It's clearly the height of summer, and others are wearing short sleeves and still complaining about the heat, yet you're wrapped in long sleeves and still feel chilly? A fan blowing on you makes you feel terrible all over, and you can't even stand staying in an air-conditioned room — what exactly is the TCM reasoning behind this "fear of cold in summer" problem? Many people wonder: isn't feeling cold something that only happens in winter? Why does it also occur in summer? Is this a constitutional issue, or is the body sending some kind of signal?
Is Summer Cold Sensitivity Due to "Insufficient Yang Qi" or "Internal Lurking Cold"?
In TCM theory, summer should be the season when yang qi is at its most abundant, with the body's pores opening and qi and blood floating outward to comply with nature's "growth" momentum. However, if you are always afraid of cold, need to wear long sleeves even in the height of summer, and dare not let a fan blow on you, it often suggests that the body's internal "yang qi" may be in a relatively deficient state. From a TCM perspective, this may be related to a "yang deficiency constitution" — yang qi is like the body's "little furnace," responsible for warming the entire body. When the furnace's fire is insufficient, even if the external temperature is high, the body still feels cold. Additionally, another possibility is "internal stagnation of cold-dampness" or "poor movement of qi and blood," which prevents yang qi from being smoothly transported to the extremities, thereby producing a sensation of cold. So, how do you distinguish which category you fall into? And what daily care approaches can be referenced?
Why Do Some People Feel Colder in Summer Instead?
Some friends may ask: feeling cold in winter is understandable, but why feel cold in summer too? This is actually related to the body's "adaptive capacity" for temperature. In summer, temperatures are high, and the body dissipates heat through sweating. However, if you stay in air-conditioned rooms for long periods and indulge in cold drinks and cold foods, this can instead damage the body's yang qi. When yang qi is damaged, the body's ability to regulate temperature declines, resulting in a contradictory state of "hot outside, cold inside" — this is why some people feel colder in summer than in winter, and even feel that wind penetrates to the bones when a fan blows on them. From a TCM perspective, this phenomenon may involve "spleen-stomach deficiency cold" or "kidney yang insufficiency," because the spleen and stomach are responsible for transforming and transporting water-dampness, while kidney yang is the root of the entire body's yang qi. In the meridian theory, Zusanli and Guanyuan are two important acupoints for understanding this issue: Zusanli, also known as Xialing or Sanli, is located on the anterolateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun below Dubi, one finger-breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia. It belongs to the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and is the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian and the Lower He-Sea point of the Stomach. The Lingshu records: "When pathogenic factors are in the spleen and stomach... all are regulated through Zusanli." Guanyuan, also known as Dantian or Xiayu, is located on the lower abdomen, on the anterior midline, 3 cun below the umbilicus. It belongs to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and is the Front-Mu point of the Small Intestine and the meeting point of the three Foot Yin meridians and the Ren Mai. The ancients called it "the place where men store essence and women store blood." These two points correspond respectively to the middle jiao (spleen and stomach) and the lower jiao (original yang). So, for this condition, are there some universally applicable daily conditioning methods?
Can People Who Fear Cold "Tonify Yang Qi" in Summer?
Many people's first reaction is: since you're afraid of cold, can't you just eat more warming and tonifying foods in summer? However, TCM emphasizes "differentiation-based nourishment," and not everyone is suited for blind warming tonification. For example, if cold sensitivity is accompanied by dry mouth and throat, and dry bound stools, it may belong to "upper heat and lower cold" or "dual deficiency of yin and yang," and simple warming tonification may instead aggravate the discomfort. Licensed TCM practitioners often remind in clinical practice: summer is indeed a good time to nourish yang, but adjustments need to be made according to individual constitution. For example, for simple yang deficiency with cold sensitivity, warming foods such as ginger and cinnamon can be appropriately consumed; but if there is significant dampness, dampness must first be eliminated before warming yang. Of course, these suggestions all need to be carried out under the guidance of a professional TCM practitioner, and self-diagnosis is not recommended.
Daily Care — What "Small Actions" Can You Try?
For friends who are always afraid of cold, must wear long sleeves in summer, and dare not let a fan blow on them, daily care can start from two aspects: "reducing cold invasion" and "assisting yang qi generation." In acupoint popular science, Qihai acupoint is often mentioned — Qihai, also known as Boyang or Xiayu, is located on the lower abdomen, on the anterior midline, 1.5 cun below the umbilicus. It belongs to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and is known as the "sea of generating qi," closely related to the rise and fall of the body's yang qi. For example, avoid staying in air-conditioned rooms for extended periods; if the air conditioner must be on, wear a thin jacket or shawl to protect the shoulders, neck, and abdomen; in terms of diet, eat fewer cold drinks and iced fruits, and appropriately drink ginger-jujube tea or brown sugar ginger water; at night, soak your feet in warm water at around 40°C for 15-20 minutes, which helps promote qi and blood circulation. In addition, TCM also recommends "Sanfu moxibustion" or "moxibustion." However, specific operations need to be determined by a licensed TCM practitioner after syndrome differentiation. These methods are only ideas for daily care and cannot replace professional diagnosis and treatment.
Cold Sensitivity — Do You Need to See a TCM Practitioner?
If cold sensitivity is severe enough to affect daily life — for example, you must wear cotton socks and cover yourself with a blanket in summer, or it is accompanied by fatigue, diarrhea, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees — it is recommended to consult a licensed medical institution. Licensed TCM practitioners in clinical practice will comprehensively assess constitution through inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation, and provide personalized conditioning plans. But remember, any conditioning method should be premised on "syndrome differentiation," and blindly following trends must be avoided. So, which category does your summer cold sensitivity problem fall into? Can it be alleviated by adjusting lifestyle habits? It may be helpful to first observe your diet, daily routine, and emotional state, and then decide whether professional help is needed.
Warm Reminder: The content of this article is for popular science reference only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis and treatment. Daily care methods need to be combined with individual constitution. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.