Drink more hot water. I believe many people often hear this saying. Whether it’s a cold or a girl’s menstrual period, drinking hot water is always right. In addition, drinking tea, decocting medicine, taking a bath, soaking feet, etc. also pay attention to “taking advantage of the heat”. In fact, this simple sentence contains the classics of Chinese health culture.
◆ 8 benefits of a cup of hot water
Su Dongpo said: “the hot foot bath method is not very effective at the beginning, but it has accumulated for more than 100 days, and its function is immeasurable. It is 100 times more effective than taking medicine.” In fact, the health benefits of hot water are not limited to this.
1. Promote blood circulation
The warming effect of water can expand the blood vessels of the human body, speed up the blood flow, thus promoting the blood circulation of the whole body, and achieving the effect of Warming Yang and warming the body. Research shows that a healthy person’s whole body blood flow will increase 10-18 times after soaking his feet in water at 40 ℃ ~ 45 ℃ for half an hour.
2. Accelerate metabolism
Warming can stimulate the secretion of human hormones, such as thyroid and adrenal hormones, so as to improve the metabolism of the body, so that garbage and toxins in the body can be better discharged from the body. Li Fangling, director of the Department of traditional Chinese medicine of Beijing Geriatric Hospital, said that in particular, the increase in skin temperature and slight sweating of the body are more conducive to the discharge of toxins.
3. Eliminate brain fatigue
When certain “deposits” accumulate in the body, people feel tired. Taking a hot bath and drinking boiled water can speed up the blood circulation, reduce the substances in the blood that make people feel tired, improve the blood supply to the brain, inhibit the excitement of the central nervous system of the cerebral cortex, and put the brain at rest.
4. Consume body heat
Soaking in a hot bath can relax body and mind, restore muscle elasticity, and consume a lot of calories. The latest research from Loughborough University in the UK found that the calories consumed by taking a bath for one hour are equivalent to walking for half an hour. Frequent hot baths can also help prevent diabetes.
5. Enhance respiratory function
Drinking boiled water can relieve the tension of respiratory tract mucosa, promote sputum coughing, and is very effective for coughing caused by cold. In addition, inhalation of water vapor is conducive to keeping the oral and nasal mucosa moist, which can not only prevent the invasion of cold viruses, but also help clear the mucus in the lungs.
6. Relieve local pain
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that “if the temperature is mild, it will pass, and if it is mild, it will not hurt”. Jiang Liangduo said that hot compress and other methods can increase the blood supply of damaged tissues and alleviate local pain. For example, during dysmenorrhea, towel hot compress can be used, which can promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, regulate qi and relieve pain.
7. Reduce disease onset
Foot soaking has health care effect on all viscera of the body. The three Yin of the foot are related to the liver, spleen and kidney, and the three yang of the foot are related to the gallbladder, bladder and stomach. It uses the warming effect to strengthen the circulation of blood and gas in the foot, which is conducive to refreshing and Strengthening Qi throughout the body and preventing diseases.
8. Improve communication ability
A study by Albert Einstein College of medicine in the United States found that bathing in 39 ℃ water can improve the communication ability of autistic patients. People who live in a milder environment also have stronger communication skills, more active immune systems and stronger resistance to diseases.
◆ hot water is as good as ever, and temperature is also important.
The “temperature” of water here is equivalent to the “dose” when using traditional Chinese medicine. If the dose is right, it will be twice as effective. If the dose is wrong, it will not be effective enough or there will be side effects.
drinking: 40 ℃ water is the most suitable
The temperature of drinking hot water should not be too high. Warm boiled water around 40 ℃ is the best, which will not excessively stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and is not easy to cause vasoconstriction. Try to avoid drinking repeatedly boiled water. Even if you are using a water dispenser, you’d better “drink and boil”.
feet: 40 ℃ ~ 45 ℃
At 9:00 p.m., the Qi and blood in the kidney channel are weak. At this time, soaking feet can nourish the kidney and brighten the liver. The water temperature should be 40 ℃ ~ 45 ℃ and you should feel warm and comfortable. The water should cover your ankles and soak for 10 ~ 15 minutes until you feel slightly hot and start sweating.
When soaking feet, you can also wrap 15 ~ 20g prickly ash in gauze and put it into the water, and slowly massage your feet with your hands. After soaking, dry your feet with a towel. Keep your feet warm and do not get cold again. Patients with cardiac insufficiency, serious lower extremity vascular disease, unstable blood pressure, foot inflammation, etc. should be careful to soak their feet in hot water or use it under the guidance of doctors.
hot compress: do not exceed 70 ℃
When hot compress with towel or water bag, the water temperature should not be too high, generally 60 ~ 70 ℃.
The best way is to soak the clean towel in hot water of 40 ℃ ~ 45 ℃, wring it out and apply it to the affected part, change the towel every 5 minutes, and the hot compress lasts for 15 ~ 20 minutes.
Hot compress sensitive parts such as eyes at a temperature of 40 ~ 50 degrees Celsius, which is easy to scald if it is too high.
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