Introduction: September 23rd marks the Autumn Equinox. For health preservation during this time, it is advisable to consume more pungent, sour, sweet-moistening, or lung-lowering fruits and vegetables, especially white radish and carrot.
A wide variety of fruits and vegetables are available in the fall. Among them, lotus root, water chestnut, sugarcane, autumn pear, citrus, hawthorn, apple, grape, lily bulb, tremella, Chinese yam, persimmon, sesame, and honey are excellent choices for dietary conditioning. However, avoid overeating to prevent indigestion. For medicinal cuisine, lily bulbs should be used skillfully, such as in Lily Bulb and Lotus Seed Soup, Lily Bulb, Lotus Seed, and Lean Pork Soup, or Tremella and Lily Bulb Soup.
For individuals with a Wood constitution: Rose and Green Plum to invigorate the spleen and soothe the liver.
Dietary conditioning: It is recommended to eat more foods that strengthen the spleen, nourish the liver, and moisten dryness, such as white radish, lotus root, water chestnut, sugarcane, and autumn pear.
For medicinal cuisine, "Rose Cake" can be chosen: 100g fresh rose petals, 500g flour, 50g sourdough starter, 30g each of raisins and preserved plum, 200g sugar, and 5g food-grade alkali. Dissolve the sourdough starter in warm water, pour it into a basin, add flour and an appropriate amount of water, and knead into a dough to ferment. Wash and crush the fresh rose petals. Dice the preserved plum and mix with raisins, then set aside. Once the dough has risen, add alkali and knead until smooth. Mix in the fresh rose petals and sugar and knead evenly. Cut the dough into 3cm thick square pieces. Arrange the pieces on a steamer rack and evenly sprinkle the preserved plum and raisins on top. Press down slightly and steam on high heat for 30 minutes until cooked. This has the effect of soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen.
For individuals with an Earth constitution: Lotus Seed and Sesame to strengthen the spleen and replenish qi.
Dietary conditioning: Try foods that strengthen the spleen, replenish qi, promote body fluids, and moisten dryness, such as Prince Ginseng, barley, Chinese yam, chestnuts, lotus seeds, autumn pear, tremella, sesame, and honey.
For medicinal cuisine, "Eight Treasure Rice" can be chosen: 500g glutinous rice, 50g each of Job's tears, hyacinth bean, lotus seed, walnut meat, and longan pulp, 20 red dates, and 60g sugar. Soak Job's tears, hyacinth bean, and lotus seeds in warm water for 4 hours, then wash and cook them in a clay pot or pressure cooker until tender. Wash and soak the red dates until softened. Pan-fry the walnut meat until fragrant. Place the longan pulp in a basin. Wash the glutinous rice, steam it in a basin or clay pot until cooked, and set aside. Grease a large bowl and arrange the longan pulp, red dates, walnuts, lotus seeds, hyacinth beans, and Job's tears in the bottom. Top with the cooked glutinous rice. Steam for about 15 minutes. Invert the Eight Treasure Rice onto a large plate. Prepare a syrup by boiling sugar with water and pour it over the rice. This has the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach, and nourishing yin and benefiting the kidneys.
For individuals with a Water constitution: Eat more foods that regulate and nourish the heart and liver.
Dietary conditioning: In addition to eating more foods that generate fluids and moisten dryness, also consume foods that strengthen the spleen and stomach, and regulate and nourish the heart and liver, such as lily bulb, tremella, walnut, Chinese yam, sesame, Prince Ginseng, chestnut, millet, autumn pear, and radish.
For medicinal cuisine, "Ginseng Chinese Yam Cake" can be chosen: 3g white ginseng, 5g lotus seeds, 10g each of Chinese yam, Poria water plant, Euryale ferox seeds, and dried tangerine peel, 1000g each of glutinous rice flour and rice flour, and 100g sugar. Soak the white ginseng and lotus seeds in warm water. Peel and devein the lotus seeds. Crush the Chinese yam, Poria, Euryale ferox seeds, and dried tangerine peel into a fine powder. Place the medicinal powder, glutinous rice flour, rice flour, and sugar in a basin. Add an appropriate amount of water and mix with the white ginseng and lotus seeds to form a dough. Shape into a cake and steam on high heat for about 25 minutes. This has the effect of strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, and replenishing original qi.
For individuals with a Fire constitution: Water Chestnut and Sugarcane to clear heat and generate fluids.
Dietary conditioning: You can eat more foods that clear heat, generate fluids, strengthen the spleen, and moisten the lungs, such as water chestnut, sugarcane, white radish, autumn pear, citrus, tremella, and honey.
For medicinal cuisine, "Water Chestnut Wontons" can be chosen: 50g lean pork, 200g flour, 5g each of ginger and green onion, 10g soy sauce, 5g salt, 20g cornstarch, and 1 egg. Peel and chop the water chestnuts. Wash and mince the lean pork. Mince the ginger and chop the green onion. Place the pork mince, water chestnuts, ginger, green onion, salt, and soy sauce in a bowl. Add the egg and cornstarch and mix to make the filling. Add water to the flour and knead into a dough. Divide into small pieces, roll into wrappers, and form wontons. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the wontons and cook until they float. Simmer for another 5 minutes until done. This has the effect of clearing heat and nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the lungs.
For individuals with a Metal constitution: Radish and Chinese Yam to nourish yin and moisten dryness.
Dietary conditioning: It is advisable to eat more foods that nourish yin and generate fluids, such as pork, chicken, fish, Glehnia root, Solomon's seal rhizome, lily bulb, rehmannia root, carrot, sugarcane, and autumn pear.
For medicinal cuisine, "Chinese Yam, Water Chestnut, and Carrot Stew" can be chosen: 250g each of fresh Chinese yam, water chestnut, fresh lotus root, and carrot, 10g Shaoxing wine, 3g salt, 2g MSG, 25g chicken oil, 5g ginger, and 10g green onion. Peel and wash the fresh Chinese yam, and cut into 4cm cubes. Peel and wash the carrot, and cut into 4cm cubes. Peel and wash the fresh lotus root, and cut into 4cm cubes. Crush the ginger and slice the green onion. Peel and wash the water chestnuts, and cut in half. Place the fresh Chinese yam, water chestnut, fresh lotus root, carrot, Shaoxing wine, chicken oil, ginger, and green onion in a stew pot. Add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for 35 minutes. Add salt and MSG before serving. This has the effect of clearing heat and nourishing yin, and replenishing qi and strengthening the spleen.
For spiritual conditioning, in addition to maintaining an optimistic and calm mindset, you can also increase outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, and autumn tours to relax and ease your mind, thereby mitigating the bleakness of autumn. To prevent autumn dryness, in addition to dietary adjustments, don't forget to take care of your skin by applying moisturizer to prevent it from becoming dry and cracked.