source: xinhua

The major cold has already arrived in Beijing, and that means the New Year is coming. Traditional Chinese medical science pays attention to treatment focusing three factors—the weather, earth and people. People’s activities and body conditions are closely related with the weather and need to be adjusted according to the changes in weather. The twenty four solar terms are the treasure of Chinese culture. Major cold is the last solar term of one year, but it is the beginning of a new year’s circulation. Therefore, it is very important for people to pay attention to their health during the coldest time of the year.

The vitality—be in a happy mood

It is said that people can resist the frostiness of the severe winter only when they are in good moods and have healthy blood, pulse and energy. Therefore, people should keep good moods and avoid excessive delight or sadness. Especially for the elderly, keeping smooth and mild moods can reduce the risk of heart and brain disease.

Daily life—go to bed early and get up late

The major cold is the last solar term of winter, and people should conform to a sort of hiding behavior during that time. They should go to bed early and get up late to nourish the “yangqi” and “yinqi” of the human body. People also need to defend the strong wind during the major cold period. Moreover, people need to keep their hands and feet warm.

In daily life—wash feet before going to bed

Washing feet before going to bed is another good habit to take on during the major cold period. It is said that the whole body will feel cold if the legs and feet feel cold. Soaking the feet in hot water before going to bed can make the blood vessels expand, speed up the blood flow, improve the skin and nutrition of the feet, reduce muscular tension and improve sleep quality. It is also good for people to prevent chilblain of foot, and people can use this technique to prevent disease and keep healthy. People who enjoy sitting for long periods during the night to read, write or watch TV should use hot water for a footbath before going to bed.

Exercising after sunrise

It is said that exercising can help prevent illness. Being active in winter strongly influences one’s health. The exercises should be done both indoors and outdoors, such as jogging, shadowboxing, eight-section brocade and basketball. However, the exercises should not be excessively intense. People should avoid waking up too early to do exercises. The best time for exercise is after sunrise.

Source: Xinhua

Translated by Lv Jing