The principles of traditional Chinese medicine health enhancement based on the 5 Seasons and 24 solar terms

Spring

1. Spring Commence (February 3^rd or 4^th ): Spring begins, and the weather becomes warmer and windy.

2. Spring Rain (February 18^th or 19^th ): Rainfall increases and weather is mainly wet and cold.

3. Awakening of animals (March 5^th or 6^th ): Spring thunders begin to roar, and hibernating animals become active.

4. Spring Equinox (March 20^th or 21^st ): Daytime and nighttime are of equal duration, and all living things grow and prosper.

5. Qingming (April 4^th or 5^th ): The weather is warm, clear and bright.

6. Crop Rain (April 19^th or 20^th ): Sufficient rain is good for the growth of grains.

Spring commences with the weather getting warm and windy, and with more spring rain. Thunderstorms awake hibernating animals. Spring equinox divides daytime and nighttime of equal duration, sometimes warm and then cold, sometimes sunny and sometimes rainy. During the Qingming, yang energy increases, there is sufficient rain for grains, the temperature turns hot, and the humidity becomes heavier.

In spring, the weather is alternately warm and cold, sometimes sunny and sometimes rainy, making it easy to suffer from wind-cold or wind-heat diseases. In spring, the five internal organs belong to liver, the five elements belong to wood, and the liver organ dislikes wind evil.

The principle of TCM health enhancement is to regulate the liver and dispel wind, strengthen the spleen and reduce dampness.

Summer/Long summer

7. Summer commence (May 5^th or 6^th ): Summer begins and the temperature gradually rises.

8. Small full (corn forms) (May 20^th or 21^st ): Rainfall increases and the rainy season comes.

9. Grain on ear (May 20^th or 21^st ): The temperature rises, it is humid and muggy.

10. Summer Solstice (June 21^st or 22^nd ): The daytime is the longest and summer officially begins.

11. Moderate Heat (July 6^th or 7^th ): The temperature rises and the weather is hot.

12. Great Heat (July 22^nd or 23^rd ): The weather is the hottest, with high temperatures, humidity and lot of rain.

Summer Commences, the human body's yang energy increases. Small Full indicates the weather becomes hotter, the rain increases. The temperature in the Grass On Ear rises significantly, and the humidity in the air increases. The Summer Solstice has the longest daytime, and summer begins with hot and rainy weather. The temperatures in Minor Heat and Major Heat are the hottest and the humidity is the highest. Summer/Long Summer is hot and humid, and the body sweating a lot. Heart qi is easily depleted, and symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, chest tightness, etc. may appear. Hot and heavy dampness causes loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal problems may occur.

In summer, the five internal organs belong to the heart and the five elements belong to fire; in long summer, the five internal organs belong to the spleen and the five elements belong to earth.

The principle of TCM health enhancement is to nourish the heart yin and lower the heart fire, relieve heat and dampness and strengthen the spleen and stomach.

Autumn

13. Autumn commence (August 7^th or 8^th ): Autumn begins and the temperature gradually drops.

14. End of Summer (August 22^nd or 23^rd ): The heat leaves and the heat gradually subsides.

15. White Dew (September 7^th or 8^th ): The dew increases and the feeling of autumn gradually begins.

16. Autumnal Equinox (September 22^nd or 23^rd ): Daytime and nighttime are equal, autumn arrives and the weather turns cooler.

17. Cold Dew (October 8^th or 9^th ): The temperature drops, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and autumn dryness is obvious.

18. Frost descent (October 23th or 24^th ): The first frost appears and the cold begins.

The coolness of autumn begins when Autumn Commences, and the temperature becomes cooler and drier, but the heat of summer still lingers. The End of Summer heat gradually subsides, and the weather turns cooler. It is hot at noon and cooler in the morning and evening. The White Dew means dew is increasing, and autumn cool is gradually felt. During the Autumnal Equinox, daytime and nighttime are equal, the weather is cool and the air is dry. The Cold Dew temperature further drops, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and autumn dryness is obvious. Dry mouth, dry lips, dry throat, etc. appear in the human body. The first Frost Descent appears and the cold begins.

Autumn is a season when the weather is dry, lung qi converges, the trachea contracts, and fur retracts to resist external evils. Respiratory system allergies and infections are common. Exogenous infections and influenza are common in this solar term. The five internal organs in autumn belong to the lungs, and the five elements belong to metal.

The principle of TCM health enhancement is to nourish the lung, promote body fluids and moisturize dryness.

Winter

19. Winter commmence (November 7^th or 8^th ): Winter begins and the temperature gradually drops.

20. Light snow (November 22^nd or 23^rd ): The first snow falls and the cold intensifies.

21. Heavy snow (December 7^th or 8^th ): Heavy snow falls and the temperature drops significantly.

22. Winter Solstice (December 21^st or 22^nd ): The daytime is the shortest and winter arrives.

23. Light cold (January 6^th or 7^th ): The weather is cold and the temperature continues to drop.

24. Great Cold (January 20^th or 21^st ): Extremely cold, the coldest weather of the year.

Winter Commences, the temperature drops. Light Snow is falling and the weather is cold and dry. The temperature dropped significantly due to Heavy Snow, and snowflakes are falling. During the Winter Solstice, the daystime is short and the nighttime is long, and winter is coming. The weather in Light Cold is cold and the temperature continues to drop. Severe Cold is the extremely old weather of the year.

In winter the weather is cold and dry, and cold is a yin evil that damages the human body's yang energy. Cold leads to stagnation of Qi and blood, difficulty in flexing and extending limbs, joints, muscles, and low back pain. In winter, the five internal organs belong to the kidneys and the five elements belong to water.

The principle of TCM health enhancement should be to nourish the kidneys, warm yang, replenish essence and expel cold.

According to the meaning of solar terms, the twenty-four solar terms can be divided into four categories:

• Seasonal changes: Spring commence and vernal equinox; Summer commence and summer solstice; Autumn commence and autumnal equinox; Winter commence and winter solstice
• Changes in temperature: Moderate heat, Great heat, End of summer, Moderate cold, Severe cold
• Transformation of rainfall: Spring rain, Crop rain, white dew, cold dew, frost descent, light snow, heavy snow
• Reflect phenological phenomena or agricultural activities: Awaken of hibernating insects, Brighr and clear, Corn form, Grain on ear.