Spring returns to the earth, and all things burst with vitality. At this time, the body's yang energy rises, making it an ideal season for nourishing the body. According to the Five Elements theory, spring corresponds to wood, which aligns with the liver among the five major organs. Thus, spring energy connects with the liver. Therefore, spring is the optimal season for liver nourishment.
Daily Practice of the "Three-Step Liver Nourishment"< >Li Dingwen, Deputy Director of the Preventive Medicine Center at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, explains that just as trees bud in spring, channeling all nutrients from roots to branches, human qi and blood also flow outward from within during this season, primarily relying on liver function. So how should we nourish and protect the liver daily? Li Dingwen recommends the following three practices.
First, minimize late nights and sleep lying flat. According to traditional Chinese medicine's principle that "blood returns to the liver during sleep," lying flat allows blood to fully flow back to the liver. The goal of spring liver care is to harmonize the liver's yin-yang balance. Therefore, aligning with the season's rhythm is crucial during this period—avoid the burden on the liver caused by staying up late.
Second, drink plenty of warm water and herbal teas like goji berry or rose.Early spring's cold and dry conditions can lead to dehydration. Increased water intake replenishes bodily fluids, enhances blood circulation, boosts metabolism, and reduces damage to the liver from toxins and internal heat. Regularly drink warm water or prepare herbal teas with ingredients like goji berries, rose petals, or dried tangerine peel. These can nourish the liver and kidneys, benefit essence and improve vision, and regulate liver qi.
Third, both men and women may benefit from taking Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan. In spring, individuals of either gender can consume this supplement. Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan replenishes qi and blood; women, whose health is more blood-dependent, may find it particularly beneficial. Men, prone to liver yin deficiency in spring leading to fatigue, can also take it to nourish the liver.
Liver Nourishment and Protection: Moderate Tonification Through Dietary Therapy is Essential
"Anger" is the most taboo emotion in health preservation and the primary cause of disease stemming from emotional disturbances. As spring brings the initial rise of yang energy, it is a season when liver qi is prone to hyperactivity, making the consumption of moderately tonifying foods particularly necessary. Jing Zhiwei, Vice President of the Chinese Medicinal Dietary Therapy Association, introduced several dietary therapy recipes to assist everyone.
The liver governs blood storage, making blood-nourishing therapies a common TCM approach. Duck blood, with its neutral nature and rich nutrition, is one such liver-protecting food. Crucian carp, neutral and sweet in nature, enters the stomach and kidney meridians. It harmonizes the middle burner, replenishes deficiency, combats fatigue, warms the stomach, boosts appetite, and strengthens vital energy. Combine 100g each of duck blood, crucian carp, and white rice to make a nourishing porridge that calms liver qi and nourishes liver blood.
Traditional Chinese health preservation also advocates "tonifying organs with their counterparts." Chicken liver, sweet and warm in nature, enters the liver and kidney meridians. Rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, and minerals like calcium, it addresses conditions arising from liver blood deficiency such as blurred vision, night blindness, dizziness, childhood malnutrition, miscarriage, and anemia following childbirth or illness.Take 3 fresh chicken livers and 100 grams of rice, boil together into porridge for consumption. This treats elderly individuals with insufficient liver blood, poor appetite, dry eyes, or tearing. However, it should be eaten while hot. When cooled, it develops an off-flavor and poor texture, also hindering its effects of warming the stomach and nourishing liver qi.
Pork liver, with its sweet and bitter taste and warm nature, nourishes the liver, improves vision, and enriches blood. When consumed with goji berries—which nourish the liver and replenish yin—it synergistically enhances liver tonification.Take 50g goji berries, 400g sliced pork liver, and 2 slices peeled ginger. Place goji berries and ginger in sufficient water, bring to a boil over high heat for about 30 minutes, then reduce to medium heat for another 45 minutes. Add pork liver, cook until thoroughly done, and season with salt.
Consumed once in the morning and once in the evening, this dish replenishes deficiency, benefits essence, clears heat, dispels wind, nourishes blood, and improves vision. It helps prevent dark circles caused by liver and kidney deficiency.Also suitable for those with qi and blood deficiency, sallow complexion, iron-deficiency anemia, or eye conditions such as blurred vision, night blindness, dry eyes, post-measles corneal softening in children, and corneal opacities caused by liver blood insufficiency. Beneficial for individuals who frequently work at computers or consume alcohol.However, individuals with hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, or high blood lipids should avoid pork liver due to its high cholesterol content. Additionally, those with liver lesions or nodules should refrain from consuming it. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that sour and sweet flavors transform into yin. Spring is an ideal season to increase intake of sweet foods like brown sugar, white sugar, red dates, honey, and Chinese yam, which nourish the spleen, strengthen the middle burner, and soften the liver.In early spring, consuming pungent and sweet foods like scallions, garlic, and chives not only dispels cold and aids the rise of spring yang energy but also helps kill bacteria and prevent illness. Spinach, a seasonal spring vegetable, nourishes yin, moistens dryness, soothes the liver, and enriches blood.Boil 100 grams of spinach into soup, add 100 grams of duck blood, season with a small amount of salt, and consume. This can treat anemia and stomach pain caused by stagnant liver qi. Selecting the Right Tea to Soothe the Liver and Regulate Qi For those concerned that excessive liver tonification may lead to excessive liver fire, Li Dingwen notes that drinking tea is one of the simplest methods for nourishing and protecting the liver."However, we must clearly distinguish whether we have a deficiency or excess pattern to select the appropriate tea," he emphasized.
Additionally, Xu Chunying from Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences suggests that excessive liver qi rising or stagnation can damage the liver. When choosing teas, opt for herbal formulas that soothe the liver and regulate qi.
For those with excessive liver fire, chrysanthemum tea or prunella tea is recommended. Individuals who are typically impatient and quick to anger, or who experience red, swollen, and painful eyes every spring, may benefit from daily chrysanthemum tea. Chrysanthemum is a pungent-cool herb that clears the exterior, with a sweet and bitter taste and a slightly cold nature, making it effective for clearing liver heat and reducing liver fire.Additionally, when experiencing eye fatigue, lean over a steaming cup of chrysanthemum tea and let the steam gently steam your eyes for two to three minutes to relieve eye strain.
Those engaged in mental work or excessive eye strain often experience headaches, bitter taste in the mouth, dizziness, red and dry eyes, irritability, and anger.Prunella vulgaris has pungent and bitter flavors with a cold nature, entering the liver and gallbladder meridians. It clears heat, reduces fire, improves vision, disperses nodules, and reduces swelling. However, note that chrysanthemum and prunella have cooling properties. Those with a cold constitution or weakness should avoid them, and individuals with robust constitutions and excessive fire should not consume them long-term to prevent damaging yang energy.If you experience persistent dryness and blurred vision in spring, this indicates liver yin deficiency—a deficiency pattern. In such cases, consider drinking goji berry tea daily. Goji berries are sweet and neutral in nature, nourishing the kidneys, liver, and lungs while improving vision, strengthening bones and tendons, and alleviating fatigue.
For liver fire rising, drink Yinchen and honeysuckle tea.Traditional Chinese medicine identifies liver fire rising as a common cause of headaches, stemming from liver dysfunction. This type of headache is most prevalent in spring. Prepare 15 grams each of Yinchen (Wormwood) and Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), steep in water for 30 minutes, then simmer for another 30 minutes. Drink as a tea, sweetened with honey if desired.