The character "分" (fēn), meaning "division," marks the boundaries of day and night, and of cold and heat. Spring Equinox is the midpoint of the 90-day spring season, signifying that half of spring has passed. From this day onward, the day and night are of equal length in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
During this solar term, nutrition experts remind everyone to pay attention to maintaining the balance of yin and yang within the body.
For the human body, the significance of the Spring Equinox is second only to the Summer and Winter Solstices, and it has a considerable impact on health.
At this time, the body's blood and hormonal activities are at a relative peak. Sudden changes in climate can disrupt the body's balance, triggering high blood pressure, heart disease, and menstrual disorders. It is also a time prone to dizziness, insomnia, and other conditions, and is a period when mental illnesses are more common. Therefore, it is important to avoid emotional fluctuations and to regulate one's mood. People should take advantage of the vibrant season to engage more in outdoor activities to relax the body and mind.
Friends with conditions such as high blood pressure, menstrual disorders, hemorrhoids, and allergic diseases should take note. During this period, dietary conditioning should be tailored to one's actual situation, choosing meals that help maintain the body's functional harmony and balance. One should avoid the dietary pitfalls of foods that are overly hot, cold, ascending, or descending. For example, when cooking cold-natured foods like fish, shrimp, and crab, they should be paired with warm seasonings like green onions, ginger, wine, or vinegar to prevent the dish from being too cold and cold, which can harm the spleen and stomach and cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Additionally, when consuming dishes that help replenish yang, such as chives, garlic, or papaya, they can be paired with yin-nourishing foods like eggs to help achieve a "yin-yang complement."
Additionally, after the Spring Equinox, bamboo shoots are recommended during this period, as they have the effects of nourishing yin and blood, resolving phlegm, aiding digestion, relieving vexation, and promoting urination. Other recommended foods include sesame seeds, peanuts, red beans, apples, oranges, and cherries.