Rain Water is the second solar term of the twenty-four solar terms and the second solar term of spring. During this period, the focus is on nourishing the spleen and stomach. As the foundation of life, a healthy spleen and stomach enable better digestion and absorption of nutrients, providing energy for the body.
Ancient texts state: "Those skilled in nurturing life nourish the inner self; those unskilled nourish the outer.Those who excel in nurturing the interior ensure the harmonious functioning of the viscera, the proper positioning of the triple energizer, and the appropriate consumption of food and drink." This underscores that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of life and health, a principle emphasized by generations of physicians and wellness practitioners. Modern medical research confirms that regulating the spleen and stomach effectively enhances immune function and combats aging.
Regulating the spleen and stomach primarily involves attention to four aspects: diet, daily routines, exercise, and emotional well-being.
1. Mental State
"Anger, grief, and fear all damage vital energy." Therefore, mental regulation requires cultivating tranquility, reducing desires, and avoiding excessive exertion to nourish this vital energy.
2. Regular Daily Routine
The Huangdi Neijing explains that the ancient sages maintained robust health by adhering to a consistent daily rhythm, practicing moderation in eating, and aligning with the natural cycles of the four seasons. Harmonizing with nature preserves vitality by following its rhythmic changes, allowing the body's rhythms to adjust with shifts in time, space, and seasonal climates. This achieves the goals of strengthening spleen and stomach function, nurturing acquired constitution, and prolonging life.During this solar term, one should rise and retire early.
3. Moderate Dietary Habits
In the first lunar month, minimize consumption of warming foods like dog meat, mutton, and sparrow meat. Avoid pungent-warming ingredients such as Sichuan pepper and fennel. Refrain from eating raw onions or garlic; peanuts should be boiled rather than stir-fried.Spring brings warming weather, yet it remains windy and dry with cooler mornings and evenings. As wind pathogens intensify, symptoms like dry skin, mouth, and cracked lips may arise. Therefore, increase intake of fresh vegetables and juicy fruits to replenish bodily fluids.
As spring marks the beginning of all things sprouting and the season when yang energy surges, reduce consumption of greasy foods. Instead, increase intake of red dates, Chinese yam, lotus seeds, leeks, spinach, citrus fruits, honey, and sugarcane;to prevent excessive yang energy from leaking outward. Otherwise, liver wood may grow too vigorously.while in the south, particularly the Pearl River Delta region, soups are preferred for dietary therapy. Examples include monkey head mushroom and fresh chicken soup, poria cocos and Chinese yam stewed with lean pork, spinach and beef slices soup, and Chinese yam and astragalus with pork stomach soup.
When temperatures are damp and cold, nourishing soups are also beneficial for the spleen and stomach, such as Cordyceps sinensis stewed with waterfowl, mung beans and peanuts stewed with chicken feet, or goji berries and Chinese yam stewed with pork belly.
When using Chinese herbs for nourishment, consider the characteristics of spleen and stomach function. For instance, to tonify the spleen and stomach using methods that promote the rise of yang energy, ingredients like American ginseng, sand ginseng, cassia seeds, and white chrysanthemum flowers may be selected.
During the Rain Water solar term, the liver's yang energy, liver fire, and liver wind rise alongside spring's ascending yang energy. Therefore, special attention should be paid to ensuring the smooth flow and regulation of liver qi. Nature bursts with vitality, especially in the south where all things flourish. Those practicing health preservation should also invigorate their spirits, radiate vigor, focus their aspirations inward, and engage in purposeful activities.
Sun Simiao, a Tang Dynasty health expert, stated in his Thousand Gold Prescriptions: "During spring's seventy-two days, reduce sour flavors and increase sweet ones to nourish spleen energy." In the Five Elements theory, the liver corresponds to wood (sour taste) while the spleen relates to earth (sweet taste), with wood overcoming earth. Thus, spring diets should minimize sour foods and emphasize sweet ones to nurture spleen energy.Recommended foods include chives, Chinese toon, lily bulbs, pea shoots, chrysanthemum greens, shepherd's purse, spring bamboo shoots, Chinese yam, lotus root, taro, radish, water chestnut, and sugarcane.
The Thousand Gold Prescriptions for the Months states: "In the first month, porridge is advisable... First, Rehmannia porridge to nourish the kidneys." Take 150g fresh Rehmannia root, pound to extract juice and set aside. Wash 50g japonica rice, add appropriate rock sugar, and place all ingredients in a pot with sufficient water. Cook into porridge, then pour in the Rehmannia juice. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes until done.
Second: Fangfeng porridge to dispel wind from the limbs. Take one portion of Fangfeng root, decoct to extract the liquid, then use this liquid to cook the porridge. Third: Perilla porridge. Take one portion of Perilla leaves, stir-fry until slightly yellow and fragrant, then decoct the liquid to cook the porridge. Avoid raw, cold, sticky, or mixed foods to prevent damaging the spleen and stomach.
4. Exercise
During this solar term, avoid overly early morning workouts. It's best to exercise after sunrise. Drink some warm soup before exercising, and keep activities gentle—opt for relaxing movements. Around 10 a.m. the next day and before bedtime, perform abdominal rubbing exercises. However, this abdominal rubbing is not suitable for those who are full or empty-stomached, or for patients with inflammation, tumors, etc.