For health preservation and longevity, the general principle is to supplement what is lacking. For example, those who use their brains extensively should eat more peach pulp; those with high physical exertion should promptly supplement with chicken, fish, meat, and eggs.
Those prone to winter illnesses, such as chronic bronchitis and frequent urination, are considered in Traditional Chinese Medicine to be due to a deficiency of kidney qi and external cold from yang deficiency. The method of regulation and treatment is to harmonize with warming herbs.
In addition to herbal supplements, dietary therapy can also be used. For instance, ginger and meat soup is quite effective for coughs and asthma; Fuzi (Aconite root), ginger, and cassia twig soup is beneficial for preventing and treating chilblains, and it is also effective for external washing. [China Cuisine]
For those with weak yang qi, during winter, yang-deficient individuals often experience a clear runny nose, icy hands and feet, a tendency to get chilblains, frequent urination at night, clear and long urination, loose stools, and erectile dysfunction. Such people can cook and eat dried ginger, ginseng, prepared aconite root, chili peppers, and mutton together. At the same time, they can also take Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan to promote the generation of yang qi.
For preventing spring and summer illnesses, it has been proven that good conditioning in winter leads to fewer illnesses in spring and summer. Winter supplementation should be high in protein and calories. Various types of fish, as well as beef, mutton, and dog meat, can be used, with the addition of ginseng, astragalus, longan, and red dates. These can be made into soups or dishes to enhance immune function and disease resistance.