《保生心鉴》曰∶暑气酷烈，炼石流金于外，心火焚炽于内，古人于是时独宿、淡味，节嗜欲
，定心息气，兢兢业业，保身养生。谚云∶度过七月半，便是铁石汉。因一岁惟夏，乃生死关也。
试看草枯木落，其汁液尽消竭于夏。危乎危乎，其此时乎。
调理法
勿多食苦味，减苦以养肺气。（夏，心火正旺，苦味属火，肺属金，恐苦味助火克金，令肺受病）
虽大热，勿食冻水、冷粉、冷粥等物，虽取快一时，冷热相搏，多致腹疾。
勿食煎炒炙 等物，以助热毒。多发痈疽。
勿枕冷石。损目。
勿睡熟扇风，或露卧取凉。多成风痹瘫痪之病。
阴房破窗，防贼风中人最暴。
勿用冷井水洗面，伏热在身。
烈日晒热之衣，不可便穿。
宜每日早起，以受清明之气。
五月五日，用枸杞煎水沐浴，可却除灾疾。
又，是日午时，可合平安散存用。（凡五月五日午时宜修合药饵者，因斗柄决。以月月常加戌，
戌时天罡指午，亥时指未，自未轮转，五日午时正指艮宫，为塞鬼户也，故用此时合药最效）
平安散方
雄黄 火硝 明矾 朱砂（各二钱） 冰片 麝香（各三分） 荜茇（五厘） 真金三十张共研为末。
防疫气流行，用贯仲一味，置厨房水缸内，合家食之，不染。
调乌梅汤解暑。方用乌梅，不拘多少，捣烂，加蜜，调滚水，待温饮之。或用砂糖代蜜亦可。
According to *Bao Sheng Xin Jian* (Heart Mirror for Preserving Life): The summer heat is fierce; externally, it seems capable of smelting stones and melting metals, while internally, the heart fire burns fiercely. In ancient times, people during this period lived alone, ate bland food, restrained their desires, stabilized their mind, regulated their breath, and acted with caution to preserve their body and life. A proverb says: "After passing the middle of the seventh lunar month, one becomes as hard as iron or stone." This is because among the four seasons, only summer is a critical juncture between life and death. Observe how grass withers and trees lose their leaves; their juices are completely exhausted in summer. How dangerous! It is precisely at this time.
Regulation Methods
Do not consume excessive bitter flavors; reduce bitterness to nourish Lung Qi (Qi of the Lungs). (In summer, Heart Fire is at its peak. Bitter flavor belongs to Fire, while the Lung belongs to Metal. There is a fear that bitter flavors will assist Fire to overact on Metal, causing disease in the Lung.)
Even in extreme heat, do not eat ice water, cold noodles, or cold porridge. Although they provide momentary relief, the conflict between cold and heat often leads to abdominal disorders.
Do not eat fried, roasted, or grilled foods, as these may aggravate heat toxicity. They frequently cause carbuncles and sores.
Do not rest your head on cold stones, as this damages the eyes.
Do not sleep soundly while fanning yourself, nor lie exposed to cool air outdoors. These practices often lead to wind-bi paralysis.
Ensure ventilation in damp rooms (or latrines) by breaking windows, to prevent sudden drafts (Zei Feng, pathogenic winds) from striking the body violently.
Do not wash your face with cold well water, as this traps latent heat within the body.
Do not immediately wear clothes that have been heated by the scorching sun.
It is advisable to rise early each day to receive the clear and pure Qi.
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, bathing with decoction prepared from Goji berries (Lycii Fructus) can dispel disasters and diseases.
Furthermore, at noon on this day, one may prepare Ping'an San (Peace Powder) for storage and use. (The reason for preparing medicinal preparations at noon on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is determined by the position of the Big Dipper. According to the rule 'the month adds Xu', when it is Xu hour, Tiangang points to Wu; when it is Hai hour, it points to Wei. Rotating from Wei, after five days at noon, it points exactly to the Gen Palace, which signifies blocking the ghost's gate. Therefore, preparing medicine at this time is most effective.)
Ping'an San Formula
Realgar (Xionghuang), Saltpeter (Huoxiao), Alum (Mingfan), Cinnabar (Zhusha) (each 2 qian); Borneol (Bingpian), Musk (Shexiang) (each 3 fen); Long Pepper (Bibo) (5 li); True Gold (Zhenjin) 30 sheets. Grind all together into powder.
To prevent the spread of epidemic qi, place a single herb, Scutellaria Barbata (Guanzhong), in the kitchen water vat. If the whole family consumes water from it, they will remain uninfected.
Prepare Wumei Tang (Mume Decoction) to relieve summerheat. Use Mume Fructus (Wumei), any amount, crush it thoroughly, add honey, mix with boiling water, and drink when warm. Alternatively, sugar may be used instead of honey.