Winter melon cooling hack goes viral in China but experts warn to be careful

A peculiar cooling hack has taken China's social media by storm, with people embracing large winter melons as a zero-electricity alternative to air conditioners during hot summer nights. The trend, which involves cuddling with the fruit, capitalizes on the melon's high water content and naturally cooler surface temperature, which can be 3 to 5 degrees Celsius below room temperature.

This practice is not entirely new, as historical documents suggest ancient Chinese employed a similar technique. Physicians note that sleeping with a winter melon might benefit individuals suffering from insomnia due to heat, anxiety, or stress. However, experts caution that those susceptible to cold should avoid prolonged contact to prevent cold-related health issues. Recommendations include hugging the melon for only 10 to 20 minutes before sleep and cycling out the melon regularly to prevent bacterial buildup.

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hugging it 10 to 20 minutes before sleep instead of all night and cycling out the melon after use to avoid bacteria buildup.

Beyond potential health risks, some users have reported alarming incidents of the melons bursting open overnight, releasing rotten, foul-smelling juice that contaminates bedding and floors. Agronomists explain that the combination of body heat and the confined space within bedding can turn the melon into a "temperature incubator." In warm, humid conditions, microbes rapidly break down the melon's organic matter, producing gases that build pressure inside the airtight gourd, leading to rupture.

Despite the risks, the affordability of winter melons makes them an attractive option for many. After testing the cooling effect, the advice is to cook the melon into soups and dishes, offering a refreshing summer food without the risk of explosion. Boiling the melon into soup is also suggested as a safe way to achieve a cooling effect.

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when the melon is held against the skin overnight, heat from the body combines with heat from the confined space beneath bedding, essentially turning the melon into a temperature incubator.