Health for All says
Autumn is an intoxicating season, with crisp weather, golden leaves, and annoying mosquitoes. Why do mosquitoes seem to bite harder in autumn than in other seasons?As an experienced veteran Chinese medicine practitioner, I will combine the theories of Chinese medicine and quote ancient and modern famous prescriptions to give you detailed answers.
First of all, in order to understand the causes of mosquito bite pain in autumn, we need to understand the Xi of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are a class of insects belonging to the family Diptera, the class Insecta, and female mosquitoes feed on human blood for nutrients. When mosquitoes suck blood from the human body, they inject a substance called "anticoagulin" into our ** through saliva, thus preventing blood clotting. This is also what causes us to feel itchy and swollen.
So why do mosquitoes bite harder in autumn?In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, in autumn, when the yang energy gradually disappears, the yin energy grows, the weather becomes cooler, the body's yang energy decreases, the flow of qi and blood slows down, and mosquitoes perceive the decrease in the body's yang energy, so they will be more active in looking for opportunities to "replenish" the blood. In addition, the temperature in autumn is suitable, the humidity is moderate, and this humid and hot environment also provides conditions for mosquitoes to survive and reproduce, so the number of mosquitoes is relatively large, and the "autumn mosquito" appears.
People with weak qi and blood, pregnant women and children are easy targets for mosquitoes because they have relatively little qi and blood in their bodies, making them appear more "sweet". And, as we all know, mosquitoes tend to bite longer in autumn, not just one or two bites**, but multiple bites. This is because the cool autumn season, the blood flow of the human body is slower, and the cold climate will also slow down the speed of blood flow, so that mosquitoes can better suck blood.
Now let's take a look at some of the famous prescriptions in Chinese medicine that can help us alleviate the symptoms caused by mosquito bites. In the ancient medical book "Qianjin Yao Fang", there is an ancient prescription called "Honeysuckle Needle Powder", which is composed of honeysuckle, Angelica angelica, Dilong and other medicinal materials, which can be used for external application of redness, swelling and itching caused by mosquito bites. In addition, we can also use some common Chinese medicine formulas such as Sudan Red Dansan, Golden Tengdan, etc. to reduce inflammation and relieve itching, and promote wound healing.
Of course, in addition to traditional Chinese medicine, we can also take some precautions in our daily life to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. First of all, be mindful of what you wear and try to avoid wearing revealing clothing, especially when mosquitoes are active. Secondly, mosquito repellent can be used during outdoor activities, especially at dusk and at night. In addition, it is also a good way to maintain your body and strengthen your physique through diet.
In short, the mosquito bites more fiercely in autumn mainly because of the favorable climate, the mosquitoes perceive the weakening of the body's yang energy and the slowing down of blood flow. While we are fighting off mosquitoes, the famous prescriptions and common preventive measures in Chinese medicine are also effective means that we can take. I hope this article can be helpful to you and let us enjoy the beauty of autumn better.
Health References:
1.Shi Tiansheng. Traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and control of mosquito bitesGuide to Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2020(03): 100-102