The Dialectics of Health preservation in Spring

In the early spring of March, the weather often changes abnormally. In spring, when it comes to health preservation, it is important to balance several pairs of dialectical relationships: Yang and Yin. In winter, the weather is cold, and Yin energy is pushed outward while Yang energy is reserved. The body's metabolism gradually slows down, and all things hibernate. It is a period of recuperation and preparation for growth. In spring, the Yin energy sinks and the Yang energy rises. The body's metabolism becomes more active, and the Yang within the body grows in harmony with the Yang energy of spring outside. Therefore, it is an excellent time to nourish Yang. However, the weather is unpredictable, wind pathogen is prone to occur, and it is also a time when various diseases tend to breed. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the balance of Yin and Yang to prevent catching a cold from the outside. To adapt to climate change, ancient people had the saying of "keep warm in spring and cold in autumn". The weather in spring changes greatly. Only by keeping warm can one resist the invasion of cold pathogen into the body, make the Yang energy vigorous, enhance the resistance and effectively prevent various spring infectious diseases. When the temperature rises in spring, it is important to keep warm and add or remove clothes appropriately. In spring, the body's Yang energy expands, the blood and qi throughout the body are in harmony, the meridians are relaxed, and the Yang energy is more likely to dissipate. When exercising in spring, it is important to control the amount of exercise. It is advisable to participate in low-intensity activities to avoid sweating profusely and damaging the Yang energy. Morning exercises should be gentle and soothing, combining movement and stillness. One can take a walk outdoors, practice Tai Chi or do aerobics to achieve the goal of expelling the old and taking in the new. In spring, the human body is in a period when the liver is most active. Acidic foods can cause excessive liver fire and damage the spleen and stomach, so they should not be consumed in excessive amounts. Sweet and pungent foods are beneficial for nourishing the liver and protecting the spleen. Therefore, it is appropriate to consume scallions, jujubes, peanuts, honey, fresh yellowish-green vegetables, fruits and dried fruits, etc. The principle of tonifying in spring should be to focus on mild tonics and avoid extremely pungent and hot tonics.