🌿 Folk Prescriptions

TCM believes that autumn is dominated by dryness, and dryness is the prevailing pathogen. Dryness-related diseases may manifest as dry mouth, nose, throat, dry cough, and dry skin. Therefore, one should eat more foods that moisten the lungs and generate body fluids. Especially for women, this is crucial because TCM teaches that men belong to yang, women to yin; men govern essence, women govern blood. Dryness easily damages yin and blood. When women are affected by dryness, they may experience amenorrhea, delayed menstruation, scanty menstrual flow, postpartum weakness, insufficient breast milk, and menopausal syndrome. All these conditions revolve around menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. Maintaining these physiological functions relies on four meridians: Chong, Ren, Du, and Dai. Among them, Chong and Ren directly relate to menstruation, pregnancy, and fertility. These two meridians are closely connected to the liver, kidney, spleen, and stomach. Therefore, dietary therapy must focus on regulating and tonifying these organs.
Adolescence
During adolescence, girls' hypothalamus and pituitary regulation systems are not yet fully mature. If dietary care is neglected in autumn, functional menstrual disorders may easily arise. Clinically, this mainly manifests as irregular menstrual cycles or periods, abnormal bleeding volume. Dietary guidelines for this stage: maintain regular eating habits and routines; avoid skipping meals or irregular eating; ensure adequate nutrition, especially protein intake; consume more iron-rich and vitamin-rich foods.
Dietary Formula: 3 dried persimmons, 10 red dates, 15 grams of cornus fruit. First, simmer cornus fruit to extract juice, then add persimmons and red dates to cook until soft. Take one dose daily during menstruation for 3–5 consecutive days as a course. This formula has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys, enriching blood, and consolidating blood. Suitable for symptoms such as cold lower back and knees, excessive uterine bleeding, and leukorrhea.
Lactation Period
During lactation, women undergo significant physiological adaptations across all systems, increasing demand for various nutrients—especially proteins, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins. Autumn is the peak season for diverse fruits and vegetables, ideal for dietary therapy. Dietary guidelines: first, consume more protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, shrimp, lean meat, dairy, eggs, and soy products—daily protein intake should be 1–1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight; fat intake should not be excessive, accounting for 20%–25% of total energy; increase intake of calcium, iron, zinc, and other trace minerals; eat more vitamin-rich foods; for pregnant women with strong appetites, avoid overeating staple foods and use vegetables to fill up.
Dietary Formula: 2 liang (about 100g) longan, 1 egg, and appropriate brown sugar. Remove longan shells, add warm water and brown sugar, then place one beaten egg on top. Steam for 10–20 minutes until the egg is cooked. Consume the steamed longan and egg mixture daily, 1–2 times, for 7–10 consecutive days. This formula is rich in iron and vitamin B2, helping reduce uterine contractions and pelvic pressure, offering fetal protection.
Menopause
During menopause, the body undergoes numerous changes, such as osteoporosis, altered lipid metabolism, and atrophy of reproductive organs and pelvic floor tissues. Proper dietary management can help women smoothly pass through menopause. Dietary guidelines: tonify primarily by strengthening the kidneys, especially kidney yin. Menopausal women often experience symptoms like irritability, excessive sweating, hot flashes—indicating instability of the autonomic nervous system. Thus, diet should also focus on strengthening the spleen and nourishing the heart. Avoid spicy and stimulating foods; moderately control fat intake, especially limiting saturated fatty acids from animal fats; increase intake of calcium-rich foods; consume high-protein, high-vitamin foods; to reduce cancer risk, menopausal women should eat a light diet, emphasizing vegetables, fruits, and increased fluid intake.
Dietary Formula: Pig trotter and soybean stewed with eggs. Use 2 pig trotters, cleaned thoroughly, boiled until half-cooked. Soak 100 grams of soybeans in warm water for 12 hours, rinse clean, add water 1 cm above beans, bring to boil over high heat, skim off foam. Simmer over low heat until 70% cooked, add to half-cooked trotters, then add 5 shelled eggs and seasonings. Bring to boil again, then simmer until trotters and beans are tender. Consume the entire dish over 2 days. Take one course every week to ten days. This formula is high in protein and calcium, and the collagen fibers in pig trotters benefit overall health.