After the Grain Rain (Guyu) solar term, temperatures rise and precipitation increases, making it difficult for the body to expel dampness. If dietary and lifestyle habits are not monitored, the combination of internal heat and dampness can lead to damp-heat.
This can trigger joint pain and lower back pain in the elderly, or asthma attacks, while children may exhibit symptoms such as swollen tonsils, bronchitis, and cough.
At this time, the most important aspect of health preservation is to strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness —
Three Bowls of Health Porridge
1. Bai Shao (White Peony) and Wheat Porridge
Ingredients:100g glutinous rice, 20g jujube (red dates), 15g Bai Shao (White Peony), 20g wheat, 15g honey.
Method:Wash the glutinous rice clean and soak it in cold water for one to two hours, then drain; clean the wheat and Bai Shao, place them in a cloth bag and tie it tightly, then put it in a pot; add an appropriate amount of cold water to the pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes, remove the bag, and keep the liquid in the pot; pit the jujubes, wash them, and cut them in half; add the glutinous rice and jujubes to the pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and cook until the glutinous rice is soft, then mix in the honey and serve.
Effects:Tonifies blood and regulates menstruation, suitable for women with deficiency of yin and blood.
2. Si Shen (Four God) Porridge
Ingredients:10g Bai Fu Ling (White Poria), 10g Huai Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), 10g Lian Zi (Lotus Seed), 10g Qian Shi (Euryale Seed), appropriate amount of japonica rice.
Method:Remove the heart from the lotus seeds and wash the japonica rice; place all ingredients in a pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 1 hour.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness, nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, with Bai Fu Ling also having skin whitening effects.
3. Corn Silk, Jujube, and Black Bean Porridge
Ingredients:60g corn silk, 30g jujube, 30g black beans, 90g carrot.
Method:Boil the corn silk in water for half an hour, remove the silk, and use the water to cook the jujube, black beans, and carrot (washed and cut into pieces) until the beans are soft.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen, benefits the kidneys, and promotes urination.
Three Bowls of Health Soup
1. Job’s Tears, Winter Melon, and Duck Soup
Ingredients:30g Job’s Tears, 20g Qian Shi (Euryale Seed), 6g Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel), 250g duck meat, 250g winter melon with skin, ginger, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil to taste.
Method:Soak the Job’s Tears, Qian Shi, and Chen Pi in an appropriate amount of water for half an hour. Clean the duck meat, blanch it in boiling water to remove blood, cut into pieces, and stir-fry with ginger in a hot oil pan. Then add Job’s Tears, Qian Shi, Chen Pi, salt, and pepper, and add enough water to make soup. After about 45 minutes, add the winter melon and cook for another 15 minutes.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness, promotes urination and reduces swelling, regulates qi and resolves phlegm, suitable for those with damp-heat symptoms such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, edema, and ascites due to liver cirrhosis.
2. Qian Shi and Job’s Tears Pork Rib Soup
Ingredients:50g Qian Shi, 50g Job’s Tears, 10g Chen Pi, 3 slices of ginger, 500g pork ribs.
Method:Stir-fry the Job’s Tears until slightly yellow, clean the Qian Shi, Chen Pi, and pork ribs, then place all ingredients in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 2 hours on low heat, and season with salt before serving.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen, promotes urination, and awakens the stomach. Especially suitable for those with spleen deficiency, dampness accumulation, heaviness, fatigue, and poor appetite.
3. Tu Fu Ling (Smilax) and Lentil Spine Bone Soup
Ingredients:400g fresh Tu Fu Ling, 60g lentils, 3 slices of ginger, 500g pork spine..
Method:Stir-fry the lentils until slightly yellow, clean the Tu Fu Ling, and pork spine, then place all ingredients in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 2 hours on low heat, and season with salt before serving.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness, and detoxifies. Especially suitable for those with skin dampness and toxic sores and itching due to spleen deficiency and excess dampness.
Two Health Dishes
1. Stir-fried Mushrooms with Yam
Ingredients:Dry mushrooms, fresh yam, and celery in appropriate amounts. Starch, salt, and soy sauce.
Method:Wash the mushrooms, soak them in hot water until soft, reserve the soaking water. Peel and slice the yam, and cut the celery into small pieces. Heat oil, add mushrooms, yam, and celery, stir-fry until cooked, then pour in the reserved soaking water, and when the sauce reduces slightly, add an appropriate amount of starch to thicken, and season with soy sauce or salt.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen, benefits qi, nourishes the kidneys, and enhances the body’s resistance.
2. Dang Shen (Codonopsis) and Dang Gui (Angelica) Steamed Eel Segments
Ingredients: 500g eel, 150g cooked ham, 10g Dang Shen, 5g Dang Gui, a piece of ginger, 1 green onion, 2 bowls of chicken broth, a tablespoon of cooking wine, a teaspoon of pepper, and salt to taste.
Method:Clean the eel, remove the internal organs, rinse with water, and blanch briefly in boiling water, then cut into segments. Slice the cooked ham, wash the ginger and green onion, slice the ginger and cut the green onion into sections. In a pot, add water, half of the green onion, ginger, and cooking wine, bring to a boil, then blanch the eel segments, remove, and place in a steaming bowl. Top with ham, Dang Shen, Dang Gui, remaining green onion, ginger, cooking wine, pepper, salt, and chicken broth, cover with wet paper, and steam for about 1 hour until cooked, then uncover and remove ginger and green onion, season to taste.
Effects:Warms and tonifies qi and blood, strengthens tendons and bones, promotes blood circulation. Often used for lower back and knee pain caused by wind, cold, and dampness.
Two Cups of Health Tea
1. Cardamom, Sand Ginger, and Lotus Leaf Drink
Ingredients:2g white cardamom, 2g sand ginger, half a lotus leaf.
Method:Wash the lotus leaf, chop it, and place it with the cleaned white cardamom and sand ginger in a clay pot, add enough water to boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes, strain through clean gauze to obtain the liquid. Consume in the morning and afternoon.
Effects:Helps with digestion, relieves bloating, regulates qi, and harmonizes the stomach.
2. Strawberry, Orange Segment, and Honey Drink
Ingredients:200g strawberries, 100g oranges, 50g honey.
Method:Wash the strawberries, peel the oranges and separate into segments, place them in a clay pot, add 500ml of water, bring to a boil, then add honey, turn off the heat, and let cool before drinking.
Effects:Moistens, strengthens the spleen, and harmonizes the stomach.
Source：Yunnan Traditional Medicine
Wishing you health and happiness from the Health Preservation Manual