(Ecns.cn)--As the cold weather arrives and the cool clear days depart, the season seems annoying enough without the late autumn dryness that often brings special health problems.
Sore throat, dry nasal passages, breathing problems, bad coughing, headaches, chapped lips, as well as constipation are among the problems associated with this season, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
It doesn't work, however, to eat nourishing food or to take any tonics as ways to get rid of such health problems at this time of year. That's simply because these problems are not caused inside human body, but outside.
"Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that nature and man are one and as an integral part of nature, man is easily affected by changes in climate and weather," Yuan Xiande , a TCM doctor from Beijing Tong Ren Tang, a renowned pharmacy founded in 1669, was quoted as saying on Shanghai Daily.
When the changes get too drastic in climate, human bodies become much more vulnerable to nasitis, gastritis, influenza, and so on. About 80% of people feel some kind of discomfort during this season, TCM parishioners say.
As a common food medicine in the old country, water is always the most frequently mentioned cure. Not only doctors, but also grannies, nag about drinking more water every time you drop by.
And they have a good reason to do so. As the air dries in the transitional time from autumn to winter, the moisture in human body decreases. The reduced moisture in the upper respiratory tract and mouth can lead to coughing, increased phlegm, and bronchitis.
The lungs and the skin are the two organs that are most sensitive to the outside environment. When people inhale dry air and breathe out humid carbon dioxide, the body's moisture level falls. The skin also dries in the process.
Therefore, replenishing fluids by drinking enough water is especially important. This by no means includes drinking beverages.
The purpose is not just to supply more water to the body; instead, it's to nourish yin (cool energy), reduce dryness, and moisturize the body inside and out. In doing so, it gets easier to avoid the above-mentioned autumn diseases.
And, eating foods that promote moisture in the body on a daily basis is equally important. They don't have to be rare delicacies, of course. Below are some recommended foods that are both economical and effective in preventing autumn diseases.
Lotus root benefits the lung
Covered with a coat of mud from the lily pond, lotus roots scare away many potential consumers. But did you know that the coat of mud helps to keep the root fresh? Raw lotus roots are said to "clear" heat, while cooked ones can help purify blood and stimulate appetite. Lotus root is classified as a cooling food, thus they are extremely good for the lungs in this season.
Boiled juice from lotus root, ginger, pear, turnip, ginkgo, sugarcane, and honey is not only yummy but also of medicinal value. You are encouraged to hand make one container of such juice, keep it in a glass bottle, and drink it frequently. It helps dispel inner heat and reduce phlegm.
