Health Information

Today marks the end of the “fu” period; when nourishing your bones, dress lightly to stay warm.

Release Date:

2023-08-21 23:05

On August 20, the “Chufu” period came to an end, officially marking the conclusion of the Sanfu days in the Year of the Gui-Mao Rabbit 2023.

Generally speaking, the end of the “fu” period signals the gradual waning of the heat; in reality, however, the intense summer weather persists for another half month or so. The “Sanfu” period is the hottest time of the year and typically concludes in mid-to-late August. Although temperatures do drop somewhat by then, the overall heat remains oppressive. It is not until after the “Bailu” solar term—between September 7 and 8—that the weather truly begins to cool.

Therefore, during this half-month when the intense heat is giving way to cooler weather, it is especially important to focus on health preservation and bone care.

As early as ancient times, Chinese scholars advocated the health-preserving practice of “wearing light clothing to ward off cold,” explicitly stating that “the practice of wearing light clothing should be cultivated starting in autumn.” Experience has shown that this approach—often referred to as “autumn hardening”—not only aligns with the demands of natural and indoor climates but also, almost imperceptibly, helps prevent illness and promote self-care.

The proverb “dress warmly in spring and endure a bit of chill in autumn to avoid all manner of ailments” is highly scientific; it represents people’s accumulated experience in seasonal living. Although both spring and autumn are characterized by “neither cold nor hot” temperatures, the trend of temperature change in these two seasons is opposite—

In spring, air temperatures generally rise, while in autumn they tend to fall. When temperatures drop too low and the body’s defenses are inadequate, exposure to cold can easily lead to illness—this is a basic principle. The likelihood of catching a chill is closely linked to changes in the environment, such as moving between indoor and outdoor spaces. Climate observations show that, due to the thermal inertia of buildings and differences in temperature trends, indoor temperatures in spring are typically lower than outdoor temperatures (resulting in a negative indoor–outdoor temperature difference), whereas in autumn indoor temperatures are usually higher than outdoor temperatures (yielding a positive indoor–outdoor temperature difference). This readily explains the traditional advice of “dressing warmly in spring and tolerating a bit of cold in autumn”: in spring, when moving from the relatively warm outdoors into a cooler indoor environment, failing to wear enough layers can make one susceptible to catching a chill and falling ill; in contrast, during autumn, with indoor temperatures generally higher, it is perfectly acceptable to wear fewer layers upon entering a building.

In addition, nationwide, the influence of cold air masses will gradually strengthen in autumn, with more frequent incursions and a noticeable drop in temperatures, leading to larger diurnal temperature ranges—and as the saying goes, “Every autumn rain brings a wave of cold.”

From the perspective of disease prevention and health maintenance, it is advisable to take proactive measures against cold exposure by engaging in regular cold-exposure exercises to enhance cold tolerance. This will enable individuals to better adapt to harsh cold air masses and severe winter conditions, thereby reducing the risk of weather-related exacerbation or onset of illnesses such as influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, and various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

However, it is important to correctly understand “wearing light clothing to stay warm.”

Don’t rush to pile on layers as soon as the temperature drops even slightly and wrap yourself up from head to toe; instead, wait as long as possible before adding more clothing. If you can get by in a short-sleeved shirt, avoid switching to long sleeves; if a single layer will do, skip the extra jacket. As the old saying goes, “In February and August, people dress however they please”—and that reflects how we tend to feel about what to wear. But from a health perspective, the wisdom is actually this: “Dress warmer in February, and lighter in August.”

However, everything should be done in moderation; “wearing light clothing to withstand the cold” should not be taken to extremes. By late autumn, when temperatures drop significantly, it makes no sense to continue dressing very lightly. At this point, one should follow certain winter health-preserving principles in diet and daily routines; simply “letting the body endure the cold” can actually lead to illness. Moreover, older adults, those in poor health, and patients with chronic conditions should be even more cautious about adopting a “light-clothing-for-cold” approach.

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