The TCM Popularization Classroom meets you every day at 5 PM.
Five Points for Nourishing the Stomach “Less, Slower, Lighter, Softer, Warmer”
1. The body’s fluids are like flowing water in a river; too much leads to floods and disasters, while too little results in drought, grounding boats and failing to wash away dirt, all of which cause disease.
2. Western medicine alleviates many pains through intravenous fluids, replenishing glucose and saline. This shows that sometimes the body is not suffering from numerous or severe diseases, but rather from fluid deficiency.
3. Over 70% of bodily pain is related to dehydration. If you forget to drink water and replenish fluids, the hospital’s IV drip awaits you. What seems like complex diseases can often be resolved simply by timely hydration. Take for example a patient with allergic rhinitis for 7 years who had tried every treatment without success. I said, “You must not have tried the Daoist method of consuming fluids!” As a result, after drinking 800 mL of diluted ginger water in the morning, he never had another episode of rhinitis and felt more energetic than ever. It turns out, you are not sick; you are just dehydrated.
4. Just as dry wood withers and soil cracks when lacking water, the human body suffers from dry skin, dry cough, and dry mouth and nose when fluids are deficient. A patient with asthma claimed to have been suffering for over ten years, perplexing many renowned doctors. I smiled and said, “You cough dry and your skin is dry; let’s start with drinking ginger honey water in the morning, beginning with 500 mL.” After a week, his bowel movements normalized and his skin became moist; after two weeks, his cough disappeared and his asthma improved; after three weeks, he returned with gifts to thank me, saying, “I have met a divine doctor!” I laughed and said, “Others imitating my method may not achieve the same results. First, they may not understand the importance of gradual hydration; second, they may not increase their water intake progressively. A small amount of water cannot extinguish a fire!”
5. A university student suffering from skin itching used anti-allergy treatments but always relapsed, thinking he would be burdened with this condition for life. Stress, late nights, and fatigue triggered his allergic reactions. I advised him to drink ginger date tea, 600 mL in the morning facing the rising sun. Surprisingly, a skin condition that even a professor could not cure was resolved in ten days. What is the mechanism? In TCM, urticaria and allergic diseases are associated with wind; to treat wind, one must first treat the blood, as blood circulation dispels wind. Most people only know this part but do not delve deeper. How do we treat blood? How do we promote blood circulation? I must investigate thoroughly. To treat blood, we must first address fluid deficiency, a point not fully articulated by ancient sages, which I realized from studying “Foundations of TCM.” Since fluids and blood share the same source, as long as I drink enough ginger date tea to replenish fluids, blood and qi will flow robustly, and the wind will dissipate. Thus, using this method, I can almost eliminate over 70% of chronic and allergic diseases, which is fundamentally about replenishing fluids. Modern research has also found that chronic and allergic diseases, such as rhinitis, urticaria, and asthma, are directly related to dehydration. This is called fluid deficiency leading to blood stagnation; when blood stagnates, wind arises. Therefore, to treat wind, one must first address blood, and to treat blood, one must first replenish fluids.
6. In summer, many people experience fatigue and weakness. Summer often brings a sense of deficiency. This is because excessive sweating leads to fluid loss, and qi disperses with the fluids. Therefore, using Sheng Mai San (Sheng Mai Decoction) as a tea substitute is beneficial for those who experience high fever and excessive sweating, thirst, and fatigue. I treated a blacksmith who often endured high heat, dry throat, and fatigue. Since I taught him the method of consuming Sheng Mai San, his excessive sweating reduced, and his mouth became moist. He could work hard again, demonstrating that people’s inability to endure hardship is often due to insufficient fluid replenishment.
7. Teachers face significant strain on their throats, often speaking continuously, leading to dry throat and mouth. This dryness-induced pharyngitis can be treated with 10 grams each of Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Gan Cao (Licorice), and Jie Geng (Platycodon), boiled as a tea substitute, which immediately moistens the throat. This shows that the method of replenishing fluids is a treatment for dryness, specifically targeting various dry diseases, dehydration, and fluid deficiency.
8. Excessive fluids can lead to dampness, phlegm, or edema and obesity. For instance, long-term beer consumption, using beer as a substitute for water, can lead to heavy legs and a beer belly. The “Huang Di Nei Jing” states: “All dampness and swelling belong to the spleen.” Using Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) can strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness, transforming the beer belly. By nurturing the earth, we can resolve symptoms of excessive fluids.
9. Fluid deficiency leads to blood stasis. People do not realize that when fluids are lacking, blood vessels can become blocked, leading to dark spots. A woman in her 40s from Shenzhen had dark spots on her face that reappeared after laser treatment. Upon learning that her job involved long hours in front of a computer, I confidently stated: “This is due to the electromagnetic radiation from your devices consuming your fluids, reducing blood volume, causing dry eyes, constipation, and dark spots on your face. Simply reduce your computer time by half and drink enough ginger date tea in the morning.” As a result, after seven years of dark spots, they disappeared in half a month.
In the book “Essays on Medicine,” it is written: “Water is like a boat, and fluids are like water.” When fluids are burned by fire pathogens, they can become stagnant, leading to blood stasis. Therefore, by replenishing fluids with ginger date tea, Sheng Mai San, or ginger honey soup in the morning, we can dissolve stubborn blood stasis accumulated over many years. This approach to treating stasis is often overlooked by experts. It is also an important insight I gained from extensive reading of ancient texts and clinical trials.
10. Fluid deficiency leads to qi stagnation. I observe that when a river flows, there is wind; thus, a breeze often blows near bridges. When the river’s flow diminishes, the wind also weakens, and qi becomes insufficient. This is called fluid deficiency leading to qi stagnation. A woman from Anbei Village often harbored resentment and frequently quarreled with neighbors. Upon seeing her, I noticed her scalp was flaky and her skin was dry, and she had trouble sleeping due to heat at night. I smiled and said, “Few doctors can solve this case; this is a typical example of qi stagnation due to fluid deficiency.” She admitted she hardly drank water. I told her, “You are just asking for trouble!” I then advised her to drink ginger honey tea in the morning, mixing a spoonful of honey with thumb-sized crushed ginger. Honey can nourish the five organs and detoxify, while ginger can warm the yang and transform dampness, preventing fluids from stagnating. Since establishing this method of fluid replenishment, there have been fewer quarrels at home, and neighbors have remarked, “How come you are so much calmer since following the great doctor?” It seems that being with the right person is important. This is a case of qi stagnation due to fluid deficiency. She no longer needs to take Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Decoction) or Shu Gan San (Liver-Soothing Decoction) and smiles more than before. Just think, can a tree that is withered smile? Can a person with insufficient fluids promote the circulation of qi? This insight, which is not found in “Foundations of TCM,” could be added to future textbooks to fill in the gaps. A good medical learner should not only study the theories of predecessors but also keep pace with the times and enrich their teachings.
Four Essentials for Health + Four Acupoints for Health
Be Cautious of Wind and Cold (Dazhui)
Moderate Diet (Zusanli)
Value Your Spirit (Qihai)
Avoid Anger (Qimen)
For all materials from the TCM Popularization Classroom, please click on “WeChat Article Compilation”.
For more exciting videos, please search for “TCM Popularization Classroom” on Tencent Video.
For more exciting audio from the TCM Popularization Classroom, please click on “Read the Original Text“.