Great Heat | No breeze to be found—better grab a cup of tea and head out!
Author:
Lei Shun Ship
Release date:
2021-07-22
Time flies by quickly,
In the blink of an eye, summer is coming to an end,
It's simply the height of summer—scorching sun and sweltering heat!
The gentle breeze is nowhere to be found, yet that makes us cherish time even more.
Thursday, July 22, 2021
The 13th day of the sixth month in the Year of the Ox on the Chinese lunar calendar,
It is exactly fifteen days after the start of Lesser Heat,
The Big Heat occurs when the pointer points to Bing.
Dàshǔ, the 12th of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, marks the last seasonal period of summer and is also the hottest time of the year—so much so that it surpasses even Xiǎoshǔ in intensity, hence the name "Dàshǔ," meaning "Great Heat."
When we were kids, summer was our most carefree time. We’d gather with three or five friends, each clutching an old-fashioned popsicle. After finishing the icy treat, we’d dive straight into the river—spending the entire afternoon soaking wet. As evening approached and dinner was served, neighbors from both sides would bring out their woven straw mats, laying them neatly in a row. With a simple fan and another popsicle in hand, we’d drift off to sleep, lulled by the soft murmurs of the grown-ups around us.
Childhood summers didn’t seem quite as hot—back then, kids slowly grew into adults. But these days, only air conditioning and icy drinks offer any relief from the scorching heat. That old-fashioned summer has become the summer of our dreams—something we can long for but never quite reach.
Dàshǔ, the last solar term of summer, also marks the hottest time of the year. With soaring temperatures and scorching heat, it’s easy to stir up liver fire, often leading to feelings of restlessness, loss of appetite, irritability, and even anxiety—what we commonly refer to as "emotional heatstroke."
Summer Solstice Season Health Tips
In addition to maintaining a regular daily routine, make sure to go to bed early and wake up early.
Exercise and nutritional supplements in a timely manner
Of course, we can't forget about "having tea," can we?
Since ancient times, it has been a popular folk custom to drink "fu cha" during the Dog Days of summer. As the name suggests, "fu cha" is tea specifically enjoyed during the hottest period of the year—known as the three "fu" days. But what exactly are the benefits of sipping tea during this scorching time?
The Secret to Cooling Down and Enjoying Tea
Cooling and heat dissipation, generating saliva to quench thirst
Drinking tea is more effective at cooling and quenching thirst than other beverages—this is due to the combined effects of the compounds naturally present in tea leaves.
The caffeine in tea not only affects the body's hypothalamic temperature-regulating center but also has a diuretic effect. Meanwhile, the aromatic compounds naturally present in tea act as a cooling agent themselves—when they evaporate, they help draw heat away from the skin through the body's pores.
The tea polyphenols, amino acids, water-soluble pectins, and other compounds in tea can stimulate the oral mucosa, enhancing saliva production and effectively quenching thirst.
Although summer is hot, it's not advisable to drink herbal tea; instead, hot tea is the best choice for cooling down and dissipating heat.
Prevent summer fatigue, nourish the spleen and stomach
Summer is a peak season for digestive disorders. During the hot summer months, excessive consumption of icy drinks and foods can overburden the digestive system. Coupled with even minor lapses in hygiene, bacteria can multiply rapidly, leading to gastrointestinal illnesses. Fortunately, tea possesses natural antibacterial and germicidal properties, as well as the ability to improve the structure of gut microbiota. Drinking tea not only helps inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria but also promotes the proliferation of beneficial ones, boosting the immune defenses of the gut—and ultimately supporting stomach health and protection.
Maintain balance, replenish hydration
During the Great Heat solar term, staying hydrated is the top priority for health maintenance.
In summer, temperatures are high, causing people to sweat more. As they lose sweat, their bodies also shed significant amounts of potassium salts. Meanwhile, metabolic byproducts like pyruvate, lactic acid, and carbon dioxide tend to accumulate, disrupting the body's natural pH balance and leading to metabolic imbalances. This can result in irregular heart rhythms, making individuals more prone to symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness, reduced appetite, weakness, and even dizziness.
Tea is a potassium-rich food; drinking tea in summer helps replenish potassium salts, which in turn supports the maintenance of proper osmotic pressure and acid-base balance both inside and outside body cells, ensuring normal physiological metabolic activities.
Great Heat—How Should I Choose My Tea?
While drinking tea is wonderful, teas differ in their cooling, neutral, and warming properties, and individuals vary in whether they tend to be prone to dryness-heat or deficiency-cold. After all, the key to enjoying tea lies in its health-promoting benefits. Therefore, we should not only choose tea based on its characteristics but also tailor it specifically to each person’s unique needs.
When it comes to drinking tea, tea eggs generally follow this simple guideline: drink green tea to clear heat and protect against radiation, black tea to nourish your stomach, dark tea for weight loss, and aged white tea to prevent heatstroke. Afterward, simply choose two teas that best suit your body type—it’s that easy.
For those with a "dry-heat" constitution—characterized by excessive sweating and frequent "internal heat"—it’s recommended to drink more cooling teas during the Da Shu solar term, such as green tea, white tea, Tieguanyin, and raw Pu-erh. These teas help clear heat, relieve summer discomfort, reduce dryness, quench thirst, strengthen the heart, and boost energy and alertness.
For those with weak and cold digestive systems, it’s advisable to drink more warming teas such as aged white tea, ripe pu-erh, and black tea, which help warm and nourish the stomach, boost energy, relieve fatigue, and promote saliva production while clearing heat.
As the saying goes, "A calm mind brings natural coolness." Find a peaceful spot, gently fan yourself with a palm-leaf fan, and sip some warm tea—savoring the moment with effortless ease.
Did you know?
Reposted from Bai Cha Time
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