Dietary Therapy to Overcome Spring Fatigue
Dietary Therapy to Overcome Spring Fatigue
After the Awakening of Insects solar term, all things revive. After a long winter, human yang energy is depleted. In early spring, yang energy fails to rise adequately, leading to extreme fatigue. According to TCM organ theory, spring is dominated by liver qi. When liver qi is vigorous, it overpowers the spleen (wood overcomes earth), impairing the spleen’s ability to transform and transport fluids, easily causing internal dampness. Combined with spring rains, external dampness obstructs spleen-stomach yang energy, resulting in poor blood and qi circulation and blocked meridians—leading to fatigue and drowsiness. This is what TCM calls “spring fatigue.”
Spleen deficiency with dampness is the fundamental cause of spring fatigue. Thus, strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness is the best approach to relieve spring fatigue.
One Should: Engage in outdoor activities on sunny days to absorb natural sunlight and nourish one’s own yang energy.
As stated in *The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon – Great Treatise on the Four Seasons*: “Nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter, aligning with the root. Thus, one remains in harmony with the growth and development of all things. To oppose this natural order is to harm the root and destroy one’s true nature.” Based on the theory of spring growth, summer flourishing, autumn harvest, and winter storage, spring is when temperature rises and yang energy gradually returns. Thus, spring health preservation should focus on nurturing yang energy to align with seasonal changes.
Two Should: Reduce sour foods, increase sweet ones, and nourish the spleen and stomach.
As Tang Dynasty’s “King of Medicine” Sun Simiao said: “In the 72 days of spring, reduce sour foods and increase sweet ones to nourish the spleen.” Meaning: During spring, when liver qi is strong, avoiding sour foods prevents further liver overactivity and protects the spleen. At this time, consume more sweet and neutral foods like lean meat, eggs, milk, honey, soy products, and fresh vegetables. Since spring sees strong liver qi and weak spleen qi, and since the spleen governs the limbs, weak spleen qi leads to limb weakness. Thus, it’s essential to nourish the spleen. Medicinal supplementation is less effective than dietary supplementation. Focus on foods like crucian carp, carrots, apples, and yam. Methods to strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness include:
1. Dietary Therapy:
★ Steamed Crucian Carp Soup: Pan-fry both sides of the fish until golden, then boil rapidly with boiling water to form a white, milky broth. Add 3 grams of sandalwood, 3 grams of tangerine peel, 20 grams of coriander, and 10 grams of ginger. Simmer for three minutes. Crucian carp is sweet and neutral, nourishing without drying, strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness, and rich in nutrients. TCM considers this remedy excellent for spleen and stomach tonification.
★ Field Eel and Crucian Carp Soup: 30 grams of field eel, 250 grams of crucian carp, 10 grams of ginger, boiled into soup. Not only strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness but also helps prevent favism.
★ Sandalwood, Coixseed, and Yam Porridge: 5 grams of sandalwood, 30 grams of coixseed, 30 grams of yam, 100 grams of rice, cooked into porridge.
2. Herbal Therapy:
① If suffering from gastrointestinal flu with symptoms like general fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, epigastric distension, and thick tongue coating, take Huoxiang Zhengqi Wan or Huoxiang Zhengqi Water.
② For those with pre-existing spleen-stomach deficiency showing poor appetite, loose stools, and fatigue, take Shenling Baizhu San to regulate and tonify the spleen and stomach.
3. External Washing to Eliminate Dampness and Awaken the Spleen:
Boil 100 grams of ginger, 20 grams of tangerine peel, and 30 grams of mint to wash the body. This warms the spleen and stomach, eliminates dampness, and relieves fatigue. If inconvenient, use this water for foot baths.
Three Should: Promote Liver Qi Flow
As stated in *The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon – Great Treatise on the Four Seasons*: “In the three months of spring, this is the time of renewal—the earth and heaven both flourish, all things thrive. Go to bed late and rise early, walk widely in the courtyard, let hair hang loose, loosen clothing, to allow the spirit to grow. Do not kill, give rather than take, reward rather than punish. This is the response to spring energy and the way of health preservation.” Spring is the season for liver qi to flourish. Since the liver enjoys free flow and dislikes depression, one should follow nature, promote liver qi, and maintain cheerful emotions. Regular outdoor sports and cultural activities help relax the body, open the mind, avoid anger, and promote blood and qi circulation—effectively overcoming spring fatigue.