We will be going into the Chu Shu (处暑) solar term (节气) starting from 22 Aug to 6 Sep 2024. Chu Shu is the 14th solar term out of the entire 24.
During this solar term, there is a tradition to consume duck meat. One of the reasons is because it has the property of 滋阴养胃，健脾补虚 (nourishing the stomach-Yin and strengthening the spleen), which makes it an ideal food for the 温燥 (warm-dry) conditions of this solar term.
One of the popular duck dishes that people consume during this period is 百合鸭 (duck meat with lily bulb). Lily bulb (百合) is combined with duck meat as it has the property of 润肺止咳， 清心安神. It means lily bulb can help to nourish the lungs and stop cough (due to dryness), as well as calm the mind and improve sleep quality.
For this solar term, the dietary direction is 润肺健脾, 养阴润燥 (nourishing the lungs and strengthening the spleen, as well as nourishing the Yin and moistening dryness).
The following are some foods that are highly recommended to be consumed during this solar term:
Duck Meat – As mentioned earlier, duck meat is a good food for nourishing the Yin energy in the body during this period.
Lily Bulb (Chinese name: 百合) – Lily bulb is one of the best foods to reduce heart fire as its main property is nourishing heart Yin energy. When the heart’s Yin energy is sufficient, the heart is less likely to be in a heaty state. You can purchase dried lily bulb at most TCM retail shops or fresh ones at the supermarket.
Goji Berries – Not only does Goji berry strengthen the kidneys, it also helps with strengthening the liver. In TCM, the liver affects one’s eyesight, thus goji berries are proven to help strengthen and protect our eyes from weakening and diseases. Goji berries are one of the best foods/herbs to nourish Yin.
White Fungus – White fungus can help to moisturize the lungs and dissolve phlegm. It can also help to nourish the stomach Yin, so it is a good food to add to your diet during this solar term.
Pear – Pear has a very good moisturizing effect on the lungs and it also helps to clear heatiness in our other organs. In fact, its lung-moisturizing benefits are even greater if you cook it! For recipe ideas, you can search for “小吊梨汤” on YouTube.
General Wellness Recommendation
As the summer heat effect (秋老虎) still lingers in the environment, this is not yet the time to let your guard down against the summer flu.
The following are some general guidelines to keep your spleen healthy and have stronger body immunity:
- Avoid entering an air-conditioned room immediately after sweating from the heat. Instead, find a sheltered place to cool down and let the sweating subside before entering the air-conditioned area.
- Avoid consuming cold drinks especially when you are feeling very warm and hot. It is best to drink room-temperature water in this case so that it won’t hurt your spleen. This is the most common reason why people get summer flu.
- Avoid consuming oily and sweet foods as they will burden and weaken your spleen and increase your vulnerability to summer flu.
Have a healthy Chu Shu solar term, everyone!