🌿 Folk Prescriptions

In autumn, the climate is cool and people's diet, sleep, and mental state improve. However, "autumn fatigue, autumn dryness, autumn weight gain" are also approaching us. If not properly cared for, they can bring new troubles.
Refuse autumn fatigue After bidding farewell to the scorching summer, we welcome the refreshing autumn days, making people feel much more comfortable than in summer. Yet some individuals experience drowsiness and fatigue, a phenomenon commonly known as "autumn fatigue." This is a protective response compensating for the excessive consumption during summer. Although it will naturally disappear after some adjustment and adaptation, to avoid affecting work and life, corresponding preventive measures should be taken. First, engage in appropriate physical exercise such as walking or mountain climbing—excellent choices—but start with low intensity and gradually increase activity levels. Excessive exercise increases fatigue and hinders recovery. Second, ensure adequate sleep. Third, adjust your diet: eat light meals and avoid greasy foods; consume more vitamin-rich foods like carrots, lotus root, pears, honey, sesame, and black fungus; eat more potassium-rich foods. Fourth, moderately consume caffeine-containing foods.
Refuse autumn dryness The dry autumn climate often causes dryness in the mouth, nose, throat, and leads to dry coughs. Since the lungs and large intestine are interrelated, autumn may also result in constipation. Additionally, autumn dryness can cause dry lips, cracked skin, and hair loss. To prevent autumn dryness, first pay attention to replenishing fluids—drink 3–4 cups of warm water daily. Autumn diet should follow the principle of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs while preventing dryness and protecting yin. Eat more pears, apples, grapes, bananas, radishes, and leafy vegetables to promote saliva production and prevent dryness, and reduce intake of spicy, pungent foods like chili, scallions, ginger, and garlic. Elderly people should not bathe too frequently in autumn—once or twice a week is sufficient, each session lasting no more than half an hour, with water temperature around 25°C. Avoid alkaline soaps; instead use mild soaps. Also, keep a cheerful attitude—frequent laughter not only benefits lung qi but also helps eliminate depression, relieve fatigue, ease chest tightness, and restore energy.
Refuse autumn weight gain During summer, high temperatures lead to greater energy expenditure, causing poor appetite and insufficient calorie intake. In autumn, as temperatures cool down, people tend to unconsciously overeat, greatly increasing calorie intake. Combined with favorable weather allowing longer sleep and reduced sweating, and the body’s natural tendency to store fat for winter warmth, more calories are consumed than expended. Thus, slight carelessness in autumn can lead to weight gain, especially threatening for those already overweight. Therefore, obese individuals should pay extra attention to weight control in autumn. First, regulate diet by consuming low-calorie weight-loss foods such as red beans, radishes, coix seed, seaweed, and mushrooms. Second, increase calorie expenditure through planned physical activities. With clear skies and pleasant weather, autumn is ideal for travel—enjoying scenic views brings emotional relief and increases physical activity, aiding weight loss.