Posted July. 18, 2001 20:27,
It is either the torrential rainfall or the scorching sun that is taking its turn nowadays making people tired and irritated.
Wisdom saying of the oriental medicine says that the vitality of human body gathers toward outside during summer. It means that `wigi`, protective energy, of outside gets strong, while the `yunggi` that flows in internal organs weakens. In such a whimsical hot weather, people easily fall ill since the `wigi` cannot keep up with its surroundings.
Therefore, if one wants to exercise, the `vitality exercise` (photo) that balances the vitality is better than an intense exercise.
In addition, there are various secret methods to cope with summer in the oriental medicine and folk remedy. Here, abridged remedies are introduced.
# Diet = One should eat various foods. Since it is better for one to drink water frequently throughout the day, he/she should drink small amount of water rather than to drink a large amount in one sitting. No matter how hot, drinking a warm tea frequently is helpful, rather than ice-cold water. In particular, it is better for a person with cold body to eat warm foods such as samgyetang, rather than cold foods like naenmyeon and kongguksu.
# `Takjok` (dipping feet into water) = One of our ascendants’ way to deal with hot weather was `takjok` in which they dipped their feet into the flowing brook water. Oriental doctors say that the takjok is good for health because, needless to say that the cold water cool down the body temperature and the flowing water stimulates body spots related to the liver, kidney, and bladder, the organs that are easily weakened during summer. Instead of flowing water, one can create the same effect by stimulating all parts of his/her feet with a shower faucet. If family members wash each others` feet, massaging them, it is nice because it not only stimulates the spots but it also helps to share their love.
#`Gaktang` = It is a bathing method that dips ones lower leg, part under the knee, into water. It makes the vitality flow smoothly. One is required to dip into warm water of 43 ~ 44 degrees centigrade for three minutes, and into cold water of 16 ~ 17 degrees centigrade for another one minutes. It is repeated for five times. Since it helps to circulate blood of lower body, it is good for arthritis patients or people who have weak lower bodies. It is especially effective for those who suffer from the `stomach drooping symptom`, hernia, and hemorrhoids.
If children catch cold during summer, it is good for them to dip their knees into warm water for 10 ~ 20 minutes until they sweat from whole body. The warm water should be replaced repeatedly. If one catches the sunstroke, put a spoonful of salt into 38 degrees water and do the `gaktang` for a quick recovery.