Solar Terms Wellness: Grain in Ear (Mangzhong)

By Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) around June 5th or 6th, the weather is intensely hot. This period also surrounds the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu), known as the Duanyang Festival because it represents the peak of Yang energy.

Health Tips

Moxibustion (using mugwort) during this time relieves fatigue and promotes relaxation. Burning a moderate amount of mugwort sticks at home also repels mosquitoes and purifies the air. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the rainy season brings damp heat, leading to lethargy and phlegm-dampness accumulation. Massaging the Fenglong point (ST40) can help strengthen the spleen, stomach, and resolve phlegm.

Dietary Choices

Avoid rich and greasy foods from summer night food courts, which trap the spleen and stomach. Watch out for symptoms of phlegm-dampness constitution, such as large appetite but easy fatigue, white greasy tongue coating, lack of thirst, and loose stools.