🌿 Folk Prescriptions

TCM believes that human qi, blood, and yin-yang fluctuate with seasonal climates. In spring, yang energy begins to rise, blood and qi gradually move outward, pores open slightly, and blood and qi decrease slightly, causing a feeling of "drowsiness." In summer, yang energy surges outward, blood and qi flow to the surface, pores open wide, and sweat increases, leading to a constant feeling of "drowsiness." In autumn, yang energy begins to decline, yin energy rises, blood and qi gradually shift inward, but remain insufficient, hence still feeling "tired." This explains the reasons behind "spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, summer lethargy."
To address this, TCM prescribes corresponding health preservation methods: "Nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter." So, how should one practice health preservation specifically in spring? Professor Mao Dexi of Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine says that spring health preservation should align with the rising yang energy of spring, focus on protecting yang, and emphasize the concept of "growth."
Emotional Health Preservation
Abstain from rage, especially avoid sadness and depression. Maintain an open mind, optimism, and a peaceful mental state.
Dietary Health Preservation
Spring belongs to wood, corresponding to the liver. "Nourish the liver with sour flavors; soothe liver qi with pungent flavors." Since yang energy begins to rise in spring, favor pungent, sweet, and dispersing foods—light and palatable (such as soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, citrus fruits, scallions, garlic, coriander, honey), avoiding greasy, raw, cold, or hard foods to align with the upward movement of spring yang. Eat more fresh vegetables like bamboo shoots and spinach to compensate for the lack of fresh vegetables in winter, which may lead to vitamin deficiency.
Spring is the peak season for liver activity. Nourishing the liver timely can prevent summer yin deficiency. Based on doctor recommendations, purposefully select herbs and foods that soothe the liver, nourish the liver, and regulate liver qi—such as goji berries, curcuma, salvia. Foods like jujubes, fermented black beans, scallions, coriander, peanuts can be flexibly combined. However, those with allergies prone to pollen allergy, hives, or skin diseases should avoid stimulating foods containing foreign proteins, such as lamb or crab.
Living Habits Health Preservation
In spring, human blood and qi, like nature, should be expanded and unblocked. It is suitable to "go to bed late and rise early, walk widely in the yard, let hair down and stroll barefoot." Due to enhanced circulatory system function in spring, increased load on organs leads to central nervous system sedation and sleepiness, commonly known as "spring drowsiness." To adapt to this physiological change, one should rise early, remove hats, loosen hair, untie clothes, stretch the body, and engage in outdoor activities to absorb vitality from nature, aligning one’s spirit and emotions with nature for abundant energy. However, older or frail individuals should adjust exercise intensity based on personal condition, ideally keeping maximum heart rate after activity below (180 – age).
In clothing, since early spring temperatures fluctuate between warm and cold, and the body’s pores begin to open, cold resistance weakens. Those living in northern regions should not abruptly remove winter coats. Elderly and weak individuals should be particularly cautious when changing clothes, avoiding sudden reduction. The *Qianjin Yaofang* recommends dressing in "thick below, thin above" for spring.
Disease Prevention and Health Care
Spring is a high-risk season for infectious diseases such as influenza, meningococcal meningitis, and mumps. To prevent spring infections: First, eliminate sources of infection. Second, keep windows open regularly to ensure indoor air circulation and freshness, with ample sunlight. Third, strengthen physical exercise to boost immunity. Additionally, pay attention to oral and nasal care to block the entry of warm pathogens into the lungs. In exercise, movements should be expansive—suitable options include walking, jogging, spring outings, and kite flying.