Many people in the middle of summer watch others wear shorts and enjoy the air conditioning, while they themselves wrap up in long pants, shivering. As soon as a cool breeze hits, their knees feel like they're filled with ice chips, sore and achy. Why is that? In fact, this isn't just a simple constitution of being afraid of the cold. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is cold pathogenic factors having set up camp in the body. Over time, minor discomforts can drag on and become major problems!

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that cold pathogenic factors are the chief among yin pathogens, specifically targeting areas where the body's yang qi is weak. Yang qi is like the body's little furnace. When cold pathogens invade, the little furnace has to burn hard to fight them off. Over a long period, the yang qi gets depleted, and people tend to become prone to cold hands and feet, and feel drained of energy all over.

Additionally, Traditional Chinese Medicine states that when there is free flow, there is no pain; when there is pain, there is blockage. Cold pathogens can slow down the flow of qi and blood, much like a river freezing in winter. Where qi and blood become stagnant, pain arises, and "waste" such as phlegm-dampness and blood stasis can form. Even more critically, when cold pathogens combine with phlegm-dampness, they can gradually develop into nodules or cysts, and in severe cases, may even impact overall health. Therefore, do not underestimate cold legs and feet—this is the body sounding an alarm!

The Dog Days of summer are a natural golden period for expelling cold. During this time, when yang energy is at its peak, consider boiling water with cinnamon and papaya to drink—it's remarkably effective for dispelling cold.

Among these, cinnamon can be considered a powerful general for dispelling cold. It not only supplements fire and supports yang but also disperses cold and relieves pain. It's like upgrading the body's heating system, delivering yang energy throughout the entire body, and it can also guide deficient fire back to the dantian, so you don't have to worry about feeling overheated after drinking it. Papaya is not just a fruit; it's also a savior for joints. It can dispel wind and cold, relax tendons and promote blood circulation, alleviate soreness and heaviness in the lower back, legs, and joints, and even help regulate common summer issues like vomiting and diarrhea.

When these two herbs are paired, one replenishes yang energy while the other focuses on dispelling cold, working together to thoroughly drive out cold-dampness! However, since everyone's constitution is different—for instance, friends who are prone to feeling overheated might consider slightly reducing the amount of cinnamon—it's best to consult a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner before consuming.

This article is for informational purposes only and should be treated with caution, especially regarding medications. Do not take any medications blindly. If you experience physical discomfort, please seek treatment under the guidance of a professional physician.