The Rain Water Health Preservation Chapter of the 24 Solar Terms

The Rain Water solar term is around February 18th of the Gregorian calendar. Rain water, "When the Dou points to Ren, it represents rain water. The east wind thaws the ice and snow, and all the ice and snow disperse and turn into water, which then melts into rain, thus it is called Rain Water." Rain not only indicates the beginning of rainfall but also shows that the amount of rain is starting to increase. With the arrival of the Rain Water solar term, snowflakes are falling, and the bone-chilling weather is gradually fading away. Instead, the gentle spring breeze caresses the face, the ice and snow melt, and the days of moist air, mild sunshine and drizzling rain are approaching us. Du Fu once wrote in a poem: "Good rain knows its time; it falls when spring arrives." It comes with the wind at night, moistening all things silently. The poet vividly described that spring is the season when all things sprout and grow. When rain is needed, it comes. This spring rain, accompanied by gentle breezes, quietly, silently and gently falls when night falls, nourishing all things. The poet uses personification to personify the rain, saying that it "knows the season" and is capable of meeting objective needs. In the spring, when all things sprout and grow, and just when rain is needed, it starts to rain. The word "good" not only praises the "rain", but also those who bring timely rain to those in need. Poets look forward to such "good rain" and like such "good rain". It is often said, "As spring begins, the weather gets warmer and the rain brings fertilizer to the busy life." The year's plan starts with spring. How to judge the rain in spring? For farmers, the rainy season is a crucial period for managing the small spring and preparing for the big spring ploughing, and our lives are also filled with new hope. Based on the influence of the Rain Water solar term on nature, in connection with the section on health preservation, I particularly emphasize the importance of "nourishing the spleen and stomach" during the Rain Water solar term. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are regarded as the "foundation of the body after birth" and the "source of qi and blood production". The strength of the spleen and stomach is a crucial factor in determining a person's lifespan. The Ming Dynasty medical expert Zhang Jingyue proposed: "Earth qi is the source of all things, and stomach qi is the master of health preservation." A strong stomach leads to a strong one, while a weak stomach leads to a weak one. With a stomach, one lives; without it, one dies. Therefore, health preservation experts must prioritize the spleen and stomach. In the relationship between the Five Elements and the five internal organs, the earth in the Five Elements corresponds to the spleen among the five internal organs. The "Book Compilation: Zang Qi Zang De" points out: "Nourishing the spleen is nourishing qi, and nourishing qi is the key to maintaining health." It is evident that a strong spleen and stomach is the foundation for people's health and longevity. Why is the liver wood related to the spleen earth in spring? In the application of the Five Elements Theory in traditional Chinese medicine, the characteristics of the Five Elements are used to explain the physiological functions of the five internal organs in the human body. The liver belongs to wood. Wood can be either curved or straight, smooth and unobstructed, and has the characteristic of promoting growth. Therefore, the liver prefers smoothness and dislikes depression, and has the function of regulating and unblocking. The spleen (stomach) belongs to earth. Earth is thick and solid in nature and has the characteristic of generating all things. The spleen also has the functions of digesting food and water, transporting essence and nutrients, and nourishing the five internal organs, six bowels, and all the limbs and bones. It is the source of the generation of qi and blood. The five internal organs are interrelated physiologically and influence each other pathologically. In the transmission and transformation of the Five Elements' mutual generation and mutual restraint relationship, excessive wood overcomes earth, that is, excessive liver wood overcomes spleen earth. That is to say, due to excessive liver wood's free flow, the spleen and stomach will become qi deficient as a result. If liver qi is overly depressed, the spleen and stomach will become qi stagnant as a result. Both are cases where liver wood overcomes spleen earth. The Classic of Difficulties refers to it as "reverse transmission", which means liver disease is transmitted to the spleen. Therefore, in spring health preservation, one should not only pay attention to the characteristic of the rising Yang energy in spring and support it, but also avoid harming the spleen and stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are referred to as the "sea of water and grains", which is beneficial for transforming qi and generating blood. The material basis of human body's functional activities, such as Ying and Wei, qi and blood, body fluids, and essence, all originate from the spleen and stomach. Only when the spleen and stomach are vigorous and the sources of transformation are abundant can the functions of the internal organs be strong. The spleen and stomach are also the hub for the ascending and descending movement of qi. When the spleen and stomach are in harmony, they can promote and regulate the body's metabolism and ensure the harmonious balance of life activities. The vital energy of the human body is the foundation of health, and the spleen and stomach are the foundation of vital energy. Li Dongyuan, a renowned physician of the Yuan Dynasty, put forward the view that when the spleen and stomach are injured, the vital energy declines, and when the vital energy declines, a person's lifespan is shortened. In his "Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach" : "True qi, also known as primordial qi, is the essence and energy that originated from the body. It cannot be nourished without the qi of the stomach." And it was pointed out: "Internal damage to the spleen and stomach leads to a variety of diseases." It indicates that weakness of the spleen and stomach is the main cause of all kinds of diseases. The "General Discussion on the Derivation of Materia Medica" states: "Those who are good at health preservation nourish their inner selves, while those who are not good at health preservation nourish their outer selves." Those who nourish the outside should focus on the outside, taking pleasure, pleasure, greed and affection as their main affairs. Little do they know that when the outside is substantial, the inside is weak. Those who are good at nourishing their inner selves can keep the internal organs in harmony, maintain the proper positions of the three jiao, and always have a diet that is appropriate. From this, it can be known that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of life and health. Throughout history, medical practitioners and health preservation experts have always attached great importance to the care and nourishment of the spleen and stomach. Modern medical experiments have proved that regulating the spleen and stomach can effectively enhance the immune function of the body and prevent aging. The specific methods for nourishing the spleen and stomach can be selectively adjusted according to one's own condition, including dietary regulation, medication care, and the balance of daily life, work and rest. Dietary regulation: As the climate warms up in spring, it is also windy and dry, often leading to dryness of the skin, mouth and tongue, and chapped lips. Therefore, it is advisable to consume more fresh vegetables and juicy fruits to replenish the body's moisture. As spring marks the beginning of the growth of all things and the season when Yang energy surges, one should consume less greasy food to prevent the leakage of auxiliary Yang energy. Otherwise, if the liver wood grows too much, it will harm the spleen earth. In his "Thousand Gold Prescriptions", Sun Simiao, a health preservation expert of the Tang Dynasty, said: "During the seventy-two days of spring, reduce sour flavors and increase sweet ones to nourish the spleen." In the Five Elements theory, the liver belongs to wood and has a sour taste, while the spleen belongs to earth and has a sweet taste. Wood is superior to earth. Therefore, in spring, one should consume less sour food and more sweet food to nourish the qi of the spleen. You can choose Chinese chives, Chinese toon, lily bulbs, pea sprouts, 茼蒿, shepherd's purse, spring bamboo shoots, yam, lotus root, taro, radish, water chestnut, sugarcane, etc. "Thousand Gold Monthly Orders" : "In the first lunar month, it is advisable to eat porridge..." One is rehmannia porridge, which can nourish the kidneys. Take 150 grams of fresh rehmannia glutinosa, mash it into juice and set it aside. Wash 50 grams of glutinous rice and add an appropriate amount of rock sugar. Put them all in a pot and add an appropriate amount of water. After cooking into porridge, pour the fresh rehmannia glutinosa juice into the porridge and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. It's done. The second is wind-preventing porridge, which is used to dispel wind in the limbs. Take one portion of Siler, boil it in water to make a decoction, strain the liquid and cook it into porridge. The third dish is Perilla porridge. Take one portion of Perilla, stir-fry it until it turns slightly yellow and has a slight aroma, then boil the juice to make porridge. Eat less raw, cold and sticky food to prevent damage to the spleen and stomach. Drug therapy: It is necessary to consider the ascending and descending biochemical functions of the spleen and stomach, and use the method of ascending Yang qi to tonify and regulate the spleen and stomach. You can choose Adenophora, American ginseng, Polygonum multiflorum, white chrysanthemum, Polygonum multiflorum powder and Buzhong Yiqi Decoction, etc. Mental regulation: "All anger, sorrow and fear deplet one's vital energy." Therefore, in terms of mental regulation, one should keep a calm mind with few desires and avoid overexertion to nourish one's vital energy. Daily routine, work and rest regulation: Maintain a regular daily routine and balance work and rest. That is, to follow nature, protect vitality and abide by the laws of natural changes, so that the rhythm of the life process can be adjusted in accordance with the changes of time, space and the climate of the four seasons, so as to achieve the purpose of strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing the postnatal health and prolonging life. Foods to avoid: In the first lunar month, avoid eating mutton, dog meat and sparrow meat. Do not eat raw scallions or garlic. Peanuts should be boiled rather than stir-fried. From China.org.cn