Today is the Spring Equinox, also known as “Sheng Fen,” the fourth solar term of spring, when the weather becomes increasingly warm. After meals, taking a walk outside, one can often feel the warm breeze and see the captivating spring scenery.
However, behind this charm lies variable weather, frequent winds, and dry air, which are not friendly to those with low immunity. The Spring Equinox is the most “balanced” solar term of the year, and it is also a critical time for health maintenance.
A Prime Opportunity for “Preventing Diseases Before They Occur”: Three Major Focuses for Health Maintenance During the Spring Equinox
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring energy primarily corresponds to the liver, while it can overtax the spleen (the earth element). Coupled with persistent spring rains and increasing dampness, this imbalance may lead to fatigue, poor appetite, and mood swings. Therefore, health maintenance should focus on balancing yin and yang, nurturing the liver, strengthening the spleen, and preparing to prevent diseases before they occur.
1. Protect the Balance of Yin and Yang
After the Spring Equinox, the yin and yang energies of nature approach equilibrium, and the human body should align with this natural principle by emphasizing “harmony.” This involves being mindful of daily habits, avoiding exposure to wind and cold, adjusting one’s diet, and engaging in suitable physical activities to preserve the body’s yin-yang balance.
2. Protect and Nourish Liver Qi
In spring, health maintenance should prioritize the liver. In terms of diet, it’s advisable to consume some sweet foods, which facilitate the rising of yang energy and the free coursing of liver qi in spring. For instance, jujubes and Chinese yam are sweet and delicious, nourishing the liver while also benefiting the spleen and stomach.
Furthermore, Reishi can be used for conditioning; one can boil Reishi slices to make tea and, depending on individual constitution, add jujubes, goji berries, or chrysanthemum to help regulate liver qi and enhance immunity.
3. Protect and Nourish Lung Qi
Spring weather is dry, with fluctuating temperatures and an increase in allergens, making the lungs vulnerable to external pathogens. Many people tend to suffer from excessive internal heat, manifesting as a yellow-coated tongue, bitter mouth, and dry throat. During this season, while emphasizing liver nourishment, it’s equally important to moisturize the lungs. In addition to a balanced diet, it’s beneficial to incorporate pears, lilies, and tremella to nourish yin and moisten the lungs.
Four Avoidances for Health Maintenance During the Spring Equinox
1. Avoid Excessive Use of Eyes
“The liver opens into the eyes,” so staring at electronic devices for extended periods can lead to eye fatigue, blurred vision, and eye discomfort, which can eventually impact the liver. Thus, nourishing the liver includes maintaining good eye hygiene and avoiding prolonged visual activities.
2. Avoid Staying Up Late
Every day from 11 PM to 3 AM is the time when the liver meridian is dominant. “When a person lies down, blood returns to the liver,” so entering sleep during this period aids in resting the liver meridian and preserving its normal physiological functions.
3. Avoid Changing Clothes Too Early
The weather during the Spring Equinox is changeable with large temperature variations. It’s crucial to adapt to the climate by practicing “keeping covered in spring,” which means reducing clothing layers gradually. Particularly for individuals with weakened immunity, shedding warm clothes too early can allow wind and cold pathogens to enter the body, potentially causing colds, coughs, asthma, and bone and joint diseases.
4. Avoid Extreme Emotional Fluctuations
The liver thrives on free coursing and detests stagnation. Hence, during the Spring Equinox, it’s essential to keep a calm and balanced mind, maintaining a relaxed and optimistic attitude to calm the spirit and nurture qi. Avoid intense emotional ups and downs to harmonize with the season’s emphasis on “yin-yang balance.”
Drink These Four Teas for Health Maintenance During the Spring Equinox: Coursing the Liver and Nourishing Yang
Under the premise of “harmonious liver and peaceful qi,” these four health teas can warm the center and dissipate cold, fortify the spleen, and tonify the kidneys, providing daily internal nourishment to protect liver qi and yang qi.
1. Reishi and Three Dates Tea
Ingredients: 10g Reishi slices, 3 red dates, 3 black dates, 3 honey dates
Description: Reishi, which enters the heart, liver, lung, and kidney meridians, is a Chinese medicinal herb ideal for liver nourishment. This tea is particularly suitable for individuals with a pale, lackluster complexion and a tendency toward shortness of breath and fatigue. Women may also add roses during decoction to achieve excellent effects in blood nourishment and beautification.
2. White Peony and Chrysanthemum Tea
Ingredients: 9g white peony, 6g chrysanthemum
Description: Disperses wind-heat, nourishes the liver, and improves vision. Suitable for symptoms caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency and hyperactive liver yang, such as dizziness, headache, red eyes, blurred vision, and elevated blood pressure.
3. Buddha’s hand (Sacrodactylis Fructus) and Sanqi Tea
Ingredients: 6g Buddha’s hand flower (Sarcodactylis Flos), 6g rose, 6g chrysanthemum, 6g goji berries, 6g dendrobium
Description: Courses the liver, rectifies qi, nourishes the liver, and improves vision. Suitable for those with emotional distress, poor sleep at night, dry and tired eyes, and blurred vision.
4. Mulberry Tree Two Treasures Tea
Ingredients: 9g dried mulberries (or 18g fresh mulberries), 6g mulberry leaves
Description: Nourishes the liver and kidneys, enriches blood, courses wind, and improves vision.
The arrival of the Spring Equinox signifies that spring is halfway through. Time flows quietly with the breath of spring, making the season increasingly beautiful and warm. With leisurely spring days and warming spring rains, amidst the flourishing spring flowers and green willows, may you fully enjoy the leisurely moments of this season.
Source: “Spring Equinox: Laying the Foundation for a Healthy Year! Doctors Remind: These 5 Things Should Be Minimized”, Health Times, 2024-03-20.
