Spleen deficiency broadly refers to a range of pathological phenomena and conditions caused by impaired spleen qi function. Prolonged spleen deficiency can easily lead to various issues, such as poor appetite and sleep disturbances.
1. How to Address Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold in Autumn
1.1. Counteracting "Stomach Cold": Incorporate Pepper into Dishes
When cooking, preparing soups, or making congee, add a small amount of pepper, dried ginger, and dried tangerine peel. These ingredients possess neutral, pungent, and warm properties, effectively dispelling cold pathogens and protecting stomach qi. This method is not only suitable for winter but can be incorporated year-round into the diets of those with spleen-stomach yang deficiency.
1.2. For nausea: Suck on ginger
As the saying goes, "Ginger is the holy medicine for vomiting." Experts note ginger is the most effective and simplest remedy for nausea and vomiting. When feeling nauseous, place a thin slice of ginger in your mouth. Saliva will carry the pungent ginger juice into your stomach, alleviating vomiting symptoms.
1.3. The Best Autumn Wellness Practice: Warm Porridge
Porridge primarily uses japonica rice, millet, or glutinous rice as ingredients. These grains are not only nutrient-rich but also possess beneficial properties: rice, millet, and Job's tears are sweet and neutral in nature, harmonizing stomach qi and tonifying spleen deficiency. Thus, consuming rice porridge in winter is highly beneficial.
2. Symptoms of Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold
2.1. Common manifestations of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold include cold hands and feet, a thin and tall physique, poor digestion, aversion to cold, and pronounced symptoms in summer or winter. In summer, while others enjoy air conditioning, sufferers feel chilled immediately upon entering air-conditioned spaces;In winter, the situation worsens—they must wear far more layers than others, shivering violently at the slightest breeze. A rumbling stomach signals an urgent need to dash to the bathroom.
2.2. Using the restroom is an unavoidable necessity. When suffering from spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, you may notice loose, odorless stools. Each bowel movement feels incomplete, often requiring a second trip shortly after, with severe cases experiencing continuous urges. The abdomen feels warm and soothes with pressure; holding a hot water bottle against the stomach provides comfort.
2.3. Appetite is poor; occasional overeating leads to indigestion and abdominal pain. Cold sensitivity worsens these symptoms, particularly in winter.
3. Causes of Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold
3.1. Anger, Worry, and Overthinking
It's widely known that excessive thinking harms the spleen. In today's increasingly competitive and high-pressure society, prolonged anxiety weakens the spleen.
3.2. Consuming large amounts of cold foods
People now grab drinks and fruits straight from the refrigerator, sometimes indulging in copious amounts of ice cream for instant gratification. These behaviors severely damage the spleen.People lack adequate exercise, and some are even physically weak, which further damages the spleen.
3.4 Irregular eating habits
Irregular meals, frequent overeating, consuming spicy, greasy, or stimulating foods, and eating large amounts of junk snacks all severely harm the spleen.
3.5 Excessive dieting
Overdoing weight loss, or even taking substandard diet pills,Inappropriate weight loss methods severely damage the spleen, and a weakened spleen can lead to other illnesses. How to Regulate Spleen and Stomach Deficiency in Autumn 1. Keep Warm and Nourish Those with chronic gastritis should pay special attention to keeping the stomach warm. Add layers of clothing as needed to prevent abdominal chills that can trigger stomach pain or aggravate existing conditions.
2. Limit Cold Foods
The stomach prefers warmth and dislikes cold. Remember to avoid not only icy items but also other cold foods like mung bean paste.
3. Healthy Hydration
Drink a cup of warm water (about 100ml) after brushing teeth each morning to aid intestinal cleansing. If soup is served during dinner, water intake may be reduced.
4. Maintain food hygiene
Avoid spoiled or moldy foods. Thoroughly wash raw fruits and vegetables to prevent contamination by pathogenic bacteria. Practice good hygiene by washing hands after using the restroom and before meals.
5. Chew Thoroughly and Eat Slowly
The stomach grinds food and initiates digestion, holding food for a period. Through peristalsis and gastric juices, large particles are broken down into smaller ones. These smaller particles are further decomposed into molecules that pass smoothly through the digestive tract lining into the bloodstream, while larger molecules are excreted as waste.Thus, eating slowly and thoroughly chewing is the proper way to nourish the spleen and stomach.
Who is prone to spleen-stomach deficiency-cold?
1. Those with a preference for strong flavors
Rich, greasy, overly salty, or excessively sweet foods increase the burden on the spleen and stomach during digestion, leading to feelings of fullness and distension. Frequent consumption of such foods can cause inflammation. The health of the spleen and stomach directly affects the metabolism of nutrients and fluids from food.
2. Those who frequently consume cold foods
Excessive intake of cold foods like ice cream and chilled fruits and vegetables can cause stagnation in spleen and stomach function, creating an ideal opportunity for external cold pathogens to invade.
3. Alcohol drinkers
Alcohol promotes dampness, acting as a key factor in aggravating "damp-toxin" conditions. This is especially true for habitual drinkers and those who frequently consume large amounts of alcohol.
4. Those who crave coolness
Dressing too lightly in cold seasons—prioritizing style over warmth—easily allows pathogens to invade the body and damage the spleen and stomach.During summer heat, those who habitually sleep on the floor, use excessively cold bath water, or fail to dry hair promptly after washing are prone to spleen deficiency.
5. Individuals with poor sleep quality "When the stomach is unsettled, sleep is disturbed." Adequate spleen-stomach transformation nourishes mental tranquility, and calmness ensures restful sleep. Spleen-stomach function directly impacts sleep quality. Those with spleen deficiency often experience poor sleep and may drool due to this deficiency.
6. Those who sit for prolonged periods
Individuals who sit for extended periods are more prone to symptoms like heaviness in the body and weakness in the limbs. These may indicate spleen deficiency with excessive dampness. Moreover, the less one exercises, the more likely the body is to accumulate dampness.