Welcome to the 19th episode of 24 Solar Terms & Health!

Minor Heat falls on today, signifying an end to the plum rain season and a start of the scorching days in Hangzhou. While not the hottest yet, nature is in full swing. It’s time to stay hydrated and energized while immersing in the vivid summer vibes.

Health tips from our Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician:

Food Recommendation for Summer Heat: Minor Heat signals the coming peak of summer. It’s recommended to consume an appropriate amount of cooling foods such as mung beans, cucumber, wax gourd, lotus root, and chrysanthemum. Limit the intake of spicy, greasy foods such as hot peppers and fried foods.

Utilize “Sanfu Days” for Health: During Minor Heat, there will be the start of “Sanfu Days,” the hottest days of the year. Applying herbs to specific points during Sanfu is believed to help treat chronic conditions, especially pulmonary, digestive, and gynecological disorders.

External Therapy for Summer Heat: If you experience heatstroke or general discomfort from the summer heat, traditional therapies like gua sha (scraping therapy) and cupping can help expel heat and dampness from the body.