Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of adjusting health practices according to the seasons. The saying "nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter" reflects this principle. Ancient people used this method as the goal of health preservation, focusing on preventing diseases before they occur. Modern people should also learn from this method to promote health and longevity.
The significance of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter" lies in utilizing the yin and yang of the natural world to adjust and nourish the human body. Generally speaking, when the body lacks yang energy, it can be nourished by the warmth of spring and summer; when the body lacks yin essence, it can be nourished by the storage of autumn and winter. For those with yang deficiency, they can take advantage of the yang energy in the natural world during spring and summer, combined with appropriate yang-nourishing foods, to achieve a stronger yang-replenishing effect. This is known as "treating winter diseases in summer". Similarly, the principle of nourishing yin in autumn and winter follows the same logic, known as "treating summer diseases in winter".
As the yin energy increases in autumn and winter, it is recommended to nourish yin in the following ways. First, focus on consuming foods and fruits that nourish yin and moisturize dryness, such as eating autumn pear paste to nourish yin and moisten the lungs, and consuming duck meat porridge to nourish yin and generate body fluids. Second, adjust outdoor activities timely to avoid excessive physical exertion and depletion of body fluids. Lastly, people with yin deficiency can also use some herbs that nourish yin, such as Ophiopogon, Scrophularia, Rehmannia, and Radix Pseudostellariae. There are also some ready-made Chinese medicines available, such as Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Danggui Buxue Wan, and Dabu Yin Wan.
