The twenty-four solar terms are the calendars of the ancient working people of China, which are also known as “moon calendar” and “agricultural calendar”, which were drawn up to guide agricultural production by observing the changes of the moon. In addition to affecting agricultural production, the changes of the 24 solar terms are also closely related to the functions of the five internal organs and six internal organs of the human body, the operation of the meridians and blood, and the prosperity and decline of yin and yang. According to Chinese medicine, the human body is an organic whole, and the human body and nature are unified, i.e., the holistic view of “Heaven, Man and One”. The changes of yin and yang in the four seasons of nature are the basis for the growth and collection of all things, and only when we comply with these changes will we not develop diseases. At the same time, according to the changes of the seasons to properly carry out preventive health care, treating the disease before the disease, not treating the disease, prevention of microscopic prevention, this is the principle of health care.
So, how to take care of your health with reference to the four seasons?
According to Chinese medicine, in spring and summer, the yang energy is stronger on the surface of the body and weaker in the body, while in autumn and winter, the opposite is true, so we should take care of the yang energy in spring and nourish the yin energy in autumn and winter. Based on this theory, the clinical practice of “winter illnesses and summer treatment” (e.g. San Fu Moxibustion) is used to control winter illnesses by nourishing Yang energy in summer.
This combination of time medicine and traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is also applicable to the 24 solar terms. The treatment of diseases related to the 24 solar terms is achieved by stimulating acupuncture points before the 24 solar terms, regulating the meridians and blood and balancing the body’s yin and yang. The general method used to stimulate acupuncture points is moxibustion therapy, including wheat grain moxibustion, moxibustion with ginger, moxibustion with moxa, and smokeless moxibustion therapy – bioceramic moxibustion. Since moxibustion therapy is painless, less stimulating, and easier to perform, it is especially suitable for young children, the elderly, the infirm, and those who cannot tolerate acupuncture therapy.
Twenty-four moxibustion is especially suitable for people suffering from the following symptoms.
1, arthritis: especially degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple joint aches and pains throughout the body due to climate change. The disease is applicable in the twenty-four solar terms.
2, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, chronic wheezing bronchitis, emphysema: this type of disease can be selected in the summer three volt days and winter three nine days for treatment.
3, chronic gastritis, chronic colitis, gastric prolapse and other gastrointestinal disorders: clinical symptoms are mainly manifested by diarrhea, inability to eat cold food, physical wasting, cold extremities, etc., and the Chinese medicine identification belongs to the deficiency cold type. This type of patients are recommended to be treated during the three volt days and the period from spring to summer solstice.
4, pediatric autumn diarrhea: autumn is the high incidence of pediatric diarrhea, due to poor regulation of the gastrointestinal tract of young children, can not adapt to the change of seasons and cause chronic non-bacterial diarrhea. Parents can bring their babies to moxibustion therapy during the autumn to autumn equinox.
5, frostbite and winter fear of cold, hands and feet are not warm, easy to catch a cold: Chinese medicine to identify the right type of Yang deficiency cold condensation. It is recommended that treatment be carried out during the period from cold dew to spring.
6, the prevention of stroke: as the winter to the next spring is a high incidence of stroke, for people at risk of high pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, etc., it is recommended to perform health care moxibustion therapy during this period to activate blood circulation, improve blood circulation.
The three volt moxibustion and three volt paste, which are familiar to everyone, are examples of the ancient people’s treatment of diseases according to the “seasonal qi”. The most important thing is to make sure that you have a good understanding of the characteristics of the season, so that you can get twice the result with half the effort.
Here are a few of the most commonly used seasonal health moxibustion: 1.
1, summer is the prevention and treatment of asthma, slow branch of the golden season
The three volts of moxibustion for asthma, slow branch, three consecutive three volts, can effectively avoid its recurring attacks, and even achieve long-term relief.
Acupuncture points: Dazhi (under the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra), Lung Yu (1.5 inches next to the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra), Plumpy Yu (3 inches next to the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra)
Method 1: Garlic slices are applied to the Great Vertebrae, Lung Yu and Ancient Heart Yu points, and the cone of moxa is placed on the garlic and ignited, with the degree of heat being tolerated by the patient, and after 1 strong moxibustion for each point, the garlic slices are replaced and 5 strong moxibustion are applied. Moxibustion treatment after the three volt period, 2 times a week.
Method 2: Mild moxibustion with moxa strips. The end of the moxa stick is lit against the I point that should be moxibustion, about 2-3 cm from the skin, so that the local warmth and no burning pain is appropriate, each point moxibustion 5-10 minutes, until the skin appears red, to avoid burning the skin. To moxibustion after three volt period, every other day a moxibustion.
Chinese medicine believes that the formation of external causes of disease is only one aspect, the important thing is the state of the human physique, asthma, slow branch of its physique is mostly endogenous to the lack of Yang Qi, in the cold season, the patient’s Yang Qi is at a low ebb, the ability to accept external treatment is also in the “poor response period”. As the temperature rises in summer, the yang energy in the body rises and the meridians are open, so it is easier to take preventive and curative measures at this time to promote the adjustment of the physique, so it can achieve twice the effect with half the effort.
2, spring turn to summer, summer turn to spring time to prevent stroke
Acupoints: foot three miles (three inches below the outer knee eye, a horizontal finger outside the front tibial ridge), Chungquan (about the intersection of the front 1/3 of the foot, toes flexed in a trap)
Method: Every night before going to bed, moxibustion with moxa stick lit on the acupuncture points, each point moxibustion for 5 minutes, to local skin flushing as a degree, once a day, a course of seven days, after a day or two of rest, and then the second course of moxibustion, even 3 to 5 courses of treatment.
Moxibustion of the feet three miles, Yongquan, can warm the blood vessels, induce heat downward, harmonize the yin and yang, so that blood pressure tends to normal, thus achieving the effect of stroke prevention. When spring crosses summer, it refers to the period from the Valley Rain to the beginning of summer, March to April of the lunar calendar. When summer crosses spring, it refers to the period from the cold to the beginning of spring, December to the first month of the following year in the lunar calendar.
3, spring, small full, mango when adjusting the stomach and intestines
Acupuncture points: Zhongshang (located 4 inches above the umbilicus on the midline of the abdomen), and sansili (3 inches below the eye of the outer knee, one horizontal finger outside the front tibial ridge)
Method: Moxibustion with a moxa stick. The end of the moxa stick is lit and aligned with the I point, about 2-3 cm from the skin, so that there is local warmth without burning pain is appropriate, generally 5-10 minutes per place, until the skin appears red, pay attention to avoid burning the skin.
The “seasonal moxibustion” is applicable to the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases, due to its simple, convenient, effective and effective for generations of doctors and people to use. As people’s respect for natural therapies grows, seasonal health treatment – “seasonal moxibustion” is playing an increasingly important role in disease prevention and health care with its distinctive Chinese medicine acupuncture characteristics.