The Wisdom Of Traditional Chinese Medicine On Health Care In All Four Seasons: Comply With The Solar Terms, Starting From The Twenty-four Solar Terms
The foundation of maintaining good health in time: correspondence between nature and man
Traditional Chinese medicine health preservation adheres to the concept of "correspondence between heaven and man" and believes that human beings are products of nature, and human life activities must be coordinated with the changes in the four seasons of heaven and earth. The twenty-four solar terms are a set of precise time wisdom summarized by the ancients through observation and observation. It not only guides farming, but also serves as a golden coordinate for us to arrange our daily life and regulate our body and mind. When the sun passes 15° on the ecliptic, it will usher in a new solar term. The subsequent changes in climate and phenology remind us that the body's internal rhythm needs to resonate at the same frequency as the external nature.
Spring covers and autumn freezes, daily life is normal
In terms of the current early spring, the beginning of spring has passed. However, from a meteorological perspective, spring has not really arrived. The weather alternates between hot and cold, sometimes warm and sometimes cold, and "late spring cold" occurs frequently. At this time, the primary focus of health care is "Spring Covering". Winter clothes should not be taken off prematurely, especially the neck, back and feet should be protected to help the nascent Yang Qi grow and develop stably. In terms of work and rest, you should comply with the growth of spring. You should lie down very late at night and get up very early in the morning. In the early morning, you can walk slowly in the courtyard or park, spread your hair, relax your body, and let your mind become comfortable and energetic with the vitality of spring.
Eat carrots in winter and ginger in summer: the wisdom of balancing yin and yang
There has always been a saying among the people that "eating radish in winter and ginger in summer does not require a doctor to prescribe medicine." This is exactly the very popular embodiment of the health-preserving principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter." In summer, Yang Qi floats on the surface of the body, but the internal organs in the body are deficient and cold. At this time, eating an appropriate amount of warm ingredients such as ginger can warm the body and dispel cold, and can also promote Yang Qi. In winter, yang energy is restrained, and people mostly eat warm and delicious foods, which can easily produce internal heat. At this time, eating cool white radish can clear away heat and resolve phlegm, and can also eliminate accumulation and induce stagnation. This kind of food combination conforms to the solar terms and relies on the characteristics of natural food to adjust the balance of the body.
Solar terms diet therapy: the conditioning power of natural ingredients
Integrating the wisdom of solar terms into your daily diet is a gentle and effective way to regulate your health.
In spring, it is important to nourish the liver and strengthen the spleen. You can eat a lot of vegetables called buds, such as bean sprouts and Chinese toon sprouts, which can play a role in promoting the production of Yang Qi. Using roses and bergamot to brew a cup of soothing liver tea can play a role in soothing and reducing the mood swings that are easy to occur in spring.
In the hot summer, the focus is on clearing the heart fire and dispelling heat and dampness. Using lotus leaves, lentils, and barley to cook porridge or soup can form an excellent food supplement for strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness. Drinking a cup of light sour plum soup in the afternoon can produce body fluids and quench thirst.
<strong>Changxia (strengthens the spleen and removes dampness): At this time, the humidity is the strongest, and the diet should be lighter. Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala and yam are the "guests" at this time, and can be used to make soup or porridge to help transport water and dampness.
In autumn, it is very important to moisturize the lungs and prevent dryness. We must follow the core points of "nourishing yin and moistening the lungs". Pears, white fungus, and lilies are an excellent combination. Stew them into white fungus, lily, and pear soup. This method can effectively reduce or relieve dry mouth and itchy throat caused by autumn dryness.
In the winter season (this season has the characteristics of tonifying the kidneys and storing essence), it is suitable to warm the body. Ingredients such as black sesame seeds, black beans, walnuts, and mutton that can warm the kidney yang can be appropriately added to the meal. At the same time, don’t forget the saying “eat radish in winter.” You can add white radish to nourishing soups to prevent greasiness.
Dual adjustment of emotions and physique
In addition to dietary habits and work and rest arrangements, the "soothing" state of emotions is also an extremely critical link in the health care process. "Huangdi Neijing" emphasizes the concept of "harmony of joy and anger". Today's modern people are facing greater pressure. This situation can easily lead to stagnation of liver qi or excessive heart fire. We can and can specifically and properly arrange a period of "relaxation time" at this specific time of the alternation of solar terms: either choose to engage in activities such as sitting meditation, or listen to soothing music, or take a walk in the natural environment, so that the body and mind can withdraw from the fast-paced state. Relying on the method of overall recuperation in accordance with the four seasons, the body's righteousness becomes sufficient, which is the so-called "righteousness exists in the body, and evil cannot invade". Only then can we calmly cope with the changes in the six climates and resist the invasion of the six disease-causing evils, thereby achieving a state where the body and spirit are integrated, healthy and longevity.
