Climate Characteristics and Yangsheng Notes for 2011 (Xinmao Year)
By the calculation of the Huangdi Neijing, the qi-and-fortune cycle of the xinmao year — from late January 2011 to late January 2012 — has yangming dry-metal ruling Heaven and shaoyin sovereign-fire at-the-spring. It is also a year of "water-movement deficient." Broadly: the first half runs cool, the second half runs hot; the climate is unseasonable and changeable.
First qi: Great Cold to before Spring Equinox (late Jan to late Mar). Host qi jueyin wind-wood; guest qi taiyin damp-earth. Wind-and-damp dominate. The main feature is reverse-spring cold: temperatures drop, rivers freeze again, cold rain visits. Damp evil on the surface, heat evil within — expect swelling, somnolence, nosebleed, vomiting, dark-yellow urine, and the like. Eat plenty of foxtail millet, yiyi (Job's-tears), red mung bean, and other warming damp-drying foods.
Second qi: Spring Equinox to before Grain Full (late Mar to late May). Host qi shaoyin sovereign-fire; guest qi shaoyang minister-fire. Weather warm, spring bright, grass and trees flourishing. Because temperatures rise too fast, heat evil banks up and can't disperse, and pestilential qi easily breeds — epidemic outbreaks are likely; guard against acute fatal disease. Outbreaks may be heaviest in the north. Eat plenty of mung bean, water chestnut, lotus root, and other fire-clearing foods.
Third qi: Grain Full to before Great Heat (late May to late July). Host qi shaoyang minister-fire; guest qi yangming dry-metal. The weather, far from hot, runs cool, alternating cool and hot, dryness and rain interleaved — abrupt cold-and-hot, gravely off-season. Add or shed clothing in good time; guard against colds. Adjust diet to the weather as it shifts; take some pungent-warm foods as appropriate.
Fourth qi: Great Heat to before Autumn Equinox (late July to late Sep). Host qi taiyin damp-earth; guest qi taiyang cold-water. Cold rain falls, damp-cold heavy — "one autumn rain, one degree of cold" will be conspicuous. Damp injures the spleen and cold injures the kidney — eat plenty of foxtail millet, yiyi, Chinese yam, jujube, black bean, red mung bean, and other warm-the-cold, dry-the-damp foods.
Fifth qi: Autumn Equinox to before Light Snow (late Sep to late Nov). Host qi yangming dry-metal; guest qi jueyin wind-wood. Deep autumn, far from cold, runs warm; grass and trees do not wither but flourish; much wind, little rain. Guard against cough and dryness; prepare for a warm winter. Eat plenty of pears and fruit, and drink plenty of water.
Sixth qi: Light Snow to before Great Cold (late Nov to late Jan 2012). Host qi taiyang cold-water; guest qi shaoyin sovereign-fire. The dormant insects do not store away; water does not freeze; weather mild — a warm winter. At this time too, flu outbreaks are likely. Eat plenty of fire-clearing foods.