🌿 Folk Prescriptions

During this period, the body’s yin-yang metabolism slows significantly. Thus, one should go to bed early and rise late, avoid disturbing yang energy unnecessarily, refrain from excessive exertion, and keep the spirit deeply contained within, avoiding irritability and anger. Great Cold is one of the six winter solar terms. At this time, the weather is extremely cold, hence the name Great Cold. Health preservation during Great Cold should focus on “storage” (zang). This means controlling mental activities, maintaining mental stillness, keeping the spirit inward rather than outward. Only then can one properly endure winter. Regarding winter tonification, experts hold differing views: First, many experts oppose it. Professor Qi Wen Sheng, Director of the Emergency Department at Guang’anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told reporters: “Modern people’s constitutions differ greatly from those of the past; few are truly deficient. Thus, when tonifying in autumn and winter or preventing disease, one must consider this change.” See details >> Autumn-Winter Tonification: No Longer Suitable for Modern People. This Year’s Winter Solstice, We Won’t Tonify. Modern People Need “Clearing Heat.” Second, some support it: Winter tonification, a practice passed down for thousands of years in TCM, has stood the test of time—its effectiveness is undeniable. Third, TCM’s essence lies in “differentiation of syndromes and treatment,” so most experts support “recognizing constitution, treating according to syndrome.” For example: Tonification with herbal pastes must be “suitable”; winter tonification should match the season and avoid over-tonification! Winter tonification has rules. Based on my personal understanding of TCM, the third view suits middle-aged and elderly people or those with illness, while younger, healthy adults should follow the first view.
◇ Characteristics of Great Cold: Fifteen days after Minor Cold comes Great Cold. Today is exactly the Great Cold solar term—the last of the twenty-four solar terms. Although the weather is cold, since it is nearing spring, it is not as bitterly cold as during the Great Snow to Winter Solstice period. At this time, people begin cleaning homes, preparing New Year’s delicacies, and stockpiling New Year supplies, as the most important Chinese festival—Spring Festival—is approaching. There is also a significant date for northerners: Laba Festival, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. On this day, people cook a delicious, sweet Laba porridge using mixed grains, peanuts, chestnuts, red dates, lotus seeds, etc.—a staple dish during the Lunar New Year festivities. In short, Great Cold is the final solar term of the year, marking the end of winter, with faint signs of returning spring already evident.
◇ Health Preservation During Great Cold: *Ling Shu·Ben Shen* says: “The wise nourish their spirit by following the four seasons, adapting to cold and heat, harmonizing joy and anger, regulating yin and yang, balancing hardness and softness. Thus, evil influences cannot invade, and one lives long.” *Lü Shi Chun Qiu·Shu Shu* mentions: “Heaven produces yin, yang, cold, heat, dryness, humidity, seasonal changes, and transformations of all things—beneficial to some, harmful to others. The sage observes the suitability of yin and yang, discerns the benefits of all things, to facilitate life. Thus, spirit remains stable in the body, and longevity is achieved.” That is, adapting to natural laws is not passive acceptance but active engagement. First, grasp the patterns of natural change to defend against external pathogens. Ancient wisdom says: “Great Cold, Great Cold, guard against wind and cold. Drink ginseng and astragalus wine in the morning, take qǐjú dìhuáng pills at night.” This is a summary from laborers’ daily life, showing their emphasis on body care. During this solar term, special attention is given to women’s health preservation. Dietary adjustment should focus on strengthening the spleen and kidneys, and nourishing liver blood. Common medicinal dishes include:
When Gui Ginger Lamb Soup: (Selected from *Jin Kui Yao Lue*)
When Gui Ginger Lamb Soup >> [Formula] Angelica 30 g, ginger 30 g, lamb 500 g.
[Preparation] Wash and cut angelica and ginger into large slices. Remove tendons from lamb, wash, cut into chunks, blanch in boiling water to remove blood, then cool and set aside. Place lamb in a clay pot with enough water, add angelica and ginger slices, bring to a boil over high heat, skim off foam, then reduce to low heat and stew for 1.5 hours until lamb is tender. Remove angelica and ginger slices, drink the soup and eat the meat.
[Efficacy] Warms the center, nourishes blood, dispels cold.
Red Date and Sanqi Chicken: (Selected from Hui An Tang Tonifying Recipes)
Chicken Soup for Flu >> [Ingredients] Goji berries 15 g, sanqi 10 g, hen 1, ginger 20 g, scallions 30 g, Shao wine 30 g, white pepper, MSG as needed.
[Preparation] Kill and clean the hen. Wash goji berries. Grind 4 g of sanqi into powder; soften 6 g of sanqi and cut into slices. Cut ginger into thick slices, scallions into segments. Blanch hen in boiling water to remove blood, drain and dry. Place goji berries, sanqi slices, ginger slices, and scallion segments inside the hen’s cavity. Put hen into a steamer, add a little clear broth, sprinkle white pepper and Shao wine. Sprinkle sanqi powder on the breast, cover the pot, steam over high heat for about 2 hours. Add MSG before serving.
[Efficacy] Tonifies deficiency and nourishes blood. (Its nature is mild—suitable for the elderly, chronically ill, menstruating women, and postpartum blood deficiency.)
Sugar Vinegar Carrot Strips: (Autumn eating carrots with hot tea)>> [Ingredients] Half pound of carrot, ginger, sugar, vinegar, salt, MSG, vegetable oil as needed.
[Preparation] Wash and slice carrots. Slice ginger. Heat a wok, add oil (hot wok, cold oil), immediately add ginger slices, stir-fry until fragrant. Add carrot strips, stir-fry for 2 minutes, add vinegar and sugar, continue stir-frying until 80% cooked. Add salt, stir until the dish is ready, add MSG, and serve.
[Efficacy] Promotes qi movement, nourishes the center, benefits the chest and diaphragm, regulates the intestines, calms the five zang organs. (Modern studies show carrots contain “succinic potassium salt,” an effective ingredient for lowering blood pressure—hypertensive patients may drink carrot juice.)
Milk Porridge: (Milk Special)>> [Ingredients] Half liter of milk, 100 g glutinous rice.
[Preparation] Wash glutinous rice, place in a pot with water, boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat until 60% cooked. Add milk, continue cooking until porridge forms.
[Efficacy] Moistens lungs, promotes bowel movement, nourishes deficiency, enriches blood.