Spring is here, and the earth is rejuvenating. As the sun rises, life flourishes, and the rising yang energy in the human body creates a good season for nourishing the body. The key to a healthy year lies in spring, so it is important to follow the rhythm of nature in spring and protect the yang energy to lay a solid foundation for health.
Spring belongs to the wood element, representing wind in the heavens, liver in the organs, and tendons in the body. In spring, people are susceptible to respiratory diseases due to wind and cold, gastrointestinal diseases due to the excessive liver dominating the spleen, cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and stroke due to excessive liver yang, emotional disorders such as depression due to stagnation of liver qi, and rheumatic diseases such as back and knee pain due to cold and dampness affecting the tendons.
"Nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter" is an important concept in the health preservation philosophy of the Inner Canon of Huangdi. In spring, as yang energy grows, it is important to consolidate and nourish yang energy. Dr. Liu Dongyang created the "Simple Health Preservation Method" which includes the following twenty words: "Go to bed and get up early, sunbathe more, eat less cold food, sit cross-legged." In this method, spring health preservation emphasizes four words - cover, sunbathe, sit, and relax.
【Cover】
This refers to keeping warm and protecting against the cold, nourishing yang and consolidating yin. It is important to adjust clothing in a timely manner as the weather in early spring changes frequently. If you neglect to keep warm, you may easily suffer from respiratory diseases and joint pain, especially coughing and twisting injuries.
【Sunbathe】
This means to bask in the sun. The sun is the best "aphrodisiac" as it can dispel cold and dampness from the body and replenish yang energy. Sunbathing the back, which represents the yang energy, is very beneficial for boosting immunity and vitality.
【Sit】
This means sitting cross-legged. In spring, the external air is relatively humid, and there is often haze. It is not suitable for outdoor activities on days without sunshine as it is easy to inhale wind, cold, and dampness. For those who love exercise, what should they do? It is recommended to sit cross-legged at home using a simple meditation method. Meditation can cultivate and gather yang energy, expel cold and dampness from the body, and have an immediate effect on cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis.
【Relax】
This means nurturing the spirit, maintaining emotional well-being, avoiding extreme joy and anger, and keeping a calm mood. Meditating more can also help cultivate a balanced outlook on life.
Sun Simiao, a medical expert from the Tang Dynasty, said, "In the spring, for 72 days, reduce sourness and increase sweetness to nourish the spleen." This means that in spring, one should eat less acidic foods, as they can make the liver more exuberant and harm the spleen and stomach. During this time, it is recommended to eat more sweet and neutral foods to nourish yang and invigorate the spleen. The physical characteristics of people in Guangdong are mostly characterized by heat on the upper body and cold on the lower body, both externally and internally. They are prone to develop floating yang fire, commonly known as virtual fire. In clinical practice, it is actually more common to have a cold constitution. Therefore, it is also important to focus on warming the spleen and stomach, and consume more foods that warm and tonify qi and yang, such as onions, ginger, garlic, leeks, and broccoli. Excessive consumption of cold foods such as fruits, winter melon, and mung bean sprouts should be avoided. In addition, it is also recommended to consume more nutritious foods such as chicken, eggs, animal liver, fish, lean meat, and lamb to meet the increasing needs of the body's functions.
【Introduction to Common Ingredients】
Garlic Chives: Highly recommended. It has the functions of nourishing the kidneys, warming the middle, and dispelling cold. The dietary fiber it contains can promote intestinal peristalsis. Eating garlic chives in spring can have the effects of stimulating yang energy and promoting hair growth. Garlic chives can be stir-fried with pork or pork kidney as a nutritious dish.
Spinach: It has a sweet taste and a cool nature. It has the effects of nourishing blood and promoting bowel movements. It can be used to make soup or stir-fried with liver slices.
Green Onions: Green onions have a pungent and warm taste, which can promote yang energy and detoxification. It is excellent for treating colds caused by wind and cold in spring.
Walnut Kernel: It has the effects of nourishing the kidneys and essence, warming the lungs, relieving asthma, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. It is suitable for the elderly with asthma, enlarged prostate, and habitual constipation.
Lamb: It has the effects of invigorating the spleen and warming the middle, nourishing the kidneys and strengthening yang, and nourishing blood and warming the meridians. It is suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency, lumbago and weakness, and weak qi and blood.
【Recommended Ingredients for Dampness Dispelling and Spleen Invigorating Soup in Spring】
Dangshen: To dispel dampness, it is important to invigorate the spleen. Therefore, spring soups should include some dangshen, which has a sweet taste and good effects on the body.
Coix Seed: Coix seed has a slightly cold nature and is not suitable for people with cold constitutions, as it may cause more coldness and dampness. Only stir-fried coix seed can invigorate the spleen.
Poria: It promotes the function of the spleen and lungs and eliminates water retention through invigorating the spleen and lungs.
Scarlet Runner Beans: Stir-frying before boiling is used for spleen deficiency with dampness, fatigue, and loose stools.
【Recommended Medicinal Meals】
Stir-Fried Garlic Chives with Pork Belly
