🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Autumn brings not only comfortable temperature changes but also some discomforts. The air becomes dry, easily causing internal heat: skin feels parched, sensitive individuals suffer whole-body itching; lips constantly dry, throat dry and itchy, as if something blocks it; prolonged screen time causes dry, painful eyes; fine wrinkles become more noticeable around the eyes; constipation is common. Dr. Xu Zhiying, chief physician of respiratory medicine at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and professor at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, believes these are all consequences of "autumn dryness."
TCM 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—wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire—occurring in different seasons. Among them, "dryness" is the dominant factor in autumn. Autumn dryness mainly affects the body due to 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. Since natural climate changes affect everyone, 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 extensive experience in health preservation, she views life as a parabolic curve, with middle age at its peak—the period of strongest vitality and health. After this stage, decline begins. While the rate of decline depends on individual factors, the biological law cannot be defied. Though eternal youth is impossible, self-care can slow aging.
Two: Hydration is essential. In dry autumn, about 600 ml or more of water evaporates daily through the skin. Thus, hydration is a key measure for autumn health preservation. An adult should drink at least 1,500 ml daily, and 2,000 ml in autumn to keep lungs and respiratory tract lubricated. Best to drink 200 ml upon waking and before bedtime, and 800 ml between meals. Some people find plain water ineffective; try green tea or brew herbs like fritillary bulb, wolfberry, scrophularia, bamboo leaf, ophiopogon, and monk fruit. Soup at meals is indispensable for fluid replenishment. Milk and soy milk nourish blood and qi, moisturize skin and hair—never skip them daily. Also, eat more fruits like pears, apples, watermelons, bananas, peaches, sugarcane, grapes, and vegetables rich in fiber and moisture—such as radishes, tomatoes, cabbage, lilies, lotus root, bitter melon, and water chestnuts. Avoid spicy, aromatic, and dried foods like ginger, scallions, garlic, pepper, Sichuan pepper, mustard, and smoked items.
Three: Dietary therapy for autumn dryness. Autumn easily depletes body fluids; thus, use remedies that nourish yin, moisten lungs, and resolve phlegm. Examples: 30 g each of northern sand参 (adlay), lily, and 150 g duck meat, boiled together until duck meat is tender, then drink broth and eat meat. One pear (core removed), mix 3 g powdered Fritillaria and 10 g rock sugar, place inside, steam over water until soft, eat pear and drink broth. 50 g fresh lily, 30 g honey, decoct into soup. 15 g scrophularia, 12 g each of ophiopogon and raw rehmannia, decoct and drink as tea. 60 g red grapes, 30 g water chestnut and white foxglove root, boil into soup as tea. Grate and mix a moderate amount of carrot with rice to cook porridge. 20 g silver ear fungus, a little rock sugar, stew until soft and eat.
Four: Excessive consumption of dates and oranges harms the body. Red dates are commonly used in TCM and folk remedies. Last year, Northern winter dates brought to Hangzhou caused some people to suffer diarrhea and oral ulcers after overeating. Although not hot in nature, dates are warm in property. Overconsumption generates internal heat, and failure to clear food residue creates a breeding ground for oral ulcers. Date skins are slippery and may cause diarrhea. Oranges easily cause internal heat, and acidic substances harm oral mucosa. Moderation is key: one orange per day, ten large dates. Adequate vitamin C and other nutrients keep skin smooth and resilient in autumn and winter, reducing cold susceptibility.
Five: Not everyone benefits from Tiepi Fengdou. Combining Tiepi Fengdou (a type of orchid) with American ginseng effectively treats yin deficiency, now popular in folk circles. Many buy ingredients themselves, grind into powder, and consume. However, this supplement isn’t suitable for everyone. Those with dampness obstruction or yang deficiency should avoid it—wasting money and potentially disrupting internal yin-yang balance. To identify yin deficiency, check the tongue: if the coating is peeled off, indicating yin deficiency, it may be consumed. Still, consult a doctor first. People often assume American ginseng is cooling, but all ginsengs are qi-tonifying; American ginseng is simply relatively cooler.
Six: Expert health tips. Dr. Xu Zhiying, now over 60, sees patients daily, teaches classes, yet remains energetic and often writes articles at night. She maintains an optimistic mindset, rarely restricts diet, but frequently walks outdoors on weekends. Based on her body’s needs, she takes two health-preserving tonics annually—once between the first and second dog days of summer, taking red ginseng, then in early winter using a medicinal paste with red ginseng. She doesn’t overly care about facial skincare, instead following her mother’s method: applying glycerin diluted threefold with water—effective and simple.