Winter Solstice Wellness: Focus on "Two Cleanses and One Supplement"
Cleanse Internal Heat—Raw Radish, Cooked Pears
The Winter Solstice marks the onset of cold weather. As chilly air arrives, people rush to bundle up and fortify their bodies, often failing to clear away accumulated heat before trapping it inside.Combined with dry weather and frequent smog, this easily triggers excessive lung heat, leading to symptoms like dry sore throat, dry cough with heat, and blood-tinged phlegm.
Benefits of Eating Pears
Pears moisturize the lungs, clear heat, nourish yin, and generate fluids. For those with dry-heat coughs, cooked pears can also suppress coughing. Here's a simple dietary remedy: Take 1 large pear and 60g of honey. Hollow out the pear, remove the core, and fill it with honey. Place in a large bowl and steam until tender. Consume 1-2 times daily.
Benefits of Eating Radishes
Raw radishes clear heat, generate fluids, cool the blood to stop bleeding, and dissolve phlegm to relieve coughs. Cooked radishes primarily benefit the spleen and stomach, aid digestion, and relieve gas. Therefore, for clearing heat and generating fluids, eating raw radishes in winter is more effective, or lightly blanching them before consumption—avoid cooking until soft. Note: Those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should avoid raw radishes.
Combat Depression—Get Sunlight and Eat More Fruits & Vegetables
During the Minor Snow solar term, the weather is often cold, gloomy, and overcast with limited sunlight. Combined with persistent haze, this period can trigger or exacerbate depression.People should adjust their mental state to the season, calm their minds, and give themselves positive affirmations to maintain an optimistic mindset. On sunny days, seize the opportunity to go out for a walk and soak up the sun—let the sunshine brighten your day. At the same time, use these outings as chances to communicate and interact with others, helping to ease emotional burdens.
Eating more fruits and vegetables like bananas and spinach can also help improve mood.Bananas contain compounds that help the brain produce serotonin, a substance that promotes happiness. Dark leafy greens like spinach are rich in folate, which also benefits mood regulation.
Nourish Liver and Kidneys—Massage Taixi and Eat More Dark Foods
In the depths of winter, fierce winds howl and all plants wither.After the Minor Snow solar term, north winds become frequent visitors, bringing cold weather as all things retreat into hibernation. To align with seasonal shifts, focus on nourishing the liver and kidneys. The Taixi acupoint, the source point of the kidney meridian, aids in nourishing yin, strengthening the kidneys, boosting yang energy, and fortifying the waist when massaged. Located on the inner side of the foot, it sits in the depression behind the inner ankle bone, between the Achilles tendon and the heel bone.Dietary nourishment should emphasize black foods, as they enter both the liver and kidney meridians, offering excellent nutritional benefits. 1. Black Sesame and Red Date Porridge First recommended is black sesame and red date porridge. Prepare 150g japonica rice, 20g black sesame seeds, 25g red dates, and white sugar to taste.Bring the rice and red dates to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat. Once the porridge is tender, stir in ground black sesame powder and sugar. Cook briefly before serving. Black sesame is renowned for nourishing the liver and kidneys, moisturizing the internal organs, and its widely acclaimed benefits for darkening hair and enhancing complexion. 2. Black Bean and Lamb Stew with Angelica Next, try stewing black beans and lamb with angelica root. This dish nourishes blood, beautifies the complexion, and warms the body—ideal for this season.>Another recommended dish is Black Bean and Lamb Stew with Angelica, which nourishes blood, enhances complexion, and warms the body—perfect for this season.
Use 1000g lean lamb, 100g black beans, 10g angelica root, and 10g longan. Simmer gently. Black beans are rich in plant protein, which, combined with lamb's animal protein, provides essential amino acids for significant health benefits.
Minor Snow Seasonal Wellness Recipes
Codonopsis and Goji Berry Porridge
Ingredients: 20g codonopsis root, 15g goji berries, 150g japonica rice. Wash the herbs and rice thoroughly, then simmer together into a porridge.
Benefits: Nourishes the liver, strengthens the spleen, and benefits the kidneys.
Amomum and Glutinous Rice Porridge
Ingredients: 20g Amomum, 200g glutinous rice. Wash Amomum, sun-dry or oven-dry, then grind into fine powder. Place washed glutinous rice in a clay pot with sufficient water. Simmer over low heat until nearly done. Stir in Amomum powder and salt, then cook briefly before serving.
Benefits: Warms the spleen and stomach, strengthens kidney yang.
Shiitake Mushroom and Goji Beef Stew
Ingredients: 250g beef, 150g shiitake mushrooms, 60g goji berries, a pinch of salt. Place all ingredients in a clay pot with sufficient water. Simmer until meat is tender. Season to taste.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen, nourishes the kidneys, and supports liver health.
Eucommia Bark, Achyranthes Root, and Black Bean Soup
Ingredients: 15g Achyranthes root, 150g black beans, 40g Eucommia bark, 20g red dates, 400g chicken thigh meat, 200g chicken wings. First decoct the herbs to extract the liquid, then add the meat pieces, scallions, and ginger to cook.
Benefits: Nourishes liver and kidneys, strengthens waist and knees.
Lotus Root, Carp, and Ginger Soup
Ingredients: 500g lotus root, 400g carp, appropriate amount of ginger. Simmer until cooked.
Benefits: Commonly used as a nourishing, thirst-quenching accompaniment to meals. Suitable for those with general weakness, including diabetes.
Mulberry and Sesame Cake
Ingredients: 50g mulberries, 80g black sesame seeds, 30g perilla seeds, 50g white sugar, 650g glutinous rice flour, 300g sticky rice flour. Knead dough with medicinal broth, shape into cakes.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and stomach, nourishes the liver and kidneys.
Additionally, for those with cold limbs and difficulty warming up at night, consuming stewed pork with aconite root or stewed squab with aconite root can achieve warming yang and tonifying deficiency effects.