The End of Summer and the Beginning of Dryness: Where Do the Physical Tests of the Beginning of Autumn Come From?
As the starting point of autumn, the Beginning of Autumn plays an important role in the transition of climate. The "Huangdi Neijing" states: "The three months of autumn are called 'Rongping'." Rongping means that all things begin to converge and calm down, the yang energy in nature begins to decline, the yin energy gradually emerges, and the climate shifts from hot to cool. However, in real life, the "autumn tiger" wreaks havoc, and temperatures remain high, especially in southern regions where it is often "autumn not cool, summer not dispersed, humidity not gone." Coupled with high daytime temperatures and gradually cooler nights, the temperature difference between day and night gradually increases, posing a challenge to the body's ability to regulate its internal environment.
At this time, the most common issue is "summer humidity not retreated." During summer, people consume a lot of cold drinks and seek shade, making it easy for humidity to accumulate in the spleen and stomach, manifesting as heavy limbs, fatigue, and poor appetite; as the climate turns dry, symptoms of "autumn dryness" such as dry and itchy skin, dry mouth and nose, and constipation gradually appear. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to this as "warm dryness mixed with humidity," where humidity has not yet dissipated but dryness has already emerged, with cold and heat intertwined, and yin and yang interwoven, which can easily affect the functions of the spleen and lungs.
The spleen governs transportation and transformation, serving as the foundation of postnatal life, while the lungs govern the skin and control the mechanism of breathing. When the spleen is troubled by dampness and the lungs are disturbed by dryness, it is easy to experience "external cough and internal fatigue," meaning external throat pain and dry cough, and internal fatigue and lethargy. Therefore, health preservation during the Beginning of Autumn focuses on "eliminating summer humidity, moistening lung dryness, and regulating middle qi," making tea a suitable, gentle, and practical choice.
Autumn Drinks Should Replace Milk: Why Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Not Advocate "The First Cup of Milk Tea in Autumn"?
The trend of "the first cup of milk tea in autumn" that has swept social media seems sweet and romantic, but it hides potential risks from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. Milk tea often contains high sugar and high fat, combined with processed ingredients like pearls, cream, and vegetable fat powder, which not only easily causes fluctuations in blood sugar but can also increase the burden of internal damp heat and phlegm dampness.
Professor Guo Bin points out: "Although the Beginning of Autumn marks the start of autumn, summer humidity has not dissipated. Consuming overly sweet and greasy products at this time will promote dampness and phlegm, further dampening the functions of the spleen and stomach." In addition, dairy products are considered "rich and greasy" in traditional Chinese medicine, which can easily stagnate the middle burner, especially for those who already have excessive dampness, poor appetite, and thick greasy tongue coating; drinking milk tea is akin to "adding fuel to the fire."
In contrast, herbal tea combined with dietary therapy not only has a mild taste but can also be adjusted according to individual constitution, effectively addressing the physical changes during the Beginning of Autumn. For example, tea formulas that clear heat without being cold, moisten dryness without being greasy, and transform dampness without harming the upright qi can nourish yin and moisten the lungs while avoiding damage to the spleen and stomach, making them a more suitable "autumn choice."
What Are the Many Tea Options for the Beginning of Autumn? Four Nourishing Tea Formulas That Align with the Season
To help the body transition smoothly from summer to autumn, traditional Chinese medicine recommends the following four "first teas of autumn," each with its own benefits, all capable of regulating the spleen and lungs, transforming dampness, and nourishing yin:
1. Apricot Pear Lung Tea
Ingredients: 1 duck pear (cut into pieces), 10 grams of sweet almonds, 15 grams of lily bulbs
Method: Add 500 milliliters of water, bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 20 minutes
Benefits: Generates fluids and moistens dryness, stops cough and relieves wheezing, especially suitable for dry cough without phlegm and dry throat with hoarseness at the onset of autumn dryness.
Case Study: Ms. Zhao from Beijing experiences dry throat and hoarseness every time the seasons change. Since the Beginning of Autumn, she has been drinking apricot pear tea daily for a week and feels her throat is significantly moistened, and speaking no longer causes pain.
2. Goji Berry Chrysanthemum Mulberry Leaf Tea
Ingredients: 15 grams of goji berries, 10 grams of chrysanthemum, 5 grams of mulberry leaves; those with qi deficiency can add 15 grams of astragalus
Method: Brew with boiling water and cover for 5 minutes
Benefits: Nourishes the liver and brightens the eyes, clears heat and benefits the throat, alleviating common autumn dryness symptoms such as dry eyes, dizziness, and itchy throat with light cough.
Application Suggestion: Once daily, preferably between 3-5 PM, as this is when the "lung meridian is in season," which is more conducive to the efficacy of the herbs.
3. Asparagus Radish Drink
Ingredients: 100 grams of white radish (sliced), 15 grams of asparagus, appropriate amount of honey
Method: Boil with water for 15 minutes, cool down, and then mix in honey
Benefits: Clears heat and moistens dryness, promotes bowel movement and reduces qi, suitable for those with constipation and bitter mouth, and those who feel hot at night.
Precautions: Diabetic patients should omit honey; pregnant women should avoid asparagus; those with spleen deficiency and loose stools should not drink it frequently.
4. Purple Sweet Potato, Tremella, and Lotus Seed Soup
Ingredients: 20 grams of tremella (soaked), 50 grams of purple sweet potato, 10 lotus seeds
Method: Cook tremella for 1 hour until soft, then add purple sweet potato and lotus seeds, and continue cooking for 30 minutes
Benefits: Nourishes yin and moistens the skin, strengthens the spleen and calms the mind, suitable for those with dry and itchy skin and insomnia with vivid dreams.
Note: This soup is quite nourishing, so those with spleen deficiency and diarrhea should not consume it in large amounts. Purple sweet potato is high in sugar, so diabetic patients should reduce the amount accordingly.
The above teas and soups are all non-prescription and suitable for home remedies. However, it is still recommended to understand one's own constitution before drinking or consult a professional traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to achieve "differentiated tea drinking."
Tea Drinking Has Its Time and Measure: Only Drinking Right Can Truly Nourish
Even the best and most suitable health-preserving tea should not be consumed excessively. The "Huangdi Neijing" emphasizes "the correspondence between heaven and man," and following nature and harmonizing rhythms is a core principle of traditional Chinese medicine. When drinking tea during the Beginning of Autumn, attention should be paid to the following points:
1. The best time to drink is between 3 PM and 5 PM.
This is when the "lung meridian is in season," and the lungs belong to metal and govern autumn, serving as the core organ for regulating breathing and moistening. Drinking lung-moistening tea during this time is more likely to guide the medicinal properties into the lung meridian, enhancing effectiveness.
2. It is advisable to drink 2 to 3 times a week.
Tea drinking is a daily maintenance method and cannot replace regular meals or be consumed excessively like water. Moderate intake can avoid cold harming the spleen, and long-term adherence is also beneficial for regulating constitution.
3. The temperature should be moderate, avoiding drinking it hot.
Many people have the habit of drinking tea "while it's hot," not realizing that high-temperature liquids can harm the esophageal mucosa, and in autumn dryness, one should prevent "internal heat." Drinking warm tea is more appropriate.
4. Adjusting lifestyle rhythms should accompany tea drinking.
Health preservation during the Beginning of Autumn cannot be achieved with just one cup of tea; it should be combined with habits such as going to bed early and rising early, reducing late nights, moderate exercise, and avoiding greasy cold drinks to achieve a synergistic effect.
Constitution Varies, Recommendations Differ: Health-Preserving Tea Should Also Be "Tailored to the Individual"
Health preservation is not about mere imitation; individual differences determine that different people may react very differently to the same tea. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "differentiating constitution and applying regulation," so even "the first cup of tea in autumn" should be chosen based on individual conditions and symptoms.
For diabetic patients:
It is recommended to avoid tea drinks containing honey, purple sweet potato, and other ingredients. They can choose mild herbs like mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum, astragalus, and goji berries, which can regulate qi without raising blood sugar.
For pregnant women:
It is not advisable to drink tea formulas containing almonds, asparagus, and other medicinal ingredients that may stimulate the uterus. They can choose gentle nourishing ingredients like lily bulbs, lotus seeds, and tremella.
For those with spleen deficiency and diarrhea:
Avoid cold and slippery foods like tremella and radish, and focus on strengthening the spleen, with moderate consumption of warming tonics like astragalus and dried tangerine peel.
For those prone to internal heat:
It is advisable to choose cooling and moistening teas, such as mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum, and lily, avoiding the addition of spicy warming herbs or high-sugar ingredients.
For children and adolescents:
They should not casually drink adult-formulated medicinal teas but can appropriately use fresh fruits combined with chrysanthemum and goji berries, balancing taste and gentle health benefits.
Although "the first cup of health-preserving tea in autumn" is small, it reflects the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine's "preventing disease before it occurs and the unity of heaven and man." Drinking a cup of tea that aligns with the season is the beginning of following the autumn season and regulating the internal rhythm, as well as creating a "natural space" for the body amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life.