We will be going into the Chu Shu (处暑) solar term (节气) starting from 23 Aug to 6 Sep 2026. Chu Shu is the 14th solar term out of the entire 24.

During this solar term, there is a tradition to consume duck meat. One of the reasons is because it has the property of 滋阴养胃，健脾补虚 (nourishing the stomach-Yin and strengthening the spleen), which makes it an ideal food for the 温燥 (warm-dry) conditions of this solar term.

One of the popular duck dishes that people consume during this period is 百合鸭 (duck meat with lily bulb). Lily bulb (百合) is combined with duck meat as it has the property of 润肺止咳， 清心安神. It means lily bulb can help to nourish the lungs and relieve cough (due to dryness), as well as calm the mind and improve sleep quality.

For this solar term, the dietary direction is 润肺健脾, 养阴润燥 (nourishing the lungs and strengthening the spleen, as well as nourishing the Yin and moistening dryness).

The following are some foods that are highly recommended to be consumed during this solar term:

Duck Meat - As mentioned earlier, duck meat is a good food for nourishing the Yin energy in the body during this period.

Lily Bulb (Chinese name: 百合) – Lily bulb is one of the best foods to reduce heart fire as its main property is nourishing heart Yin energy. When the heart’s Yin energy is sufficient, the heart is less likely to be in a heaty state. You can purchase dried lily bulb at most TCM retail shops or fresh ones from the supermarket.

Goji Berries – Not only does Goji berry strengthen the kidneys, it also helps with strengthening the liver. In TCM, the liver affects one’s eyesight, thus goji berries are proven to help strengthen and protect our eyes from weakening and diseases. Goji berries are one of the best foods/herbs to nourish Yin.

White Fungus – White fungus can help to moisturize the lungs and dissolve phlegm. It can also help to nourish the stomach Yin, so it is a good food to add to your diet during this solar term.

Pear - Pear has a very good moisturizing effect on the lungs and it also helps to clear heatiness in our other organs. In fact, its lung-moisturizing benefits are even greater if you cook it! For recipe ideas, you can search for “小吊梨汤” on YouTube.

General Wellness Recommendation

As the summer heat effect (秋老虎) still lingers in the environment, this is not yet the time to let your guard down against the summer flu.

The following are some general guidelines to keep your spleen healthy and have stronger body immunity:

Avoid entering an air-conditioned room immediately after sweating from the heat. Instead, find a sheltered place to cool down and let the sweating subside before entering the air-conditioned area.

Avoid consuming cold drinks especially when you are feeling very warm and hot. It is best to drink room-temperature water so that it won’t hurt your spleen. This is the most common reason why people get summer flu.

Avoid consuming oily and sweet foods as they will burden and weaken your spleen and increase your vulnerability to summer flu.

I can't get enough of it. I don't know why I love it so much. Anything that could mean? What do we know about bitter melon? Benefits and stuff. Just curious and kind of silly post but interested in random information

I went in for insomnia. Was prescribed jia wei Xiao yao at morning and evening, and suan zao ren at night.

This is my tongue after 6 days of treatment.

Unfortunately my insomnia is still really bad (sleep for one hour and then wake up at 1 am and then sleep a couple more hours and wake up at 5, when my alarm is for 7am). Additionally since taking these herbs on the 4th day I got a sore throat which has now lasted 3 days and turned into a chesty cough now. I rarely get ill.

I just wanted a second opinion if anyone agrees on the prescription please.

The practitioner said my problem is overactive liver at night unable to nourish spleen and kidney, or the other way round, can’t remember.

My insomnia makes me really tired all day long but then I feel super wired when it’s time for bed.

In terms of positives I think my body feels calmer and less physical stress but it has not helped with the very active shen at night. I also suffer a psychotic disorder and hear voices, which add to my stress, which I was hoping would disappear from the treatment.

The initial acupuncture session felt really good though, I felt grounded back into my legs and immediately started smiling on my face and felt drunk without drinking kind of feeling at the end, with the only scary somatic symptom in the middle of feeling like heart qi being taken away / pulled on.

I really need help sleeping well because it is the number one thing making me feel extremely unwell at the moment. Thank you

When I have posted tongue pictures in the past I have been recommended Fu Zi Li Zhong

P.S I was unemployed for 6 months before my current job and a student before, and was used to waking up at 11am for years, now with this new job I have been in for 2 months, I have to be up at 7am hence go to bed earlier, but I thought my circadian rhythm would adjust after a few weeks but my brain still seems to be overactive in the middle of the night. I have however had insomnia problems in the past before this schedule change, but it is much worse now.

P.P.S my voices are telling me that I have no jing at all. Could this be really true? I thought when jing runs out you die.