Good evening, everyone!
Gen, the Kampo pharmacist.
Thank you for your hard work today.

It was another pleasant day today.

I was out since this morning, and a single shirt was just right.
I feel like the weather has finally started to feel like autumn.

It is Sunday, the weekend.
Some went out, some relaxed at home, and some were working.
I think everyone has their own way of spending their time.

A new week starts tomorrow.
Let’s take it easy tonight and reflect on our physical condition.

■ Today is ‘Sardine Day’

October 4th is ‘Sardine Day‘.

Autumn is the season when fatty sardines are delicious.

In terms of medicinal cooking, sardines are said to have functions such as strengthening the spleen, supplementing qi, invigorating blood, and strengthening muscles and bones, making them an ingredient that supports the body in many ways.

Nutritionally, they are also an excellent fish containing protein, EPA, and DHA.

The kanji for sardine is written as ‘fish’ plus ‘weak,’ which is said to be because they spoil easily and lose freshness quickly.

Their name may mean ‘weak,’ but they are quite powerful in substance.

Eating seasonal ingredients deliciously is also a wonderful form of health care.

■ What do you do if a window breaks in midwinter?

Now, I would like you to think about something for a moment.

It is a cold day in midwinter.
A window in your room has broken, and cold wind is blowing in.

Well, what would you do?

1. Wrap yourself in a blanket and wear thick clothes
2. Fix the broken window

Which is the correct answer?
I think ‘both are important’.

If you are shivering from the cold, first use a blanket or thick clothing to protect yourself from the cold.

It is very effective for immediate relief from the current cold.
However, that alone will not stop the cold wind from entering through the broken window.

Once you have a little breathing room, you also need to fix the window itself.

■ Thinking about health care in terms of ’emergency’ and ‘root cause’

This is similar to health care.

Rest when you are tired.
When things are tough, first restore your current state.

This kind of ‘getting through the moment’ health care is also very important.

However, if you only repeat that,

‘Why am I so tired?’
‘What is putting a strain on my body?’

Try looking at these as well.

• Is your sleep time getting shorter?

• Is your diet becoming irregular?

• Are you lacking exercise?

• Are you packing your schedule too full?

When we talk about health care, we tend to think, ‘What should I eat?’ or ‘What should I supplement?’, but adding things is not the only form of health care.

Before you keep adding more blankets, try looking for a ‘broken window’ in your own life.

I believe this is also an important part of health care.

■ Today’s summary

・Autumn is the season when fatty sardines are delicious
・When you are struggling now, first rebuild yourself with ’emergency health care’
・Once you have some breathing room, look back at your lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise, and sleep
・Health care is not just about ‘what to add,’ but also ‘what to reduce and what to organize’

Tomorrow is Monday.
The Kanto region will likely have unsettled weather due to the influence of humid air.

The start of the week is already a time when moods tend to feel heavy.
Tonight, rather than forcing yourself to work hard on something, let’s rest a little earlier and prepare for tomorrow.

First, warm up with a blanket.

It is okay to look for the ‘broken window’ only after you have gained some breathing room.

Well then, see you tomorrowー🐢

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