An interesting observation is in China, where the country's wealthy regions, such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, were all collectively referred to as the "Southern Miasma Land" in ancient times.
However, in recent years we have rarely heard of these areas being associated with "miasma". On the contrary, the northern regions are often shrouded in a thick haze, which makes people sigh at the truth of "feng shui turns".
We have long identified that the main causes of smog are industrial pollution and severe weather phenomena caused by severe desertification in the north. So, what exactly is the miasma that has prevailed in the south for thousands of years? Why does it seem to disappear in an instant in modern times?
When it comes to miasma, most people think of the poisonous mist in the mountains, rivers and forests, which can be fatal if inhaled, and this impression is largely shaped by film and television works.
However, according to the official explanation, miasma is actually an umbrella term for a variety of diseases.
In order to better understand the reader, we divide miasma into two categories: one is disease, and the other is toxic gas, and explain them one by one.
In ancient times, people used to refer to the south as the "land of smoke miasma", believing that the air there was full of miasma that could cause disease if inhaled. During the Han Dynasty, there was a rebellion in Jiaozhi, Ma Yuan led his troops to conquer, and after going deep into the south, he found a large amount of miasma, which caused many soldiers to die and suffer heavy injuries due to miasma before entering the battlefield.
This historical account of miasma is quite famous.
However, after research by various scientists and experts, it was discovered that the so-called southern miasma of the ancients actually referred to malaria in most cases. Due to the underdevelopment of the field of medicine in ancient times, people could not effectively distinguish the disease.
The humid and hot climate, dense trees, and a large number of snakes, rats, mosquitoes and other environments in the south are very likely to cause malaria epidemics.
In ancient times, people had few measures to protect and prevent mosquito bites, and once they entered the southern region, they could be bitten by mosquitoes or poisonous insects, which could easily cause various diseases, including malaria.
The mountains and forests of the south are densely populated with mosquitoes and poisonous insects, which has gradually turned these areas into places known as "human exclusion zones". People are afraid to set foot in these places, jokingly calling them smoky miasma lands, and blaming mosquito bites for diseases caused by inhaling miasma.
However, with the continuous improvement of science and technology and in-depth research in the medical field, people have recognized the dangers of mosquito bites and taken a variety of preventive measures
Examples include vaccinations, medications, and insect sprays. The advent of these measures has greatly reduced the chances of people getting sick from mosquito bites, which has led to the gradual disappearance of the so-called "southern miasma".
On the other hand, the claim about the miasma in the south actually has an element of exaggeration. In ancient China, the center of political power was mostly located in the north. When some ** is punished, these ** are often released to the south, and the greater the mistake, the deeper the exile.
Because these people are full of negative feelings towards the South in their frustration, they portray the South as a dangerous place full of miasma, forming a concept of "regional blackness". In fact, many parts of the South are still very inhabitable.
However, on the question of whether there really is a gas in the South that can get sick if you inhale, the answer is yes.
Especially in the barren mountains and mountains, there is indeed a special gas. The production of this gas is closely related to the environment, usually in wooded places with humid air, such an environment encourages a large number of plants to decay, and at the same time, after the death of animals, their carcasses decompose in a humid environment, producing a large number of fungi and bacteria.
When humans inhale air full of fungi and bacteria, the body is susceptible to infections and disease.
Traditional Chinese medicine has also pointed out that even in the absence of fungi and microorganisms, living in a humid environment is inherently prone to disease. This is exactly the saying that "dampness causes all diseases", emphasizing that too much dampness in the body can easily lead to various diseases.
In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, there is also the view that the body can prevent diseases by removing dampness. By regulating the body's moisture, people can reduce the risk of disease, which in turn improves the body's immunity. This view is not unreasonable, and it has certain guiding significance for the maintenance of physical health. Therefore, for those who live in a humid environment, appropriate methods of dehumidification may be able to effectively prevent the occurrence of diseases.