Nurturing the Spleen and Stomach: The Foundation of Health and Longevity

　　The Rain Water solar term is around February 18th in the Gregorian calendar. Rain Water represents not only the beginning of rainfall, but also an increase in precipitation.

　　According to the influence of the Rain Water solar term on nature, I emphasize the importance of "nurturing the spleen and stomach" in the article on health preservation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen and stomach are the "foundation of postnatal life" and the "source of qi, blood, and transformation." The strength of the spleen and stomach is an important factor in determining a person's lifespan. Zhang Jingyue, a medical expert from the Ming Dynasty, proposed: "Earthly qi is the source of all things, and stomach qi is the mainstay of health. If the stomach is strong, one will be strong; if the stomach is weak, one will be weak. With a stomach, one can live; without a stomach, one will die. Therefore, those who focus on health preservation should prioritize the spleen and stomach." (In the relationship between the Five Elements and the Five Organs, the earth in the Five Elements corresponds to the spleen in the Five Organs) The "Book of Diagrams and Records on Organ Qi and Virtue" states: "Nurturing the spleen is nurturing qi, nurturing qi is the essence of health preservation." It can be seen that a strong spleen and stomach is the foundation of people's health and longevity.

　　Why is the liver, representing wood, related to the spleen, representing earth, in the spring? In the application of the Five Elements theory in traditional Chinese medicine, the characteristics of the Five Elements are used to explain the physiological functions of the human body's five organs. The liver belongs to wood, which has the characteristics of flexibility, smoothness, and generation, so the liver prefers smoothness and dislikes depression, and it has the function of promoting excretion. The spleen (stomach) belongs to earth, which is sincere and has the characteristic of generating and transforming all things. The spleen is responsible for digesting grains and transporting essence and nutrients to the five organs, six viscera, and the body's limbs and bones, making it the source of qi, blood, and transformation. The five organs are interconnected in terms of physiology and mutually affect each other in terms of pathology. In the transformation of the relationship between the Five Elements and the Five Organs, when wood is strong, it overcomes earth. This means that when the liver is excessively exuberant, it weakens and damages the spleen. Similarly, if the liver qi stagnates excessively, it can cause stagnation in the spleen and stomach. Both cases indicate that the liver wood conquers the spleen earth. The "Classic of Difficulties" refers to this as the "reverse transmission" of liver disease to the spleen. Therefore, in spring health preservation, attention should be paid to the characteristics of the spring yang qi flourishing, supporting yang qi, and avoiding harm to the spleen and stomach.

　　Traditional Chinese medicine regards the spleen and stomach as the "sea of water and grains" with the function of benefiting qi, transforming substances, and producing and nourishing blood. The material basis of the body's functional activities such as nutrients, qi, blood, fluid, and essence are all transformed by the spleen and stomach. Only with a strong spleen and stomach and sufficient transformation source can the functions of the organs and viscera be strong. The spleen and stomach are also the hub of the ascending and descending movement of qi in the body. With the coordination of the spleen and stomach, the body's metabolism can be promoted and regulated, ensuring the coordination and balance of life activities. The vitality of the body is the foundation of health, and the spleen and stomach are the foundation of vitality. Li Dongyuan, a famous medical expert from the Yuan Dynasty, proposed that if the spleen and stomach are injured, the vitality will decline, and if the vitality declines, a person's lifespan will be shortened. In his book "On the Spleen and Stomach", he stated: "True qi is also known as vitality, which is the essence that gives birth to the body. Without stomach qi, it cannot nourish." And he pointed out: "Internal injuries to the spleen and stomach lead to the emergence of various diseases." This shows that a weakened spleen and stomach is the main cause of various diseases.

　　"The General Principles of Herbology" states: "Those who are good at health preservation nurture their inner self, while those who are not good at health preservation nurture their external self. Nurturing the external self pleases and satisfies desires, but they don't realize that being externally rich leads to internal weakness. Those who are good at nurturing their inner self ensure that the organs are harmonious and that the three burners are in their proper places, with diet and lifestyle suitable." From this, it can be seen that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of life and health, and medical experts and health preservation experts throughout history have attached great importance to the protection and nourishment of the spleen and stomach. Modern medical research has proven that regulating the spleen and stomach can effectively improve the body's immune function and resist aging.
　　Specific methods for nurturing the spleen and stomach can be selected based on individual circumstances, including dietary adjustments, medicinal nourishment, and proper rest and relaxation.

　　Dietary adjustments: In the spring, the climate becomes warmer, but there is also more wind and dryness, which can lead to dry skin, dry mouth, and cracked lips. Therefore, one should eat more fresh vegetables and juicy fruits to replenish the body's moisture. Since spring is the beginning of all things, a season when yang qi flourishes, one should eat less greasy food to avoid excessive yang qi, as excessive liver wood growth can weaken the spleen earth. Sun Simiao, a health preservation expert from the Tang Dynasty, said in the "Qian Jin Fang": "On the seventy-second day of spring, reduce sour foods and increase sweet foods to nourish the spleen qi." In the Five Elements theory, the liver belongs to wood and has a sour taste, while the spleen belongs to earth and has a sweet taste. Wood overcomes earth. Therefore, in spring, one should eat less sour foods and more sweet foods to nourish the spleen. Some suitable options include garlic chives, Chinese toon, lily, pea sprouts, shepherd's purse, shepherd's purse, bamboo shoots, Chinese yam, lotus root, taro, radish, water chestnut, and sugarcane.

　　"The Qian Jin Yue Ling" states: "In the first month, it is suitable to eat porridge... One is di huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) porridge, which nourishes the kidneys." (Take 150g of fresh di huang, mash it and set it aside, wash 50g of polished rice, add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, and boil it into porridge. Then pour the fresh di huang juice into the porridge and simmer for 20 minutes.) "Two is Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia divaricata) porridge, which is used to dispel wind from the limbs. Take an appropriate amount of Fang Feng, decoct it and remove the residue, then cook it into porridge." "Three is Zi Su (Perilla frutescens) porridge, take an appropriate amount of Zi Su, stir-fry until slightly yellow and fragrant, then decoct it and cook it into porridge." Eat less raw and cold and sticky foods to avoid harming the spleen and stomach.

　　Mental regulation: "Anger, sadness, and fear all damage vitality." Therefore, in terms of mental regulation, one should be calm and content, and avoid excessive labor, in order to nurture vitality.

　　Medicinal nourishment: Consider the ascending and descending, transforming, and generative functions of the spleen and stomach, and use methods to promote the ascending and flourishing of yang qi to nourish the spleen and stomach. Suitable options include Radix Adenophorae, American Ginseng, Cassia Seed, Chrysanthemum Flower, Polygonum multiflorum powder, and Buzhong Yiqi Decoction.

　　Proper rest and relaxation: Maintain regular daily routines and combine work and rest. Adapt to nature, protect the vitality, and follow the rules of natural changes in time, space, and seasonal climate, in order to achieve the goal of promoting the spleen and stomach, nourishing the postnatal, and extending life.