According to Chinese customs, the period from the Start of Winter to around the Winter Solstice is an excellent time to "nourish the body," a practice known as "Bu Dong" (Winter Nourishment). Experts remind everyone that nourishment should be tailored to the individual, based on different constitutions.
Who is Suitable for Winter Nourishment? Besides a healthy state, a person's constitution can be categorized as偏向寒冷 (偏向偏寒),偏向炎热 (偏向偏热),偏向虚弱 (偏向偏虚), or偏向实证 (偏向偏实).
1. For those with a Yang-deficient constitution: People with Yang deficiency often experience a clear runny nose, cold hands and feet, clear and frequent urination, frequent urination at night, loose stools, and erectile dysfunction. Anyone with these symptoms can consume ingredients like prepared rehmannia root, aconite, dried ginger, ginseng, mutton, or dog meat, which are stewed together. They can also take oral supplements such as Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, Gui Lu Bu Shen Wan, Shi Quan Da Bu Wan, or Ren Shen Da Bu Wan to replenish Yang, expel cold, and strengthen the body.
2. For those with a Yin-deficient constitution: People with Yin deficiency are prone to night sweats, low-grade fever in the afternoon, flushed cheeks, hot palms and soles, and a constant thirst. These individuals should consume foods that preserve Yin and anchor Yang, such as chicken, white ginseng, asparagus root, soft-shelled turtle shell, tortoise plastron, Cordyceps sinensis, tremella fungus, and seafood.
3. For those with a Qi-deficient constitution: Symptoms include profuse sweating after minimal activity, mental fatigue, a weak voice, and in women, uterine prolapse. These individuals generally use red ginseng, red dates, Atractylodes macrocephala, astragalus root, Schisandra berry, and Chinese yam.
4. For the elderly and weak: Besides paying attention to daily routines and mental well-being, proper nourishment is also very important for the elderly. In winter, people's appetite is much greater than usual, and the body's absorption of nutrients is easier, making it an ideal time to strengthen the constitution and extend life. The frail elderly can consume more chicken and milk; those with insufficient Yang can use goji berries and Cistanche to supplement Yang; and those with blood stasis can use ginseng wine or scutellaria wine to invigorate blood and dispel wind.
Taboos for Winter Nourishment 1. Avoid indiscriminate nourishment: Strong and healthy people do not need it. For those with a deficient constitution, the deficiency can be of Qi, blood, Yang, or Yin, and one must also consider the balance of Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang. It is not advisable to focus on one aspect, as this can instead lead to illness. Therefore, winter nourishment should ideally be done under the guidance of a physician. Generally, middle-aged people should focus on strengthening the spleen and stomach, while the elderly should focus on tonifying kidney Qi.
2. Do not judge supplements by their price: When it comes to medicinal supplements, never believe that the more expensive, the better or the more effective. The key to the effectiveness of Chinese medicine lies in syndrome differentiation. If used correctly, rhubarb can be a tonic; if used incorrectly, ginseng can be a poison.
3. Avoid overly rich and greasy foods: For those who are weak or have poor digestion, diarrhea and bloating are common. No matter what supplements they take, they will not have a good effect. Therefore, their focus for winter nourishment should be on restoring the function of the spleen and stomach. Overly rich and greasy foods not only fail to produce good results but can also cause indigestion. Thus, winter nourishment should follow the principle of being easy to digest.
According to Chinese customs, the period from the Start of Winter to around the Winter Solstice is an excellent time to "nourish the body," a practice known as "Bu Dong" (Winter Nourishment). Experts remind everyone that nourishment should be tailored to the individual, based on different constitutions.
Who is Suitable for Winter Nourishment? Besides a healthy state, a person's constitution can be categorized as偏向寒冷 (偏向偏寒),偏向炎热 (偏向偏热),偏向虚弱 (偏向偏虚), or偏向实证 (偏向偏实).
1. For those with a Yang-deficient constitution: People with Yang deficiency often experience a clear runny nose, cold hands and feet, clear and frequent urination, frequent urination at night, loose stools, and erectile dysfunction. Anyone with these symptoms can consume ingredients like prepared rehmannia root, aconite, dried ginger, ginseng, mutton, or dog meat, which are stewed together. They can also take oral supplements such as Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, Gui Lu Bu Shen Wan, Shi Quan Da Bu Wan, or Ren Shen Da Bu Wan to replenish Yang, expel cold, and strengthen the body.
2. For those with a Yin-deficient constitution: People with Yin deficiency are prone to night sweats, low-grade fever in the afternoon, flushed cheeks, hot palms and soles, and a constant thirst. These individuals should consume foods that preserve Yin and anchor Yang, such as chicken, white ginseng, asparagus root, soft-shelled turtle shell, tortoise plastron, Cordyceps sinensis, tremella fungus, and seafood.
3. For those with a Qi-deficient constitution: Symptoms include profuse sweating after minimal activity, mental fatigue, a weak voice, and in women, uterine prolapse. These individuals generally use red ginseng, red dates, Atractylodes macrocephala, astragalus root, Schisandra berry, and Chinese yam.
4. For the elderly and weak: Besides paying attention to daily routines and mental well-being, proper nourishment is also very important for the elderly. In winter, people's appetite is much greater than usual, and the body's absorption of nutrients is easier, making it an ideal time to strengthen the constitution and extend life. The frail elderly can consume more chicken and milk; those with insufficient Yang can use goji berries and Cistanche to supplement Yang; and those with blood stasis can use ginseng wine or scutellaria wine to invigorate blood and dispel wind.
Taboos for Winter Nourishment 1. Avoid indiscriminate nourishment: Strong and healthy people do not need it. For those with a deficient constitution, the deficiency can be of Qi, blood, Yang, or Yin, and one must also consider the balance of Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang. It is not advisable to focus on one aspect, as this can instead lead to illness. Therefore, winter nourishment should ideally be done under the guidance of a physician. Generally, middle-aged people should focus on strengthening the spleen and stomach, while the elderly should focus on tonifying kidney Qi.
2. Do not judge supplements by their price: When it comes to medicinal supplements, never believe that the more expensive, the better or the more effective. The key to the effectiveness of Chinese medicine lies in syndrome differentiation. If used correctly, rhubarb can be a tonic; if used incorrectly, ginseng can be a poison.
3. Avoid overly rich and greasy foods: For those who are weak or have poor digestion, diarrhea and bloating are common. No matter what supplements they take, they will not have a good effect. Therefore, their focus for winter nourishment should be on restoring the function of the spleen and stomach. Overly rich and greasy foods not only fail to produce good results but can also cause indigestion. Thus, winter nourishment should follow the principle of being easy to digest.