Health Preservation in the Beginning of Spring

The Beginning of Spring is one of the 24 solar terms in China, heralding the beginning of a new year. “Li means to start building. It is the beginning of spring”, hence the name Lichun. The period from this day to the Beginning of Summer is called spring. The meteorological characteristics of the Beginning of Spring are “the east wind thaws the ice”, “the hibernating insects begin to stir”, “fish swim up with ice on their backs”, etc. It is also the prelude to spring.

Although this period has just kicked off the prelude of spring, people cannot feel the arrival of spring in the true sense, but from this moment on, the temperature, sunshine and rainfall begin to rise and increase. For the human body, the key and main point of health preservation in the beginning of spring is to raise the Qi of the liver and gallbladder Shaoyang to respond to the natural law of spring growth and spring rise.

During the beginning of spring, the climate changes greatly, sometimes warm and sometimes cold. The saying "warm and cold, chilly in spring" refers to this season, so it is not advisable to reduce clothing suddenly. Ancient Chinese medicine advocates that in early spring, people should wear thick clothes on the bottom and thin clothes on the top, and keep warm in spring and cool in autumn. In terms of daily life, people should "sleep at night and get up early, take off their hats and let their hair down, loosen their belts, and stretch their bodies", participate in more outdoor activities, and strive to achieve harmony between body and mind and be full of energy.

Beginning of Spring Diet Principles

During the Beginning of Spring, the weather is still cold. In accordance with the principle of "nourishing Yang in spring and summer", we should pay attention to eating more foods that warm and nourish Yang to prevent the cold and evil wind from harming people. In addition, we should also choose more foods that soften and nourish the liver, soothe the liver and regulate Qi, such as fermented black beans, onions, coriander, peanuts, etc., and choose the recipes flexibly.

Beginning of Spring Food Customs

"Bite the Spring" and Spring Pancakes "Bite the spring radish and pear crisp, eat leeks on spicy dishes everywhere". On the day of the beginning of spring, people also eat spring pancakes and offer spring dishes. "Zhuo Zhong Zhi" said: "At the beginning of spring, no matter how noble or humble, everyone chews radish, which is called "biting spring". They invite each other to a banquet and eat spring pancakes and vegetables."

When eating spring pancakes, some raw vegetables such as radish must be prepared on the table. Eat spring pancakes while chewing radish, which means "biting spring". The ancient poem "try spring plate in spring" refers to this folk custom. Spring plate, also called spicy plate. The folk custom of eating spicy plate has a long history. "Fengtu Ji" said: "Five pungent dishes are on New Year's Day and the beginning of spring. On the day of the beginning of spring, onions, garlic, leeks, Polygonum, and Artemisia are mixed and eaten together to welcome the spring, which is called the five pungent dishes." Eating spicy dishes at the beginning of spring also has another meaning, which is to eliminate diseases and maintain health. Li Shizhen said in "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Five pungent dishes, eaten in the morning, help the five internal organs to develop qi. Eating them regularly can warm the middle and remove bad qi, and help food to relieve gas." Until now, spring plates and spring pancakes eaten at the beginning of spring are still seasonal health delicacies that people like to talk about.