In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that the liver governs疏泄 and opens to the eyes, favors the color green and the taste sour; the heart governs Qi and blood and opens to the face, favors the color red and the taste bitter; the spleen governs transportation and transformation and opens to the mouth, favors the color yellow and the taste sweet; the lung governs dispersion and descent and opens to the nose, favors the color white and the taste pungent; the kidney governs essence and marrow and opens to the ears, favors the color black and the taste salty.
When the spleen and stomach are not functioning well, what exactly is the problem? How can you protect your spleen to live a healthy life to a hundred years?
Four Treasures for Nourishing the Spleen:
Chinese Yam and Preserved Pork
1. Chinese Yam
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese yam is believed to have the effects of strengthening the spleen and supplementing the lungs, securing the kidneys and benefiting essence, improving hearing and brightening the eyes, aiding the five organs, strengthening muscles and bones, boosting willpower and calming the mind, and prolonging life.
It can be used for conditions such as weak spleen and stomach, fatigue and listlessness, poor appetite, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, deficiency and dryness of lung Qi, phlegmatic wheezing and coughing, deficiency of kidney Qi, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, seminal emission and premature ejaculation, leukorrhea and turbid vaginal discharge, and obesity.
Health Preservation Tip: (1) Chinese Yam + Sesame Congee: Use an appropriate amount of Chinese yam, 20 grams of black sesame, and add them with japonica rice and an appropriate amount of water to cook into a congee.
Effect: Nourishes Yin and supplements the kidneys, benefits the spleen and moistens the intestines.
2. Red Dates
Red dates have the effects of tonifying and benefiting the spleen and stomach, nourishing Yin and blood, calming the mind and spirit, and moderating the properties of other herbs.
Health Preservation Tips:
1. Red Dates + Japonica Rice Congee: Can strengthen the spleen and stomach, and supplement Qi and blood.
2. Red Dates + Goji Berry Tea: Can supplement both Qi and blood deficiency.
3. Red Dates + Celery Soup: Can help balance blood pressure.
3. Weishu Point (BL 21)
To regulate the spleen and stomach, locate it slightly below the center of the back, on both sides of the spine (below the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra), 1.5 *cun* lateral to the midline.
Health Preservation Tip: (1) With both hands, use the four fingers (excluding the thumbs) to press and knead the Weishu point for 5-10 minutes with appropriate force.
4. Tianshu Point (ST 25)
The body's own "Spleen-Tonifying Pill." Location: It is located 2 *cun* beside the navel, on the same horizontal line as the navel.
Health Preservation Tip: (1) Before sleeping, press and knead the Tianshu point. Use the index and middle fingers to press and knead in a clockwise direction, making circular motions with the fingertips, for 50-100 times, then press and knead in a counter-clockwise direction for 50-100 times. This can strengthen the spleen and stomach.
Pork