24 Solar Terms -" Beginning of Spring"

From February 3rd to 5th marks the beginning of Spring in the traditional Chinese calendar. Lichun, or the "Beginning of Spring," is the first solar term of the year. The character "立" means to begin, and Lichun heralds the start of spring, symbolizing the beginning of the season of rejuvenation. In spring, health preservation involves adapting to the growing vitality of yang qi and the characteristics of all things coming to life. It emphasizes protecting yang qi and focusing on the concept of "生" (shēng), meaning life.

According to the natural attributes, spring is associated with wood and corresponds to the liver. The liver's physiological characteristics involve promoting the smooth flow of qi, expressing emotions as anger, disliking stagnation, and favoring free movement. In mental health during spring, it is advised to avoid excessive anger and prevent feelings of melancholy. Instead, one should maintain an open-minded and optimistic attitude, fostering a pleasant mental state. It is also essential to take advantage of the spring season when nature is "renewing" itself, utilizing the ascending yang qi and the vigorous metabolism in the human body.

Dietary adjustments in spring should consider the initial emergence of yang qi. It is recommended to consume foods with a pungent and sweet dispersing nature, avoiding sour and contracting tastes. The relationship between the five organs and five flavors suggests that sour flavors influence the liver, having a contracting nature that is not conducive to the growth of yang qi and the smooth flow of liver qi.

In terms of dietary health, it is important to choose herbs and foods that nourish and support the liver and promote the smooth flow of liver qi. Examples of herbs include wolfberry, turmeric, salvia, and yuanhu. Food choices may include dates, black beans, green onions, cilantro, peanuts, etc., combined flexibly in recipes.

Here are two examples of porridge recipes:

1. Wolfberry Porridge

   • Ingredients: 30g wolfberries, 100g glutinous rice.
   • Method: Cook glutinous rice into porridge, add cleaned wolfberries a few minutes before finishing.

   Suitable for those with deficient liver and kidney, experiencing lower back and knee soreness, impotence, premature ejaculation, nocturnal emissions, blurred vision, dizziness, and insufficient yin blood.

2. Kudzu Root Porridge

   • Ingredients: 15–30g kudzu root, 100–200g glutinous rice.
   • Method: Wash and peel kudzu root, cut it into pieces, and cook it together with glutinous rice to make porridge.

   Suitable for wind-heat exterior syndrome with symptoms like headache, fever, lack of sweating, and neck stiffness. It is also suitable for early-stage measles with poor venting, as well as thirst and consumption caused by stomach heat.

Auranti Form

https://www.chinaturel.nl/en/chai-hu-shu-gan-wan-auranti-form/a9780

Shuang Qi he ji

https://www.chinaturel.nl/en/shuang-qing-he-ji/a9864?search=%E5%8F%8C%E6%B8%85%E5%90%88%E5%89%82

 liver form    

https://www.chinaturel.nl/en/shu-gan-wan-auranti-form/a9822