 such as pavilions, water halls, or shaded trees. More importantly, one should regulate breathing and purify the heart, always maintaining a sense of inner coolness like ice and snow—then even in heat, the heart feels cooler. Do not regard heat as heat, or it will generate more heat." This insight is profound: mental calmness naturally brings coolness. An old poem says: "The secret to escaping heat lies not in mountain springs or stone pools. Simply remain mentally tranquil, and you’ll find yourself in a cool mountain retreat."
The Huangdi Neijing states: "South generates heat, heat produces fire"—fire governs summer and corresponds internally to the heart. The heart governs blood and stores spirit, serving as the sovereign organ. Extreme emotions can all harm the heart, causing mental unrest. As the Huangdi Neijing says: "Sorrow and worry cause the heart to move, and 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. In this sense, 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 escape. Since sweat is the fluid of the heart, heart qi is easily depleted—what TCM calls "vigorous fire consumes qi." Precisely because "heat easily affects the heart," and "the heart governs spirit," many mental symptoms arise, such as irritability, delirium, and unconsciousness. In severe heatstroke patients, many fall into coma. In such cases, acupuncture or pressing the Renzhong acupoint (located at the junction of the upper third of the philtrum) or the Shixuan acupoints (located at the fingertips of both hands) and bleeding them via needle puncture are recommended.
If it is long summer, with predominant heat and dampness—high temperatures, no wind, and minimal temperature variation between morning and evening—people often feel chest tightness and become irritable and annoyed, easily triggering mental illness.
In summary, mental activity is closely linked to heart function. Ancient people experienced this in daily life: heart rate 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 vascular system, enables the heart to govern spirit and emotion through its circulation. When blood vessels are full and blood is abundant, the mind is clear, thinking sharp, and spirit vibrant. When blood and heart qi are deficient, insomnia, vivid dreams, forgetfulness, dizziness, and general mental dullness often occur. Thus, the foundation of summer mental health preservation lies in ensuring normal heart function in governing blood vessels. How to maintain this?
The Huangdi Neijing says: "The heart is associated with the vessels... eating too much salt causes blood vessels to constrict and change color"; it also states: "Excessive salt suppresses heart qi." This indicates that excessive salt intake negatively impacts the heart. Modern nutrition science holds that heart muscle development and blood circulation require high-quality proteins, which must be replenished timely. Overconsumption of fatty foods can lead to "fatty heart" and increase the risk of arteriosclerosis. Therefore, 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 hawthorn. Low-salt diets greatly benefit cardiovascular disease prevention, as excessive 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 can also enhance 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, cultivate meaningful spiritual pursuits. Humans possess thoughts and aspirations. Having goals enables one to overcome life’s obstacles. Positive beliefs generate conscious willpower and positive emotions. Numerous activities in life—painting, calligraphy, carving, music, chess, gardening, stamp collecting, fishing, traveling—can provide spiritual fulfillment and refine emotions, thus achieving emotional regulation and physical wellness.
Second, constantly refine one’s character. Regularly examine your emotions—if you notice irritability, anxiety, sadness, anger, or narrow-mindedness, actively work to eliminate them. This requires continuous learning and self-cultivation. The Guanzi (Inner Chapters) once said: "Stopping anger is best achieved through poetry; eliminating sorrow through joy; moderating joy through ritual; guarding ritual through respect; guarding respect through tranquility; inner calm and outer respect enable one to return to their true nature, bringing great stability." The Huangdi Neijing describes the sage’s health preservation methods as: "No resentment or anger," "No mental distress," and "Pursuing tranquility and ease." Thus, planned self-cultivation, facing life’s disappointments with openness and a smile, is essential personal virtue.
First, having meaningful tasks prevents mental emptiness; second, good spiritual cultivation shields one from negative external influences. If both are achieved, the spirit naturally becomes vibrant, and one can "not resent the long days"—this is the fundamental principle of summer mental health preservation.