Lidong, as the beginning of winter, symbolizes the beginning of the "collection" of all things. The "Collection and Interpretation of the Seventy Two Houhou of the Moon Order" states: "Standing is the beginning; winter is the end, and all things are collected
The beginning of winter, as the beginning of the year when yang qi is stored, is the foundation of health preservation. Health preservation should follow the timing, nourish the kidneys and retain essence, and prepare for the vibrant spring of the coming year.
Qi hidden and suitable for nourishing the kidneys
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon warns: "If you don't store essence in winter, you will inevitably get sick and warm in spring
At the beginning of winter, which is the transition between autumn and winter, the human body should also follow the hidden trend of natural qi, pay attention to tonifying the kidneys and nourishing qi, in order to help consolidate yang qi. According to the concept of the Five Elements theory in traditional Chinese medicine, the five organs of the human body correspond to the Five Elements, with the kidneys governing winter and the yin and yang of the human body rooted in the kidneys. In winter, the climate is cold, and cold air can easily damage kidney yang. Therefore, winter health should focus on nourishing the kidneys and yang.
Food and nutrition follow the principle of "nourishing yin and tonifying yang"
The climate characteristics of the beginning of winter are the hidden yang energy, the extreme yin energy, the withering of plants and trees, the hiding of stinging insects, and the cessation of activities of all things. At this season, the yin and yang of the human body will adjust according to natural laws, and the yang energy gradually hides while the yin energy is at its peak.
There is a folk saying that goes, 'At the beginning of winter, fill the empty mouth.' It emphasizes that since the beginning of winter, people should pay attention to nourishing themselves. At this time, special attention should be paid to "tonifying winter" and "nourishing storage" to nourish yin and yang.
Tonifying Kidney and Preserving Essence Decoction
【 Ingredients 】 6 chestnuts, 6 walnuts, 30g yam, 15g goji berries, 6g tangerine peel, 3 hawthorns, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar
[Method]
1. Remove the shell and leave the inner layer of the chestnut, then cut it in half; Remove the shell and leave the inner layer of the walnut, then break it open; Peel and cut yam into pieces.
2. Put all the ingredients into a pot, add 1000 milliliters of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and continue boiling for 30 minutes.
3. After cooking the ingredients until fully cooked, add brown sugar for seasoning.
【 Effect 】 Tonifying the kidneys and storing essence, strengthening tendons and bones.
Qigui Wuji Soup
[Ingredients] 1 black chicken, 60g Huangqi, 10g Guizhi, 10g Danggui, 6 slices of ginger, 5 jujubes, and an appropriate amount of salt
[Method]
1. Wash the black chicken and remove its internal organs; Wash the medicinal herbs thoroughly.
2. Put all the ingredients into the pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours until the chicken is crispy and tender.
3. Filter out the medicine residue, stew for 20 minutes, season with salt, and then remove from the pot.
【 Effect 】 Tonifying qi and blood, warming and nourishing liver and kidney, warming meridians and dispelling cold.
Danggui Ginger Lamb Soup
【 Ingredients 】 15g Angelica sinensis, 10g Ginger, 500g Lamb, and an appropriate amount of salt
[Method]
1. Soak traditional Chinese medicine for half an hour; Cut lamb into pieces, blanch in boiling water, and then rinse with clean water.
2. Put the above ingredients together with ginger slices into a stew pot, add 2500 milliliters of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours. Season with salt and serve.
【 Effect 】 Tonifying Qi and tonifying Deficiency, Tonifying Kidney and Strengthening Yang, Strengthening Muscle and Bone, Warming Yang and dispersing Cold.
Warm meridians, dispel cold, moxibustion for starting winter
The Compendium of Materia Medica records: "Artemisia argyi leaves are bitter and pungent, producing warmth, maturing heat, and possessing a pure yang nature. They can restore the essential yang, clear the twelve meridians, promote the three yin meridians, regulate qi and blood, dispel cold and dampness, warm the uterus... Using moxibustion fire can penetrate various meridians and eliminate various diseases." Therefore, moxibustion has the effects of warming meridians, dispelling cold, supporting yang and solidifying qi, eliminating blood stasis and dispersing nodules, and inducing heat in the external organs.
Guan Yuan acupoint
【 Positioning 】 Located in the abdomen, 3 inches below the navel.
【 Moxibustion Method 】 Use moxa sticks for 3-5 days or moxa sticks for 10-15 minutes until the skin is warm.
【 Effect 】 Warm the kidneys and consolidate essence, replenish qi and return yang, regulate Chong Ren, regulate qi and blood.
Shenque Cave
【 Positioning 】 Located in the abdomen, at the center of the navel.
【 Moxibustion Method 】 Perform gentle moxibustion, aiming the end of the moxa stick ignited at the Shenque acupoint, maintaining a distance, and fumigate for 10-15 minutes; Salt separated moxibustion can also be performed, filling the Shenque acupoint with salt, covering it with thin ginger, placing a large moxa stick, and applying moxibustion for 3-5 days.
【 Effect 】 Resuscitate and nourish the body, warm and nourish the yang, nourish the spleen and stomach, and prolong life.
Zusanli acupoint
【 Positioning 】 3 inches below the outer knee, one horizontal finger away from the anterior tibial crest.
【 Moxibustion Method 】 Moxibustion with moxa sticks for 3-5 days, or moxa sticks for 10-15 minutes, with the moxibustion site being warm and comfortable.
【 Effect 】 Tonifying the spleen and stomach, regulating qi and blood, aiding in circulation and digestion, tonifying weakness, and nourishing the body.