Chinese Twenty-Four Season Cold Dew — Han Lu 寒露
In Part One of this article series, we discussed the names and timing of the Chinese twenty-four seasons Jie Qi节气. If you missed the first part of this article series, please go here (JHealingSystem) to read it. In this article, I am going to talk about how to live well with the season Cold Dew– Han Lu 寒露. Han Lu 寒露 is from Oct 7th or 8th to October 22nd to 24th depending on the year. This year it begins on Oct 8 and ends on Oct. 23rd.
Cold Dew — Han Lu 寒露
Let’s first recap the meaning of this season’s name. Han 寒 means cold. Lu 露 means dew. This is the fifth season in Fall. This time of the year, temperatures are much lower than the last season. It goes from being cool to cold. The temperature difference between the morning/evening and the middle of the day are even more extreme. There will be less rain. Autumn crops mature at this time. You will see birds migrating south to warmer geographic locations.
How to Live Properly for Han Lu 寒露
Because of the big temperature difference between day and night, we need to pay attention to the clothing we wear. I tell my patients to wear layers and carry a scarf. A scarf is light and easy to carry. It is useful to put over your neck and upper shoulder when the temperature drops significantly in the evening.
However, do not overdress during this season. There is a Chinese saying: “Dress heavier during the spring time and lighter during the fall time.” The reason is that during the springtime, because winter is behind, there is still quite a bit of cold energy in the environment. But during the Fall, because summer is behind, there is still a lot of warm energy in our surroundings.
How To Eat Properly for Han Lu 寒露
In this season, we should eat a wide variety of food to give our body the full spectrum of nutrition. For example, grains give the body the energy and vitamin B1. Beans provide plant protein. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, fiber and inorganic salts or mineral salts.
In Chinese culture, there is an ancient saying: “Cold Dew eat Sesame.” There is white sesame and black sesame. They are both good for health. White is the color associated with the Lung system in Chinese medicine. White colored food helps increase the Lung system function.
Black is associated with the Kidney system. Black colored food helps with Kidney system function. Sesame has the characteristic of sweet taste, neutral temperature, healthy fat, protein, vitamin A, E, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, and Zinc.
Eating more sesame can help to improve eyesight, ease constipation, help hair growth, and prevent premature aging. It can also help to lower high blood pressure, high triglycerides, chronic cough, premature white hair, and anemia.
This is still a Fall season, and dryness is still the major pathogen to avoid from a Chinese Medicine perspective. Therefore keep eating food that moistens: dates, lily bulbs, lotus seeds, honey, sesame oil, rice, and white wood ear.
How To Live Properly for Han Lu 寒露
Because the weather is getting colder, cerebrovascular issues can develop. This is because people tend to do less in colder weather and sleep more. When we are not moving, our blood does not circulate well. Therefore, in this season, we need to dress warm, go out and do more physical activities instead of staying home to watch a lot of TV or working on the computer. There are three foods that help blood circulation: wood ear, seaweed, and hawthorne. If you are a patient in our clinic, please look for hawthorne candy at the check-in desk.
Conditions That May Get Worse During Han Lu 寒露
If you suffer from Lung weakness (Fei Xue 肺虚 ) this season brings an increased risk of the following health conditions: asthma, cough, eczema, psoriasis, skin sensitivities, anxiety and depression. Please get proper treatment to support your body going through this season peacefully. For more information, visit https://raleighacupunctureinc.com/conditions-we-treat/.
To learn more about Chinese characters, visit https://raleighacupunctureinc.com/learn-chinese-characters/.