Helen Deng

deng.hneng@gmail.com

NOTICE the leaves changing? A chill in the air? Although it’s still quite hot in Shenzhen, autumn has already arrived.

Autumn is the time of falling leafs and harvest. Plenty of fruits and vegetables are set to come into season. However, it also poses a challenge to your immune system with its dryness and sudden changes in weather.

According to the beliefs of traditional Chinese medicine, the weather has a large influence over human health and in autumn the qi (vital energy) of the lungs is particularly vulnerable. Doctors recommend paying attention to changes in the weather, protecting the qi of the lungs, and thus avoiding colds and coughing.

Here are some health tips for autumn:

Stay hydrated

Dehydration is a common problem in autumn. It causes constipation, dry throat, dry skin, dry eyes, brittle hair, thirst, and inhibits the sweat glands. If you keep yourself hydrated your mucous membranes will not go dry, working much more effectively to filter out disease-causing organisms.

Drink three to four cups of water each day. Avoid spicy food such as hot peppers and scallions, because spicy food would worsen dryness. Pears, apples, grapes, bananas, radishes and green leaves are great choices to keep your body hydrated. Pear juice is a nice moistening solution for dry lungs. The good thing is, there is a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables available in autumn.

Keep fit

The heat of summer tends to weaken the appetite. In autumn, however, the cool weather and longer nights cause people to eat more. So be careful — if you don’t control your calorie intake, you may put on weight.

Autumn is the best time of year to get outside and enjoy the fresh air without the heat and humidity. Why not schedule a hike, bike ride, or picnic?

With the National Day holiday coming, it’s a good time to plan a long-distance trip, too. Traveling can not only separate you from daily routines, but also help you stay healthy both physically and psychologically.

Early to bed, early to rise

People tend to stay up late and get up early in summer because of the long daytime. However, in autumn, you should adapt to the seasonal changes and increase your sleeping hours.

Chinese medicinal theory advocates “going to bed at sunset and rising at dawn” in autumn. While this sounds almost impossible for urban dwellers today, people should still try to both go to bed earlier and get up earlier, to avoid catching a cold and enjoy fresh air.

Meanwhile, people should wear clothing appropriate to the changes of weather. According to the beliefs of traditional Chinese medicine, people should avoid wearing too many layers in autumn in order to prepare themselves for the cold winter.

Be relaxed

As the season changes from summer to autumn, the shortening days tend to make us feel a bit less chirpy. Symptoms which begin to increase around this time of year range from depression to general low energy, fatigue and lethargy. Excessive or long-term grief can harm the respiratory system. Get more exercise and wear bright clothes, which will keep you fit and prevent the worsening weather from dampening your mood.