Tips for Year-Round Health during Start of Spring

Start of Spring, the first of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, the beginning of the four seasons, meaning a new cycle begins from here. Ancient people especially valued the Start of Spring, in ancient times there were welcoming spring ceremonies, hitting the spring ox, biting the spring, going for an outing in spring, start of spring sacrifice, all without fail expressing people's beautiful aspirations for a bountiful harvest and full granaries.

 

After the Start of Spring, "the earth is bathed in warm yang energy," as the saying goes, "hundred herbs sprout, hundred illnesses arise." The human body also needs to adapt to the changing climate and maintain good health to lay a solid foundation for the entire year.

 

Nurturing Health During the Start of Spring: Nourishing Yang Qi by Eating Three Flavors

 

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is the season when yang qi ascends. As the saying goes, "If you don't nourish yang qi during the Start of Spring, all your efforts for the year will be in vain." Abundant yang qi in the body strengthens one's resistance to illness.

 

Seasonal Vegetable: Chives

 

Chives are warm in nature and possess excellent properties for tonifying the kidneys and bolstering yang, benefiting the liver and stomach, strengthening the essence and lifting the spirits, stopping sweating and securing astriction, and moving qi and rectifying the blood. They are an optimal food for replenishing the body's yang energy. It is advisable to choose fresh and tender chives for consumption, as old chives contain a large amount of rough fiber that is difficult to digest. Excessive consumption at one time is not recommended.

 

 

Seasonal Delicacy: Spring Bamboo Shoots

 

Spring bamboo shoots are renowned as the "first taste of spring," versatile in pairing with both meat and vegetables, and suitable for stir-frying, braising, boiling, or stewing.

 

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring bamboo shoots possess the properties of clearing heat and resolving phlegm, tonifying qi and harmonizing the stomach, treating dispersion-thirst, promoting urination, and aiding digestion. Additionally, they are rich in vitamins and essential amino acids. Consuming spring bamboo shoots during the spring season can also stimulate intestinal peristalsis, aid digestion, and alleviate indigestion.

 

 

Harmonizing Liver Qi with Ganoderma

 

At the beginning of spring, all things begin to grow, and the rising Yang energy can have a certain impact on the liver’s ability to course. In daily life, it is important to ensure the smooth flow of liver Qi. Reishi mushroom slices can be brewed into tea, and depending on individual constitution, ingredients such as red dates, goji berries, or chrysanthemum can be added to help regulate liver Qi and strengthen immunity.

 

Here, we must recommend a seasonal spring dish—Reishi, Bean Sprout, and Pork Slices Soup. The combination of Reishi and fresh bean sprouts helps to course the liver, nourish the skin, and provide a refreshing, grease-cutting flavor—perfectly fitting for the season and delicious!

 

[Ingredients] 10g organic Ganoderma sinense slices, 100g enoki mushrooms, 150g bean sprouts, 2 slices of ginger, 200g lean meat

 

Remember These 5 Tips for Spring Health Maintenance

 

Li Qiangou, a nationally renowned senior Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician and Chief Physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, explains that there are five key principles for health preservation during the start of spring. Consistency is the key to achieving your health goals throughout the year.

 

1. Dress Warmly Below and Lightly Above

The saying goes, "Cover up in spring and endure the cold in autumn to prevent miscellaneous illnesses." In spring, yang energy begins to rise and the body's pores open up, making it more susceptible to cold. As the weather fluctuates greatly in early spring, with periods of warmth followed by cold, it's important not to rush to remove winter clothing, especially for the elderly and those with weak constitutions. Even young people should dress with thicker bottoms and lighter tops, paying special attention to keeping their neck, knees, and feet warm.

 

2. Eat Less Sour and More Acrid Foods

After the start of spring, as Yang energy begins to rise, the diet should include more foods with a acrid, sweet, and warming nature, which can help disperse Yang energy. Warming foods are beneficial for maintaining Yang energy, such as yam, spring bamboo shoots, and chives. It is advisable to avoid overly hot and acrid foods, such as lamb, ginseng, and aconite, to prevent excessive internal heat. Additionally, the intake of sour foods, such as sea fish, shrimp, and crab, should be reduced.

 

3. Engage in Gentle Stretching

To adapt to the rising energy of spring, it is recommended to incorporate more stretching exercises into your daily routine after the Start of Spring. The simplest form is giving a stretch. Regular stretching can promote blood circulation, facilitate metabolism, and foster the generation of yang energy within the body.

 

4. Maintain a Calm and Positive Mindset, Avoid Anger

During the Start of Spring, it is important to remind oneself to avoid impatience and irritability, and to refrain from suppressed emotions. One should maintain a peaceful, calm, and open-minded state of mind, with a positive and optimistic outlook. Taking advantage of the natural rise of Yang energy in spring, it is essential to properly regulate our emotions and promote the free flow of yang qi throughout the body.

 

5. Soak Your Feet Regularly to Expel Cold

Soaking your feet in warm water before bed after the Start of Spring can help dispel the cold accumulated in your body over the winter, thus promoting the generation of Yang energy. When soaking your feet, it's important to gradually heat the water to a comfortable temperature—never too hot at first, as this can push the cold back into the body. Soak for about 30 minutes, or until the body feels pleasantly warm, but avoid sweating excessively.

 

 

As we welcome the Start of Spring, winter's chill still lingers, yet spring is imminent. May you savor life's simple pleasures, nourishment, and the anticipation of warmer days as nature reawakens.