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01Strengthening Vital Energy and Supporting the Spleen and Stomach is Key
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Why do people get sick? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states: “When the vital energy is strong, pathogens cannot invade; where pathogens gather, the energy must be deficient.” This shows that deficiency is the root cause of the body’s susceptibility to external pathogens.
People become ill because their bodies are weak, allowing diseases, bacteria, and viruses to take advantage of this weakness.So how can we prevent weakness in the body? In TCM, “nourishing the spleen and stomach” is key.
“Vital energy resides within,” where vital energy refers to the overall vital energy of the body, including that of the five organs and six bowels. The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal life,protecting the energy of the spleen and stomach is equivalent to protecting vital energy.
When the spleen and stomach are strong, the vital energy is abundant, enabling the body to resist the invasion of external pathogens; even if one becomes ill, recovery is swift. Thus, TCM teaches that “in all seasons, a strong spleen is not affected by pathogens.”
02Eight Treasures Cake
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Speaking of nourishing the spleen and stomach, the Ming Dynasty’s “Wai Ke Zheng Zong” records a dietary remedy“Eight Treasures Cake,”which can treat spleen and stomach deficiency, reduced appetite, fatigue, and pale complexion.For those with spleen and stomach deficiency and insufficient vital energy, this is an excellent remedy to nourish the spleen and stomach and replenish vital energy.
🔸 Ingredients:Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes) 10g each, Bai Bian Dou (Lima Bean) 30g, Fu Ling (Poria), Lian Zi (Lotus Seed), Yi Yi Ren (Job’s Tears), Qian Shi (Euryale) and Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) 50g each.
🔸 Method:
1. Grind the eight ingredients into a fine powder using a high-speed blender;2. Sift through a fine sieve to remove impurities, leaving the fine powder in a glass jar, this is the Eight Treasures Powder;3. Take 100g of Eight Treasures Powder, add wheat flour, rice flour, an appropriate amount of sugar, two eggs, and warm water with yeast, mix well, and knead into a dough;4. Let it rest for half an hour, knead again, then cut into small pieces, shape into oval buns, and let them rise for a moment;5. Steam for 40 minutes, then let it sit for 3 minutes to finish.
When making buns, steamed bread, or dumpling skins, you can replace part of the flour with Eight Treasures Powder. The simplest method is to drink it directly,as the powder form allows for easier extraction of effective components and better absorption by the spleen and stomach.
🔸 Take 10g of Eight Treasures Powder, mix with boiling water, and you can add half a spoon of honey to improve the taste, drink warm. However, when drinking, the Bai Bian Dou should be roasted.
03Nourishing the Spleen and Stomach, Cultivating Vital Energy
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Dang Shen tonifies the middle and boosts energy;Bai Zhu strengthens the spleen, dries dampness, and promotes urination.Fu Ling and Yi Yi Ren work together, with Fu Ling helping the spleen clear dampness;Yi Yi Ren promotes urination and dispels dampness, working in harmony to ensure the smooth operation of the middle burner, thus better transforming and transporting internal dampness.
Lian Zi clears the heart and strengthens the spleen, and can also astringe; Shan Yao strengthens the spleen, nourishes the lungs, and benefits the kidneys; Bai Bian Dou tonifies the spleen and harmonizes the middle; Qian Shi tonifies the spleen and kidneys while also providing astringent properties.
When using tonifying herbs, the greatest concern is that the body cannot truly absorb the nutrients,but with the addition of Qian Shi, the nutrients are retained in the body.
This combination of eight medicinal and food ingredients balances elimination, cleansing, strengthening, and storage, providing gentle nourishment that supports all organs while working together on the spleen and stomach, replenishing the energy of the spleen and stomach, allowing for robust vital energy, thus reducing the incidence of illness.
Modern individuals often have stagnant conditions, so when preparing this,you can add 10g of Shan Zha (Hawthorn), to aid digestion and invigorate the stomach, and 3 pieces of Ji Nei Jin (Chicken Gizzard Membrane), to aid digestion and resolve stagnation. This ensures both tonification and unblocking, avoiding excessive tonification that could lead to heat, thus reducing the burden on the body.
Nourishing the spleen and stomach is not an overnight task; it takes time, so do not rush. In this cold winter, maintain a balanced diet, eat until 70% full, chew food thoroughly, and avoid excessive rich and cold foods.
Consistently eating well and maintaining a calm and stable mindset is the best auxiliary method for nourishing the spleen and stomach. A strong spleen and stomach lead to abundant vital energy, enabling better resistance to pathogens and a peaceful transition through every season.
· Content reviewed this issue ·
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