Lesser Heat Health: The Warm Wind Arrives — Avoid Summer-Damp, Nurture the Spleen and Stomach
First pentad: warm wind arrives; second: crickets lodge on the wall; third: hawks first strike — summer-damp and heat steaming together; nurturing the spleen is the key.
「The spleen belongs to earth; it governs the transformation and transportation of water and damp. Heat readily carries damp, and damp most easily entraps the spleen. Therefore, fortifying the spleen in summer is itself the way of dispelling damp.」 (「脾属土,主运化水湿;暑多夹湿,湿最困脾,故夏月健脾,即所以祛湿。」)
— Gong Tingxian, Shoushi Baoyuan · Chapter on the Spleen and Stomach (《寿世保元·脾胃章》, Ming dynasty)
「Lesser Heat, the node of the sixth month. Shu (暑) means heat. Heat is divided into greater and lesser; the first node is lesser, the middle node is greater; at this time the heat is still small.」 (「小暑,六月节。暑,热也。就热之中分为大小,月初为小,月中为大,今则热气犹小也。」)
— Wu Cheng, Monthly Ordinances of the Seventy-Two Pentads (《月令七十二候集解》, Yuan dynasty)
I. The Meaning of the Term: Heat Not Yet at Its Peak — Hence “Lesser”
1. Astronomy and Season
Lesser Heat (Xiaoshu, 小暑) is the eleventh of the twenty-four solar terms. The sun reaches celestial longitude 105°, and the node falls on 6–8 July. “Shu” (暑) means heat; “xiao” (小) denotes that the heat is still small and has not yet reached the extreme of Greater Heat.
Wu Cheng of the Yuan explains in the Monthly Ordinances of the Seventy-Two Pentads:
「The sixth month’s node … ‘shu’ means heat. Heat is divided into greater and lesser; the first node is lesser, the middle node is greater; at this time the heat is still small.」
2. The Three Pentads
| Pentad | Phenomenon | Explanation (after Monthly Ordinances of the Seventy-Two Pentads) |
|---|---|---|
| First | Warm Wind Arrives (温风至) | 「The warm and hot wind reaches its utmost here.」 |
| Second | Crickets Lodge on the Wall (蟋蟀居壁) | 「The cricket, also called cuzhi (‘urging-weaver’), is born in the earth; by this time, feeling the qi of the heat, it lodges above the wall, seeking to escape the summer-heat.」 |
| Third | Hawks First Strike (鹰始挚) | 「‘Zhi’ means to strike. The hawk, feeling the qi of stern purification, first strikes in the high sky, gaining the foreknowledge of metal-qi.」 |
Within the three pentads, “warm wind arrives” points to the characteristic of “heat” in Lesser Heat; “crickets lodge on the wall” intimates “damp” — the cricket normally dwells in the soil; sensing summer-damp, it ascends to lodge on the wall, perfectly answering the sign “summer-heat carries damp”; “hawks first strike” tacitly answers “metal-qi first stirring” — metal governs autumn, the lung, and gathering; at this point metal-qi first stirs, hence the hawk “strikes first” in discernment.
II. Classical Theory: The Discrimination of Summer-Damp
1. The Origin of “Heat Readily Carries Damp”
From Lesser Heat to Greater Heat, the climatic feature is “summer-damp and heat steaming together” — the heat of Heaven presses down, the damp of Earth rises up, damp and heat wrestle with one another, and a person standing in the midst is most easily affected by the pathogen.
Chen Wuze (陈无择, 1131–1189) of the Song dynasty, in his Sanyin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun (《三因极一病证方论》, 1174), was the first to coin the name “summer-damp” (暑湿) and to establish a “Summer-Damp Section”:
「Summer-damp: aversion to cold, fever, spontaneous sweating, joints aching all over, dizziness of head and eyes, fatigue of hands and feet, thirst without desire to drink, urine scanty and yellow-red.」
Ye Tianshi (叶天士, 1667–1746) of the Qing, in the Lin Zheng Zhi Nan Yi An (《临证指南医案》), on “heat”:
「The heat pathogen must carry damp, like deficiency paired with excess — one must discriminate it.」
Wu Jutong (吴鞠通, 1758–1836) of the Qing, in his Wenbing Tiaobian (《温病条辨》, 1798), further established a “Summer-Heat-Warmth” (暑温) chapter, stating:
「Heat combines with damp-heat: when biased toward the heat of the heat, it is shu-wen (暑温); when biased toward the damp of the heat, it is shi-wen (湿温).」
2. The Spleen Governs Damp; Damp Entraps the Spleen-Earth
The Suwen · Treatise on the Supreme Truth (《素问·至真要大论》):
「All damp, swelling, and distension belong to the spleen.」
The Suwen · Treatise on the Elucidation of the Five Qi (《素问·宣明五气篇》):
「The spleen averse to damp.」
Zhang Jiebin of the Ming, in his Leijing (《类经》), annotates:
「The spleen belongs to earth; its nature loves dryness and averse damp; when damp prevails, the spleen’s qi is obstructed and does not move, and the transformation and transportation lose their office.」
Hence the first priority of Lesser-Heat cultivation is to avoid summer-damp and nurture the spleen and stomach — when the spleen is vigorous, damp transforms itself; when damp departs, heat is readily cleared.
III. Four Essentials for Lesser-Heat Health
1. Daily Life: Avoid Summer-Heat and Dampness
Gao Lian of the Ming, in Zunsheng Bajian · Chapter on the Regulation of the Four Seasons (《遵生八笺·四时调摄笺》):
「In summer: … dwell in an empty hall, a clean room, a waterside pavilion, or under the shade of trees — in places that are clean and spacious; one will naturally feel cool and fresh. Better still is to regulate the breath and purify the mind, ever holding ice and snow in the heart; even the great heat will then be somewhat lessened.」
The Treatise on Life-Cultivation According to the Seasons (《摄生消息论》):
「In summer the heart is flourishing and the kidney is in decline; even in great heat, one ought not to eat chilled noodles, snow-ice, honey-ice, cold porridge, or bean-curd jelly. To fill the belly and receive the cold will surely give rise to sudden turmoil.」
“Three Avoidances” of Lesser Heat:
- 🟢 Avoid the blazing sun — “Under the scorching sun, one must wear a brim; do not expose oneself to sunstroke” (Wang Pu, Yijie Bianzheng, Qing);
- 🟢 Avoid cold and cool — never enter a cold room or drink iced water immediately after sweating profusely;
- 🟢 Avoid damp places — “Do not sit or lie exposed to wind; do not dwell long on damp ground” (Chen Wuze, Sanyin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun); the dwelling should be high, dry, and well ventilated.
2. Diet: The Four Treasures for Fortifying the Spleen and Dispelling Damp
When summer-damp entraps the spleen, the diet must centre on fortifying the spleen, awakening the spleen, transforming damp, and draining damp. Zhang Mu (章穆) of the Qing, in his Tiaojí Yinshi Bian (《调疾饮食辨》):
「In the month of summer, damp and heat prevail; the spleen’s yang is easily entrapped; one should eat bland and warm food, to nurture the spleen’s yang.」
The Four Treasures of the Season for Fortifying the Spleen and Dispelling Damp:
| Ingredient | Nature-Flavor | Function | Canonical Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job’s-tears (Yiyiren) | Sweet, bland, cool | Fortifies the spleen and drains damp; clears heat and expels pus | Shennong Bencao Jing: 「governs spasm and contraction of the sinews, inability to flex and extend, wind-damp impediment, and downbearing qi.」 |
| Lotus Seed (Lianzi) | Sweet, astringent, level | Supplements the spleen and stops diarrhea; boosts the kidney and secures the essence | Bencao Gangmu: 「joins heart and kidney, thickens the stomach and intestines, secures essence-qi.」 |
| White Hyacinth Bean (Biandou) | Sweet, slightly warm | Fortifies the spleen and transforms damp; clears summer-heat and harmonizes the center | Bencao Gangmu: 「stops discharge and dysentery, clears summer-heat, warms the spleen and stomach.」 |
| Red Adzuki Bean (Chixiaodou) | Sweet, sour, level | Disinhibits water and expels damp; harmonizes blood and expels pus | Bencao Gangmu: 「Its nature descends, penetrating the small intestine, able to enter the yin division; treats diseases of form.」 |
Seasonal Recipes:
🌿 Job’s-tears and Lotus-Seed Porridge
「Job’s-tears, lotus seed, each one liang; jingmi (polished round-grain rice), two he; cook together as porridge; one small bowl daily — fortifies the spleen, dispels damp, stops diarrhea.」
— Cao Tingdong, Lao Lao Heng Yan (《老老恒言》, 1773), Scroll 3, “Porridge Spectrum”
🌿 Hyacinth Bean and Job’s-tears Soup
「White hyacinth bean, Job’s-tears, each two liang; decoct together; add a little rock sugar; one small bowl daily — transforms damp and awakens the spleen.」
🌿 Three-Bean Decoction (San Dou Yin)
「Mung bean, red adzuki bean, black bean, each one sheng; gancao three qian; boil in water until very thoroughly cooked; eat the beans at will and drink the liquid; treats toxic heat, sores, and sore throat in the month of summer.」
— Wu Jutong, Wenbing Tiaobian
The Three-Bean Decoction was originally a medical formula recorded in Bencao Gangmu under the heading “Bian Que Three-Bean Decoction”: 「Bian Que’s Three-Bean Decoction treats epidemic pox sores; taking this decoction beforehand disperses and resolves heat-toxin.」 Wu Jutong later adapted it as a summer health formula.
3. Emotions: “Let the Qi Flow Freely Outward; Refrain from Depression and Anger”
Lesser Heat’s summer-heat makes people restless; the further entrapment of the spleen by damp brings fatigue, drowsiness, and gloom. This perfectly fits the pathological mechanism: “heat always combines with damp, damp always entraps the spleen, and an entrapped spleen prevents the mind from unfolding.”
Gong Tingxian writes:
「In the month of summer one should regulate the breath and purify the mind, ever holding ice and snow in the heart; one should also rise early — not sleep late, not sit long, not stand long, not labour greatly, not rage greatly, not think greatly.」
For Lesser-Heat emotional regulation, choose early morning or early evening:
- 🟢 Watch fish by the pool — fish swimming in the water, motion within stillness; “watching” to nurture the heart;
- 🟢 Listen to cicadas in the woods — cicada-sound answers the season; “listening” to enter summer;
- 🟢 Burn incense — chenxiang (aloeswood), tanxiang (sandalwood), ai-cao (mugwort); sit quietly with seal-form incense (印香) or separated-fire incense (隔火); “incense” to enter stillness;
- 🟢 Practise calligraphy, copy the model books — “When the heart is correct, the brush is correct”; “stillness” to nurture qi.
4. Movement: Slight Sweating Is the Mark; Mornings and Evenings Are the Time
Lesser-Heat movement should take “slight sweating, not great sweating” as the standard. Xu Lingtai (徐灵胎, 1693–1771) of the Qing, in his Yixue Yuanliu Lun (《医学源流论》):
「When sweat pours out excessively in the month of summer, the fluids are injured and yang qi is correspondingly consumed; thus great sweating drains yang.」
Suitable Movements:
- 🟢 Eight Pieces of Brocade (Baduanjin) — the two forms “Two Hands Hold Up the Heavens to Regulate the Triple Burner” and “Regulate the Spleen and Stomach by Repeatedly Lifting One Hand” are especially appropriate for Lesser Heat;
- 🟢 Five Animal Frolics — Bear Movements — “Bear Turning” and “Bear Swaying”, which fortify the spleen and transform damp;
- 🟢 Taiji Quan — “Cloud Hands” and “Apparent Closure”;
- 🟢 Daoyin (Guiding and Pulling) — Ming-dynasty Gao Lian’s Zunsheng Bajian records the “Lesser-Heat Sixth-Month-Node Sitting Exercise”, detailed below.
IV. Gao Lian’s “Lesser-Heat Sitting Exercise”
Gao Lian, in Zunsheng Bajian · Chapter on the Regulation of the Four Seasons, records the Lesser-Heat Sixth-Month-Node Sitting Exercise:
「The circulation is governed by the third qi of Shaoyang; the hour corresponds to Hand-Taiyin Lung (Wet-Earth). Each day at yin and mao hours (3–7 a.m.), sit upright; one hand props on the ground, the other grasps the head; turn left and right, three to five times each; click the teeth, exhale and inhale, swallow the saliva.」
The principle: “Circulation is governed by the third qi of Shaoyang” — Shaoyang governs the pivot; at Lesser Heat the qi of Shaoyang is on duty — “when the pivot turns aright, summer-damp will not entrap”; “the hour corresponds to Hand-Taiyin Lung” — the lung governs qi, regulates the waterways, and assists the spleen in moving damp.
This form shares its origin with “Two Hands Hold Up the Heavens to Regulate the Triple Burner”; its function is to raise the clear yang, descend the turbid yin, regulate the triple burner, and transform damp pathogens.
V. Channel Care: Acupoints for Fortifying the Spleen and Transforming Damp
| Point | Location | Function | Classic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zusanli (足三里, Three Miles of the Foot, Stomach Channel, He-Sea point) | 3 cun below the outer eye of the knee, one finger-breadth lateral to the tibia | Fortifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach; transforms damp and raises the clear | Lingshu · Four-Season Qi (《灵枢·四时气》): 「When evil is in the spleen and stomach, all are regulated at the Three Miles.」 |
| Yinlingquan (阴陵泉, Yin Mound Spring, Spleen Channel, He-Sea point) | In the depression below the medial condyle of the tibia | Fortifies the spleen and drains damp; disinhibits urination | Baizheng Fu (《百症赋》): 「Yinling and Shuifen remove edema and abdominal distension.」 |
| Fenglong (丰隆, Bountiful Bulge, Stomach Channel, Luo-Connecting point) | 8 cun above the tip of the outer ankle, one finger-breadth lateral to Tiaokou | Transforms phlegm and dispels damp; harmonizes the stomach and downbears counterflow | Yulong Ge (《玉龙歌》): 「When phlegm is plentiful, seek out Fenglong.」 |
| Zhongwan (中脘, Middle Cavity, Ren Channel, Front-Mu of the Stomach) | 4 cun above the umbilicus | Fortifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach; transforms damp and harmonizes the center | Zhenjiu Jiayijing (《针灸甲乙经》): 「For stomach distension, Zhongwan is in charge.」 |
Press each point for 3–5 minutes, 1–2 times a day, until a noticeable soreness, distension, and warmth is felt. Yinlingquan and Zusanli are the points of must-press at Lesser Heat.
VI. Common Ailments at the Season and Their Care
1. “Summer-Damp Common Cold” (Gastric Type)
After Lesser Heat, summer-damp colds are common — fever that does not blaze, heaviness of the head as if wrapped, oppression and stuffiness in the chest and pit of the stomach, torpid intake, loose stools, nausea and vomiting. These differ markedly from wind-cold and wind-heat colds.
Ye Tianshi observes:
「Summer-damp injures the qi; the lung receives it first; summer-damp injures the spleen; the stomach receives it as well.」
Care:
- 🟢 Huoxiang Zhengqi San (藿香正气散, Agastache Powder to Rectify the Qi), powder/water/pill — from the Song dynasty Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang (《太平惠民和剂局方》, 1078–1107), treats “summer-damp injuring the center, externally contracted wind-cold, internally injured damp stagnation”;
- 🟢 Xinjia Xiangru Yin (新加香薷饮, Newly Augmented Mosla Decoction) — from Wu Jutong’s Wenbing Tiaobian; “mosla, magnolia bark, hyacinth-bean flower, honeysuckle, forsythia” — treats early-stage summer-heat warmth;
- 🟢 Eat “ginger” — “In winter eat radish, in summer eat ginger”; ginger can warm the center and transform damp.
2. “Zhu-Xia” Continued
The “zhu-xia” of Summer Solstice often worsens at Lesser Heat, especially in the elderly, children, and those with spleen deficiency. Lei Feng (雷丰, 1833–1888) of the Qing, in his Shibing Lun (《时病论》, 1882), devotes a special chapter to its treatment.
VII. Bibliography (selected)
- Huangdi Neijing · Suwen · Treatise on the Elucidation of the Five Qi (《素问·宣明五气篇》)
- Huangdi Neijing · Suwen · Treatise on the Supreme Truth (《素问·至真要大论》)
- Lingshu · Four-Season Qi (《灵枢·四时气》)
- Nanjing · The Sixty-Eighth Difficulty (《难经·六十八难》)
- Shennong Bencao Jing, completed in the Eastern Han
- Zhenjiu Jiayijing, Huangfu Mi (259)
- Zhouhou Beiji Fang, Ge Hong (340)
- Xinxiu Bencao (Tang Materia Medica), Su Jing et al. (659)
- Beiji Qianjin Yaofang and Qianjin Yifang, Sun Simiao (652/682)
- Waitai Miyao, Wang Tao (752)
- Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, Chen Shiwen et al. (1078–1107)
- Sanyin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun, Chen Wuze (1174)
- Bencao Gangmu, Li Shizhen (1578)
- Zunsheng Bajian, Gao Lian (1591)
- Shoushi Baoyuan, Gong Tingxian (1615)
- Treatise on Life-Cultivation According to the Seasons, Qiu Chuji (Yuan, attr.) / Gao Lian (Ming, ed.)
- Leijing, Zhang Jiebin (1624)
- Lin Zheng Zhi Nan Yi An, Ye Tianshi (1746, compiled by his disciples)
- Wenbing Tiaobian, Wu Jutong (1798)
- Lao Lao Heng Yan, Cao Tingdong (1773)
- Tiaojí Yinshi Bian, Zhang Mu (1813)
- Shibing Lun, Lei Feng (1882)
- Monthly Ordinances of the Seventy-Two Pentads, Wu Cheng (Yuan); multiple Qing editions by Lu Kuixun, Tang Zan’gong, etc.
- Bencao Pinhui Jingyao, Liu Wentai et al. (1505)
- Yinshi Xuzhi, Zhu Benzhong (Qing)
Qihuang Library · Solar Term Health · When summer-damp and heat steam together, nurturing the spleen is the key — when the spleen is vigorous, damp transforms; when damp is transformed, heat is cleared.