Seasonal Wellness Tips for Xiao Shu - Lesser Heat

Xiao Shu is the 11th of 24 two-week solar terms that make up the ancient Chinese agricultural calendar. It begins between July 6th and July 8th each year.

Xiao Shu marks the beginning of a period known as Chang Xia, which translates to “long summer” but is typically referred to as “late summer” in the five-element tradition. It is the season associated with the Earth element and is considered a time of great natural abundance as grains, fruits, and vegetables ripen all around.

It signifies a pivotal point, as the sun moves south and yang qi begins to noticeably decline, resulting in shorter days and longer nights.

However, the hottest part of the year is still to come, as the Earth's surface has now accumulated a vast amount of heat, warming the oceans and increasing evaporation, leading to increased cloud cover and humid weather.

For humans, this can cause discomfort, with feelings of being stifled, accompanied by clammy skin and sensations of heaviness in the body.

We must take great care of our health at this time to avoid falling ill. Read on for my top wellness tips for Xiao Shu.

Support the Centre

The Earth element is associated with the Stomach and Spleen. As the key digestive organs of Chinese medicine, they hold a crucial position at the centre of the body and our overall health.

Both qi and Blood are derived from food essences, which require healthy function of the Stomach and Spleen to extract, transform, and transport them.

To nourish these organs, we should eat a balanced diet, based on natural, whole foods, particularly those that are naturally sweet, such as grains, root vegetables, squashes, and so on.

Cooked foods, especially soups, stews, and congee, are considered more supportive than raw and cold foods, which can be difficult to break down and strain the digestive system. We should also eat regularly, chew our food well, and avoid overeating, eating late at night, or eating on the go.

According to the yangsheng tradition, at Xiao Shu, we should also incorporate some lightly fragrant foods into our daily diets to “open the Stomach,” helping to support digestion and stimulate the appetite. Some examples of fragrant foods include:

• Ginger

• Garlic

• Spring onions

• Coriander

• Pineapple

• Peaches

It can also be beneficial to drink fragrant flower teas, such as rose, jasmine, or osmanthus. These ingredients are said to open the Stomach, regulate qi, refresh the spirit, resolve depression, enliven Blood, and disperse stagnation. They can be enjoyed daily during Xiao Shu and throughout late summer.

Preserve Water

During late summer, the weather can be hot and stuffy, meaning we lose more water through sweat than at other times of year. Therefore, it is critical to stay hydrated at this time.

The human body is 60-70% water, and this humble substance has numerous crucial roles in our physiology. It is required to transport nutrients and oxygen, control body temperature, excrete waste products, regulate metabolism, lubricate the joints, and aid circulation, digestion, and absorption. When we are dehydrated, these functions become disordered, quickly leading to ill health.

Thirst is a sign that we need to drink, and by the time it occurs, our water levels are already too low. Therefore, we should develop the habit of drinking regularly throughout the day, even when we don't feel thirsty.

Plain water is often considered best, although this can be complemented by consuming some sour foods and beverages, which help to retain moisture in the body. Citrus fruit, plums, berries, and their juices are all good examples.

Treat Winter Diseases in Summer

From mid-July, towards the end of Xiao Shu, China enters what are known as the San Fu days. Often translated as the "dog days of summer," these three 10-day periods are expected to be the hottest of the year and present a unique opportunity for maintaining health.

It is believed that by performing warming treatment methods at this very hot time of year, we can build our reserves of yang qi, and increase our resistance to winter diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, respiratory infections, and so on.

Traditionally, a combination of heating herbs is made into a paste and stuck onto specific acupuncture points with a plaster for several hours, causing irritation of the skin and stimulating our defences. There is also a tradition of warming the yang channels of the body with moxa, a herbal preparation made from mugwort.

While these treatments may not be widely accessible in the Western world, we can take advantage of the late summer heat by standing with our backs to the warmth of the rising or setting sun, allowing it to penetrate our yang channels and replenish our stores of yang qi.

For more personalised seasonal wellbeing advice, you can book a holistic health coaching session via the contact page.

References

• 买雯婷 (2011) 第一养生药膳 - Tangmark Publishing and Distribution, Beijing

• Leggett, D. (2005) Helping Ourselves (second edition) - Meridian Press, Totnes