🌿 Folk Prescriptions

This summer, due to the unbearable heat, like many others, I had to consume large amounts of cold drinks and fruits to relieve the heat and cool down. However, overindulgence in cold drinks and fruits soon led to symptoms such as lack of appetite, general fatigue, and even weight loss. After reading some traditional Chinese medical books, I learned that fruits and cold drinks are cold in nature; although they can temporarily relieve heat, they easily damage the spleen and stomach, causing the aforementioned symptoms. Later, I accidentally discovered a set of "Four Methods" for spleen health from a book, which I now alternate using with noticeable benefits.
With autumn arriving, it is precisely the right time to nourish the spleen. Below are the four methods for spleen health:
Awakening the Spleen: Take 10 grams of fresh garlic paste, mix with a small amount of sugar and vinegar, not only does it awaken the spleen and strengthen digestion, but also helps prevent intestinal diseases. Alternatively, regularly consume 20 grams of hawthorn strips and 50 grams of ginger threads, mixed with a little sugar and vinegar, which has the effect of stimulating appetite and strengthening the spleen.
Strengthening the Spleen: Choose various medicinal porridges to strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness, such as lotus seeds, white hyacinth beans, and coix seed cooked into porridge, or silver ear fungus, lily bulbs, and glutinous rice cooked into porridge, or yam, poria, and roasted rice cooked into porridge.
Protecting and Nourishing the Spleen: Elderly people should frequently massage the abdomen. Lie flat on the bed, use the palm to rotate clockwise around the navel for 20 times. At the same time, walking can also nourish the spleen and stomach, increasing appetite and promoting smooth circulation of qi and blood.
Warming the Spleen: Excessive consumption of raw and cold foods easily leads to cold accumulation in the spleen and stomach, affecting digestive function later. At this time, use a thick gauze bag filled with 100 grams of heated salt placed three finger-widths above the navel, which has the effect of warming the middle energizer, dispelling cold, and relieving pain. (Qi Nianci) Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University
Expert Reminder: Dr. Fan Yongping, Head of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department at the hospital, comments: During summer, most regions across the country experience prolonged heat, with abundant rainfall and excessive damp-heat, making it easy for spleen and stomach functions to decline, leading to poor appetite and lethargy. Therefore, not only during the scorching summer months, but also in daily routines, properly regulating spleen and stomach function is essential for dietary health preservation. The four methods described—awakening the spleen, strengthening the spleen, protecting and nourishing the spleen, and warming the spleen—can harmonize both spleen and stomach, thus achieving the therapeutic effects of improving appetite, increasing food intake, and enhancing vitality.
*In traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are regarded as the foundation of postnatal life and the source of qi and blood production.
The spleen and stomach are located in the middle burner, jointly responsible for digestion, yet each has distinct roles: the stomach governs reception, while the spleen governs transformation and transportation. The stomach prefers moisture and dislikes dryness, favoring coolness and disliking heat; the spleen prefers dryness and dislikes dampness, favoring warmth and fearing cold. Stomach qi thrives when descending, failure to descend causes abdominal distension, constipation, belching, and hiccups. Spleen qi thrives when ascending, failure to ascend may lead to dizziness, diarrhea, limb fatigue, and internal organ prolapse. Thus, it is also crucial to emphasize: while nurturing the spleen, one must also pay attention to regulating the stomach.
*Whether in summer or daily life, adjusting the spleen and stomach should be individualized.
For those with normal spleen and stomach function, moderate consumption of cold drinks will not affect their function, but excessive intake should be avoided. Although consuming raw garlic paste and hawthorn can reduce intestinal diseases and aid digestion, overconsumption may harm the stomach, especially for patients with gastritis or acid reflux. The "strengthening the spleen" method using lotus seeds, white hyacinth beans, coix seed, or silver ear fungus, lily bulbs, glutinous rice, or yam, poria, roasted rice porridge indeed holds significance for strengthening the spleen, boosting qi, eliminating dampness, and promoting diuresis. However, replacing "poria" with "fu ling" in the formula would better enhance spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving effects. Massaging around the navel and walking both have harmonizing effects on the spleen and stomach, sharing similar mechanisms, hence they can be collectively termed "protecting and nourishing the spleen." The "warming the spleen" method is the primary approach for protecting the spleen, but one must strictly avoid overeating raw and cold foods. Additionally, during sleep, it's important to keep the upper abdomen warm; adding minced ginger to stir-fried dishes or choosing black tea instead of green tea when drinking tea are all effective strategies for spleen protection.
In summary, regardless of season, adjusting the spleen and stomach should be based on individual circumstances: clear and descend for those with stomach heat, warm and supplement for those with spleen deficiency or cold. Whether through herbal supplementation or dietary adjustment, comfort after consumption should be the guiding principle.