Wellness Follows Me: Spring Wellness Guide, Season 3
In spring, the energy of Shaoyang prevails. All things revive, and just like the yang energy in nature, liver qi flourishes. Spring is the time to nourish the liver by aligning with this natural characteristic, not by simply "supplementing" it. Otherwise, it's easy for blood pressure to rise, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is known as "liver yang rising." At this stage, over-nourishing the liver can easily lead to a stroke.
First, let me introduce three springtime treasures. Why? You'll understand when you see these magical combinations.
Wellness Follows Me: Chrysanthemum, Goji Berry, and Snow Pear Jelly>>>
Reasons for Recommendation: Yellow chrysanthemum tea dispels wind and resolves toxins. White chrysanthemum pacifies the liver, improves vision, and cools the blood. Snow pears promote fluid production, moisten dryness, and clear heat and phlegm. Most importantly, as the common saying goes, "eating pears moistens the lungs." In TCM, the lungs and liver have a restraining relationship, so this helps to pacify liver fire.
Goji berries are a potent tonic with a strong warming effect, a true medicinal treasure. So when you combine these three, it's like saying, "Don't be fooled by my gentle exterior; my passion is fierce." This makes it excellent for regulating the body.
Wellness Follows Me: Authentic Ginger Milk Curd>>>
Reasons for Recommendation: There's an old Chinese saying: "Radish at bedtime, ginger in the morning, keeps the doctor away." Ginger is renowned for being both a medicine and a food. Research has found that ginger contains a substance similar to salicylic acid, which, when diluted, acts as a blood thinner. It's very effective for lowering blood lipids and pressure, preventing thrombosis, and treating myocardial infarction. The protease in ginger juice reacts with milk protein. Therefore, fresh, old ginger juice must be used; ginger juice from the previous day cannot be used.
Ginger juice can prevent vomiting and is quite nourishing, making it suitable for groups like pregnant women.
Wellness Follows Me: Jujube, Brown Sugar, and Ginger Water>>>
Reasons for Recommendation: The effects of ginger have just been discussed. Now, let's talk about ginger peel. Ginger peel promotes urination and reduces edema. If your spleen and stomach are strong, you can peel the ginger for the soup. If they are weak, you can leave the peel on, as the common saying goes, this makes it more potent.
There's an old saying, "Old ginger is spicier." The main difference is that young ginger is for cooking, while old ginger is for medicinal purposes, and ginger peel is for promoting urination.
Jujube's effects are to tonify deficiency and benefit qi, nourish blood and calm the spirit, and strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach. If you have a cold, you can add a few Sichuan peppercorns to dispel cold. A small amount will have a great effect.
Little Tip: In our lives, there's a Chinese saying, "Rotten ginger isn't rotten in flavor," but please note that frozen or rotten ginger should not be eaten. Frozen ginger contains carcinogens. Someone might say, "It's a shame to throw it away." Let me teach you a little trick: chop it up, boil it in water, and use the water to soak your hands and feet. The effect is best in winter, but it's perfectly fine to do it in this season too.
Next, I'll recommend a few more home-style, practical dishes. They are convenient, quick, healthy, and nutritious, making them very suitable for the family. Wellness Follows Me: Ginger Hot Lotus Root>>> Reasons for Recommendation: In TCM, lotus root is considered sweet and cold, with the effects of clearing vexation and thirst, strengthening the spleen, and stimulating the appetite. Paired with ginger, the effect is even better. The method for making this lotus root is similar to the braised lotus root from Shandong province, but with more chili and less scallion. Nutritionally, they are about the same. For the final step, you can stir-fry Sichuan peppercorns in cool oil until the temperature rises, then remove the peppercorns and pour the oil over the lotus root. For the seasoning, you can skip vinegar and use a light soy sauce or a premium soy sauce instead, with a little chicken essence and salt. This is because spring is the time to "reduce sourness and increase sweetness," and the effect is also very good. You can give it a try. Wellness Follows Me: Sticky Rice Lotus Root>>> Reasons for Recommendation: