Traditional Chinese Medicine
Twenty-Four Solar Terms
2024.03.20
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All things in the world are just right
Do not waste the spring light, nor the beauty of the season
As the climate continues to warm, we will welcome the Spring Equinox on March 20 (Wednesday). The ancient saying goes: “The Spring Equinox is when Yin and Yang are balanced, hence day and night are equal, and cold and heat are moderate.” The term “Equinox” signifies a division, a halving, where day and night are equal, and cold and heat are balanced, which is the main characteristic of the Spring Equinox. “The scenery by the stream is already in spring, the painted hall is shrouded in mist at dusk.” At this time, Hainan is filled with beautiful spring scenery, but such weather can easily make people feel drowsy and fatigued, often referred to as “spring fatigue.” So, what should we pay attention to in TCM health preservation during this time?
01
Spring Health Preservation
According to TCM, the period around the Spring Equinox is when plants grow, and the Yang energy rises quickly. The blood circulation and hormone secretion in the human body increase, leading to greater emotional fluctuations. Coupled with frequent temperature changes, this can cause an imbalance of Yin and Yang in the body, making one susceptible to diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, dizziness, insomnia, and allergic diseases. Therefore, the Spring Equinox is an important time to regulate the balance of Yin and Yang within the body and coordinate bodily functions. Health preservation focuses on maintaining harmony and ensuring the balance of Yin and Yang. Thus, it is essential to pay attention to health care, starting with dietary adjustments, and then harmonizing mental and physical activities to nourish Yin and Yang and balance the body.
1. Daily Routine
Although the weather gradually warms after the Spring Equinox, the temperature difference between day and night is still significant, with alternating cold and warm conditions. In China, there is an ancient saying: “The wind during the Spring Equinox is not small; one must guard against deep pain.” Therefore, following the principle of “neither too cold nor too hot,” it is advisable to add clothing appropriately in the morning and evening to prevent illness. After the Spring Equinox, one should rise earlier than before, which helps the Yang energy to rise and the Yin energy to descend. Additionally, it is important to replenish fluids and electrolytes to promote blood circulation and maintain bodily balance, achieving optimal health preservation.
2. Exercise
Exercise should be chosen to help promote the rise of Yang energy and enhance the functions of various organs, such as walking, enjoying the outdoors, flying kites, practicing Tai Chi, and performing Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade). These activities can stretch the muscles, promote blood flow, and enhance the body’s immunity, uplifting the spirit and improving mood. However, spring exercise should be moderate and gradual, avoiding excessive intensity that leads to profuse sweating, as excessive sweating can result in significant loss of body fluids and damage the body’s Zheng Qi (Vital Energy).
3. Dietary Recommendations
In terms of diet, it is important to follow the principle of “balance.” According to TCM, during this time, the liver Qi is strong, and the kidney Qi is weak. Therefore, dietary choices should avoid sour flavors and increase pungent flavors to support the kidneys and nourish the liver, while avoiding overly hot, cold, ascending, or descending foods. It is also important to strengthen the spleen and stomach, and eliminate dampness, meaning one should avoid extreme hot or cold foods, aiming for moderation.
Choose meals that maintain the body’s functional balance. For example, when cooking cold foods like fish, shrimp, and crab, one can add warming ingredients like scallions, ginger, wine, and vinegar to prevent these dishes from being too cold and harming the spleen and stomach, which could lead to discomfort. Conversely, when consuming warming foods like leeks, garlic, and papaya, one should pair them with eggs to achieve a complementary balance of Yin and Yang.
Eat seasonal vegetables such as bean sprouts, pea shoots, and lettuce, which help activate the body’s growth functions. Consuming nutrient-rich late spring fruits like mulberries, cherries, and strawberries can moisten the lungs, generate fluids, and nourish the liver.
4. Emotional Health
It is important to avoid emotional fluctuations, as the high incidence of schizophrenia in spring is related to the dysfunction of the liver’s ability to regulate emotions. TCM believes that the heart governs blood, and the liver stores blood. When emotions are not smooth, it affects the liver’s blood-storing function. If the liver Qi is not smooth, it can lead to heat and fire, ultimately affecting the heart’s function. The “Su Wen: On the Correspondence of Yin and Yang” states: “Anger harms the liver, and sadness overcomes anger.” If emotions are suppressed, the liver’s ability to regulate will be disrupted, leading to liver Qi stagnation and fire, disturbing the spirit. Around the Spring Equinox, it is important to avoid emotional fluctuations and engage in outdoor activities. Embrace the wind and let go of worries.
02
Spring Equinox: Nourishing Medicinal Cuisine
As the Spring Equinox arrives, all things come to life.
Spring returns to the earth, all things revive, everything is flourishing.
01
Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark) Kidney Flower
Effects: Nourishes the liver and kidneys, lowers blood pressure
Ingredients: 12g Du Zhong, 250g pig kidney, scallions, ginger, garlic, Sichuan pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, dry starch, salt, white sugar, vegetable oil, and monosodium glutamate to taste.
Method:
1. Clean the Du Zhong and simmer it in water to make a concentrated juice of 50g. Mix with Shaoxing wine, monosodium glutamate, soy sauce, dry starch, salt, and white sugar to create a thick sauce.
2. Cut the pig kidney in half, remove the connective tissue, and slice it into kidney flowers.
3. Clean the scallions, ginger, and garlic; slice the ginger and garlic, and cut the scallions into sections.
4. Heat a wok over high heat, add Sichuan pepper, then add the kidney flowers, scallions, ginger, and garlic, stir-frying quickly. Pour in the thick sauce and vinegar along the sides of the wok, stir-fry evenly to finish.
The weather changes significantly during the Spring Equinox, with large differences in temperature and humidity. Sudden climate changes can lead to an imbalance in the body, making those with weak constitutions more susceptible to illness, and those with pre-existing conditions may experience relapses, such as hypertension, heart disease, menstrual disorders, dizziness, insomnia, and hemorrhoids, which are common during this time. Prevention and treatment of these recurring ailments should focus on regulation.
The liver governs regulation; only by ensuring the liver’s functions are normal can we effectively curb the recurrence of old ailments.To allow the liver to function normally, it is important to maintain emotional balance. One should express emotions appropriately, allowing joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness to be expressed, but in moderation.
END
Supervised by: Yang Rongyun
Reviewed by: Ma Caijuan
Edited by: Yang Lin