Many Cantonese people who enjoy nourishing their bodies can't wait to plan a major regimen as soon as the Start of Autumn begins. Little do they know that nourishing the body must be adapted to the time, place, and individual. Blindly taking supplements can actually harm the body, potentially leading to insomnia or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Blind nourishment leads to nosebleeds at night
Mr. Liang, who has always been fond of nourishing soups, began his body-toning regimen after the Start of Autumn, eating nourishing soups at least three times a week. A couple of days ago, he suddenly developed symptoms of a dry throat and tongue, and while sleeping at night, he suddenly had a nosebleed, frightening him into thinking something serious was wrong. Fortunately, after stopping the bleeding himself, no major problems were found.
"This is a clear case of over-nourishment," said the director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Guangzhou Post and Telecommunications Hospital. Every year after the Start of Autumn, it is clinically common to see young people who blindly take supplements, leading to insomnia, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding, and even liver damage, which is enough to prove that improper nourishment can cause great harm to the body.
Weak stomachs suffer from "nourishment"
Dr. Yu Meixiang believes that autumn is a very necessary time for nourishment, as reasonable supplementation can not only make up for the excessive consumption of summer but also enhance the body's ability to adapt to cold weather. However, the weather in Guangzhou is special, and the temperature has remained relatively high since the Start of Autumn. In this climate, the spleen and stomach functions of the body are weakened to varying degrees. At this time, consuming a large amount of supplements, especially overly nourishing yin-nourishing products, will further burden the spleen and stomach, making the long-term "weak" digestive system unable to bear it, leading to digestive disorders, and symptoms such as bloating, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and diarrhea will also appear.
Therefore, Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that in autumn, one should drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, and pay special attention to protecting the upper respiratory tract, such as the nasopharynx. If one wants to take supplements, it should be done under the guidance of a specialized nutritionist or TCM practitioner.
Nourishment should focus on nourishing yin and moistening
So, how can one nourish scientifically in autumn?
Yu Meixiang says that so-called "good things" like ginseng and deer antler can actually trigger false fire, which Traditional Chinese Medicine calls "reckless bleeding due to blood heat," and are not suitable for consumption. From the perspective of affordable and effective food therapy, lily seeds, lotus seeds, Chinese yam, hyacinth beans, red dates, lotus root, and rice eel are all good choices, as they have the effects of moistening the lungs and stopping coughs, and clearing heat and moistening.
Warm reminder: Autumn beauty formula (for reference only)
External formula—Pig's Trotter Soup: From "Medical Categories," ingredients: 1 pig's trotter, 150g each of mulberry bark, Chuanxiong (rhizome), Solomon's seal root, Angelica dahurica (root), and Poria cocos, 60g each of Phytolacca acinosa and Atractylodes macrocephala (rhizome). Decoct the pig's trotter and the eight ingredients in 900ml of water until 200ml remains. Remove the dregs. Warm one cup at a time and use it to wash the hands and face. It can moisturize the skin.
Internal formula—San Tai Yi Shuang Gao (Three-Platform Longevity Paste): From "Eight Essays on Nurturing Life," ingredients: 1000g of Atractylodes macrocephala (rhizome), 500g each of Atractylodes lancea (rhizome) and Polygonatum sibiricum (rhizome). Decoct the ingredients into a thick paste. Take 15g each time, mixed with warm water or held in the mouth to dissolve. It can beautify the complexion.