As spring arrives, all things come back to life, full of vitality, and the temperature also rises. Traditional Chinese Medicine points out that spring is the season for the growth of Yang energy, and the body's Liver Qi also begins to flourish. It is an excellent time to regulate the Liver by promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood and expelling turbid Qi. So, what health maintenance work should we do in early spring?
Early Spring Stomach Care: Less Acid, More Sweet
According to medical theory, "In spring, it is advisable to reduce sour foods and increase sweet ones to nourish the spleen." Therefore, the spring diet should be less sour and spicy, and slightly sweeter is more appropriate. For example, lily, Chinese yam, and wood ear fungus. Among these, congee is the most nourishing for the spleen and stomach.
For citizens who often experience a dull pain in the epigastric region, poor appetite, and are prone to a dry mouth and throat, and may even experience weight loss, a red tongue with little coating, they are mostly classified as having insufficient stomach Yin. They might consider eating Chinese Yam, Lily, and Jujube Congee. First, cook a congee with an appropriate amount of Chinese yam, jujube, lily, coix seed, and rice. Take it twice a day to achieve the effects of nourishing Yin, protecting the stomach, clearing heat, and moistening dryness. For those whose stomach discomfort is caused by high work pressure or a bad mood, it is recommended to eat Stir-fried Wood Ear Mushroom with Pork. The specific method is to soak 15 grams of dried wood ear mushrooms in warm water until soft, wash them, and slice 60 grams of lean pork. Stir-fry the pork in a wok for two minutes, then add the soaked wood ear mushrooms and continue stir-frying. Add an appropriate amount of salt and a little clear broth, then simmer for 5 minutes before serving. Consuming this three times a week can benefit the spleen and stomach and regulate the middle Qi.
When the weather is warm but still cold, "spring wrapping" is necessary.
Traditional Chinese Medicine health preservation emphasizes "wrapping in spring and freezing in autumn," meaning one should not rush to take off winter clothes in early spring to prevent the "cold snap of spring." The weather in early spring is often unpredictable with repeated cold spells, so it is advisable to dress warmly. For children, the elderly, or those with weaker constitutions who have a poorer ability to regulate their body temperature, they should add or remove clothing according to changes in the weather. Experts point out that the elderly have a lower ability to generate heat internally, and their circulatory systems are not as efficient as those of younger people, making them more susceptible to the stimulation of a "spring cold." Therefore, after the Start of Spring, the elderly should try to reduce their outings. When going out, they should wear a hat to reduce the stimulation of cold air on the blood vessels in the head. Patients with hypertension should pay attention to regular and continuous medication.
Additionally, it is reminded that some young women, for the sake of beauty, often wear skirts and boots in early spring, which is not good for their health. Generally, women's knee joints are more sensitive to cold air attacks, which can easily lead to local numbness and soreness, and over time, it may cause rheumatoid arthritis.
Early Spring Liver Care: Get Angry Less, Drink Less Alcohol
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the Liver corresponds to "Wood." Just as plants germinate and grow in spring, the Liver's function is also more active in spring. Therefore, the primary focus of health preservation in early spring is to nourish and protect the Liver. Nourishing and protecting the Liver mainly involves the following aspects: drink more water to prevent toxins from damaging the liver; drink less alcohol to facilitate the growth of Liver Yang energy. The liver's ability to metabolize alcohol is limited, and excessive drinking can harm the liver. For example, if your weight is 60 kilograms, your body can only metabolize 60 grams of alcohol per day. Exceeding this limit will affect liver health and can even lead to alcohol poisoning, endangering life.
The above is the detailed introduction by the editor on the health maintenance work to be done in early spring. A friendly reminder: in early spring, you should also maintain a good mood to prevent Liver Qi stagnation from affecting your health.