Recently, the temperature in Hangzhou has dropped sharply, with northwest winds blowing frequently, and pedestrians on the street have put on more clothes one after another. As the second solar term of winter, the arrival of Minor Snow not only marks the turn of weather to cold, but also reminds us to do a good job in health protection — especially Hangzhou's cold and damp climate, which poses a considerable test to the body. This health preservation guide combined with appropriate TCM techniques is worth collecting.

Minor Snow usually falls from late November to early December. During this period, cold air activities are frequent, and precipitation gradually increases but is mostly a mixture of rain and snow. The ancients divided it into three pentads: "The first pentad: the rainbow hides and is not seen", because the temperature is low and rainwater freezes, making rainbows hard to find; "The second pentad: heaven ascends and earth descends", yang qi in the sky rises and yin qi on the ground sinks, leading to a gradual decrease of yang qi between heaven and earth; "The third pentad: blockage forms winter", all things converge, and the earth enters a state of storage. Health preservation needs to conform to the law of "storage".

Challenges of Hangzhou's Minor Snow Weather to Health

(1) Cold and Dampness Trigger Joint Problems

Hangzhou's winter is bitterly cold and damp, and cold-damp qi is prone to invade the joints. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that "damp pathogen is sticky and stagnant, and cold pathogen contracts and constricts". The interweaving of cold and dampness can lead to poor circulation of qi and blood in the joints. Patients with old cold legs and arthritis are prone to aggravated pain, and even their daily walking is affected.

(2) Dryness Induces Respiratory Problems

Although there is rain and snow, the air humidity in Hangzhou is still low in winter, and coupled with indoor heating, it is easy to cause dryness of the respiratory mucosa. Traditional Chinese medicine states that "the lung likes moistness and abhors dryness". After the mucosa is damaged, problems such as colds, coughs, and pharyngitis occur frequently, and the elderly and children need special attention.

(3) Cold Stimulation Triggers Cardio-Cerebral Hidden Dangers

Low temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to rise, increasing the burden on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "cold congeals blood and causes stasis". Vascular constriction can easily lead to slow blood flow, and patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease need to be alert to sudden discomfort.

Appropriate TCM Techniques to Help

(1) Moxibustion for Warming the Body and Dispelling Cold

Mugwort is warm in nature, and moxibustion can warm the meridians to dispel cold and promote qi and blood circulation. 3 core acupoints are recommended:

• Shenque (Navel): Warm moxibustion with a moxibustion box for 10 minutes before bedtime to warm the spleen and stomach and tonify yang qi;

• Guanyuan (3 cun below the navel): Moxibustion 2-3 times a week to consolidate the kidney and prevent cold;

• Zusanli (3 cun below the knee): Regular pressing and moxibustion to enhance immunity and relieve joint cold pain.

(2) Acupoint Massage for Health Preservation

No tools are needed, and it can be done anytime:

• Taixi (Depression inside the ankle): Knead 30 times at 9 pm every night to nourish yin and tonify the kidney, improving cold hands and feet in winter;

• Yongquan (Depression at the front 1/3 of the sole): Knead for 5 minutes after foot soaking before bedtime to help sleep and warm the body.

(3) Cupping for Dispelling Dampness and Unblocking Collaterals

Cupping can dredge the meridians and expel cold-dampness by adsorbing the skin with negative pressure. It is recommended to ask professional physicians to operate it, focusing on cupping the lumbodorsal region and shoulder and neck, 10-15 minutes each time, once a week. Note that do not touch cold water within 2 hours after cupping to avoid catching cold.

Smart Health Preservation in Diet and Daily Life

1. Dietary Conditioning

• Eat more warm foods: Mutton soup and beef casserole can warm and tonify qi and blood, and jujube and longan tea can be drunk daily;

• Tonify and moisten to prevent dryness: Boil pear and radish in water to drink, relieving respiratory dryness;

• Reduce raw, cold and greasy foods: Avoid increasing the burden on the spleen and stomach and inducing diarrhea.

2. Regular Daily Routine

• Sleep early and get up late: Go to bed before 10:30 pm and get up after 7 am, conforming to the storage of yang qi;

• Key warmth preservation: Wear a hat to protect the head, wear a waistcoat to warm the back, and soak feet in warm water (about 40℃) for 15 minutes before bedtime;

• Indoor moisturization: Use a humidifier to adjust the humidity to 50%-60% to reduce dryness stimulation.

3. Moderate Exercise

• Choose mild sports: Walking, Tai Chi, Baduanjin, etc., avoid strenuous exercise that causes sweating and catching cold;

• Select appropriate time: Exercise after 10 am or when the temperature is higher in the afternoon, about 30 minutes each time.