>>Nourish the Liver
Maintain emotional calm and avoid agitation
For spring health, one should align with the season's characteristics of rising yang energy and the birth of all things, gradually transitioning from "nourishing yin in autumn and winter" to "nourishing yang in spring and summer," while protecting the yang energy. As spring corresponds to the Wood element and the liver, the focus of spring health is primarily on protecting the liver. Traditional Chinese medicine believes the liver governs emotions, so liver care should start with one's mental state. The key to nourishing the liver is to maintain a cheerful and peaceful mood to prevent "liver fire flare-up." Emotions should not be overly excited or agitated; maintaining joy and calmness is beneficial for soothing the liver and regulating qi.
>>Exercise
Strenuous exercise depletes yang energy
After the start of spring (Lichun), people should gradually go to bed later and wake up earlier in their daily routines. As the temperature rises, people should also gradually increase the time spent outdoors, which can improve blood circulation and promote the smooth flow of qi and blood. However, because the weather can be warm one moment and cold the next after Lichun, it is more suitable to engage in moderate-paced activities such as spring outings, flying kites, walking, jogging, practicing Tai Chi, and non-strenuous ball sports.
It's important to note that exercise during this period should not be too strenuous, nor should it lead to excessive sweating and panting, as this can deplete yang energy, which is detrimental to health. Furthermore, due to the dry climate after Lichun, replenishing fluids during exercise is also necessary.
>>Diet
Radishes and chives can be consumed more
Diet after Lichun is also very important and should focus on protecting yang energy. In many parts of China, there is a custom of eating spring pancakes, radishes, and other foods on Lichun to nourish yang energy. The chives in spring pancakes are an excellent food for protecting yang, while bean sprouts have a moisturizing effect, making them both suitable foods for spring. Additionally, one can eat more pungent and warm foods that promote the dispersal of energy, such as using seasonings like fermented soybeans, scallions, ginger, pepper, coriander, wormwood, chives, and shrimp to help generate yang energy. The diet should also be less sour and more sweet, with a focus on slightly sweet, moistening foods such as jujubes, lilies, water chestnuts, pears, longans, tremella (silver ear fungus), and radishes. Sour foods have an astringent effect, which is not conducive to the generation of yang energy or the free flow of liver qi.
At the same time, one should eat less overly spicy, fried, and grilled foods. Unlike in winter, after Lichun, one should eat less麻辣 (numbing and spicy) hot pot, as well as less mutton and dog meat, as these foods can deplete yang energy and lead to "internal heat" or "上火."
>>Spring "捂" (Wu - keeping warm)
Protect against wind and cold with proper clothing
Spring is a transitional season from winter's cold to summer's heat, with frequent activity of alternating warm and cold air masses. After Lichun, there is a large temperature difference between day and night, with lower temperatures in the morning. Due to the human body's poor adaptability to the changeable wind patterns of spring, combined with the gradual opening of capillaries on the body's surface as the earth awakens, the weather can be unpredictable—warm one moment and cold the next. Furthermore, the strong winds in spring can easily damage yang energy, making people susceptible to wind-cold invasion. Therefore, after Lichun is a high-risk period for colds and respiratory illnesses, with a high number of cases, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are also more common. After Lichun, it is crucial to keep warm and prevent illness. The principle of "捂" (keeping warm) in spring and "enduring cold" in autumn should be followed. Clothing in spring must be warm and windproof.