Tips for the season
A portrait of Emperor Qianlong by painter Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining).[Photo provided to China Daily]
The love life of Emperor Qianlong from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) has been a subject of discussion on China's social media recently thanks to two TV series－The Story of Yanxi Palace and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace take the baton.
Emperor Qianlong, who died aged of 87, was also one of the longest-living monarchs in China.
His good health is attributed to his good habits, according to Hu Xiaofei, a professor at Beijing Sport University.
Speaking about the emperor's habits, Hu says: "He had a list of 10 things to do often and four things not to do."
The 10 things to do involved 10 parts of body－the teeth, throat, ear, nose, eyes, face, feet, stomach, legs and arms, and hips.
And among the four not-to-do things were no talking while eating and resting and not drinking too much.
"One of his 10 things to do involved rubbing the face, which is a good practice in the autumn," says Hu.
The nose and ear massage with warmed hands is something we can learn from Emperor Qianlong, according to Hu Xiaofei, a professor at Beijing Sport University.[Photo provided to China Daily]
"But you must warm your hands by rubbing both of them together before you rub your face."
According to Hu, this is a good practice before going outdoors in the autumn, and can help improve blood circulation, as the outside is often cooler than indoors.
"Also, rubbing the nose with warmed hands is something we can learn from Emperor Qianlong," says Hu.
The nose massage can curb nasal inflammation, and keep the nasal cavity moist.
The warm and moist nose can help prevent cold air from entering the lungs directly, he says.
This year's Autumn Equinox is on Sept 23, when the day and night are of equal length.
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year using 24 solar terms, and the Autumn Exquinox is the 16th at the midpoint of autumn, when most parts of China officially experience cool weather .
The nose and ear massage with warmed hands is something we can learn from Emperor Qianlong, according to Hu Xiaofei, a professor at Beijing Sport University.[Photo provided to China Daily]
According to The Detailed Records of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), "it is on the Autumn Equinox day that the yin and yang are in a balance of power."
Meanwhile, Hu says that autumn is time to sleep early and wake up early, and for old people, they need to reduce strenuous exercise.
"To keep good health, one rule is to stay safe while exercising," says Hu.
"So, even though there is an old Chinese saying which says 'Warm in spring and cool in autumn', for the old it's not a good idea to go out and exercise in the cold wind. They need to keep warm first."
Hu also stresses on the importance of warming up before doing exercise. "Stretching is important before doing any sports, especially in the autumn as the body needs to adjust to the cold weather. This helps avoid muscle or joint injury."
Focus on breathing is another tip from Hu, who says: "Autumn is a season to benefit the lungs, and long breaths can help enhance the ability of pulmonary alveoli."
According to him, breathing is also related to kidneys, and can be practiced by walking.
"It's also good for the stomach and to improve digestion," says Hu, who believes that regulating the spleen and stomach is also something to be done in cooler weather as people often eat too much cold food during the summer.
Autumn is also harvest season, so it is time to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.
Four Essentials of Wan's Family Health Regime by Wan Mizhai, who is famous for rejuvenating treatment during Qianlong's reign.[Photo provided to China Daily]
"Emperor Qianlong liked to eat venison and duck, which is best eaten in autumn," says Hu.
Separately, Hu says that as the leaves start to fall, people tend to get depressed easily.
So he suggests that you try to keep your spirits up.
Zhang Shunan, the director of the respiratory diseases department at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, says he has seen more patients since autumn began on Aug 7.
"Autumn is when we see a spike in those with respiratory diseases. So, we need to prevent cold, dryness, and depression," he says.
"Besides drinking water to prevent dryness from the inside, you also need to keep the indoors humid to protect the body from outside," says Zhang, who suggests putting a basin of water or a humidifier in the room.
For people who suffer from anaphylactic rhinitis, Zhang suggests that they figure out the allergen that affects them and then try to avoid it.
Wormwood is one of the main culprits in the north of China, says Zhang, adding that wearing a mask can help.
"Autumn affects those with a weak respiratory system, so they need to keep warm all the time," says Zhang.