🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Autumn is the golden season for nourishing the body, but improper methods of nourishment may not only fail to achieve desired results but also harm health. Dr. Chen Bohua, chief physician of the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Department at Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, reminds everyone to pay attention to the following issues when nourishing during autumn.
What to Eat During Autumn Nourishment
With so many supplements available—ginseng, bird’s nest, lotus seeds, sesame—some consumers feel overwhelmed. What should one eat for autumn nourishment? Dr. Chen recommends the following foods for general nourishment.
Lily Bulb: Helps replenish lung Qi, moisten lungs, calm the mind, and relieve fatigue. Lotus Seed: Clears residual summer heat and strengthens the body. Yam: Suitable for people of all ages and constitutions, whether healthy or weak. White Kidney Bean: Boiled into porridge or decoction, it strengthens the spleen and stomach and enhances appetite. Lotus Root: Cooked lotus root helps strengthen the spleen and stimulate appetite, ideal for autumn nourishment. Beef and Lamb: Consuming beef and lamb in autumn provides warm tonification of qi and blood. Chestnut: Strengthens the spleen and stomach, nourishes the kidneys, and fortifies bones. Red Date: Moistens yin, relieves dryness, benefits the lungs, and boosts qi.
Dr. Chen notes that high-end supplements like ginseng and bird’s nest are not suitable for everyone and should ideally be taken under medical guidance. During autumn, one should focus on foods that nourish yin and moisten dryness, such as silver ear fungus, sesame, black-boned chicken, pig lungs, soy milk, and honey. Regular consumption of these foods can prevent autumn dryness from harming the body. Additionally, dairy products, legumes, fresh vegetables, and fruits should be eaten more frequently. These foods are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and various vitamins, making them excellent choices for nourishment.
Experts recommend that the elderly and those with weak constitutions determine their nourishment method based on their physical condition and avoid blind supplementation. Before selecting food or medicine, consult a professional physician.
Doctors remind us that due to increased consumption of cold foods during summer, the digestive system has not yet fully recovered in early autumn. Thus, overly greasy foods should be avoided. With dry autumn weather, people are prone to internal heat, so spicy foods such as onions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers should also be limited.
Five Principles to Avoid When Autumn Nourishing
First, avoid overindulgence. Excessive intake of any supplement can be harmful. Believing “more supplements mean better health, curing illness or strengthening the body even without sickness” is unscientific. Over-supplementation increases the burden on the spleen and liver. During summer, frequent consumption of cold drinks and frozen foods often weakens the digestive system. Sudden heavy supplementation then imposes excessive strain on already weakened digestive organs, leading to functional disorders.
Second, avoid replacing food with medicine. Prioritizing drugs over food is unscientific. Many foods are excellent supplements. For example, eating more shepherd’s purse can help treat hypertension; eating more radishes aids digestion, relieves bloating, and soothes the chest; eating more yam strengthens the spleen and stomach. Daily foods like walnuts, sesame, peanuts, red dates, and broad beans are also excellent nourishing options.
Third, avoid assuming higher price means better quality. Each person’s body condition differs, so suitable supplements vary. Expensive items like bird’s nest or ginseng are not universally beneficial. Every supplement has specific indications and target groups; the principle should be practical and effective—supplement what you lack.
Fourth, avoid focusing solely on meat. Moderate consumption of beef and lamb is beneficial for autumn nourishment. However, after summer, the spleen and stomach have not fully recovered, making greasy foods difficult to digest and absorb. Moreover, excess fat and sugar accumulation may trigger cardiovascular diseases. Vegetables should not be overlooked in dietary supplementation, as they provide various vitamins and trace elements.