The opening chapter of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, "Su Wen: The Great Treatise on Regulating
the Four Qi and Regulating the Spirit," states: "The fundamental principle of all things is the yin and y
ang of the four seasons." Two thousand years ago, wise men had already understood that humans an
d nature are interdependent, and that heaven and man are in harmony. Only by adjusting the method
s of health preservation in accordance with the changes of the four seasons can we achieve the state
of "correspondence between heaven and man" in health preservation. In today's climate change, revis
iting the classic wisdom of seasonal health preservation is like opening a door for modern people to r
eturn to nature and enjoy good health.
1、 Spring Birth Opportunity: Soothing the Liver and Regulating the Body
In the third month of spring, "Heaven and earth are born, and all things are proud", at this time, the Y
ang energy of the human body begins. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon emphasizes that "lying dow
n at night and getting up early, walking widely in the courtyard", combing hair a hundred times in the
morning can help the liver and gallbladder meridian qi rise. The diet should be green. Toon mixed with
tofu and shepherd's purse Spring rolls should not only meet the occasion, but also calm the liver and
regulate qi. Zhang Xichun once recorded that in spring, brewing tea with three coins each of roses and
Buddha's hands can relieve liver depression and qi stagnation. But it is important to remember the sayi
ng 'spring covers autumn frosts' and not to reduce clothing too early to prevent wind and cold from ta
king advantage of the situation.
2、 The Way of Xia Chang: Nourishing the Heart and Protecting the Yang
In the summer season, "the qi of heaven and earth exchange, and all things are splendid and solid." Th
e Inner Canon advocates "sleeping at night and getting up early, never tired of the sun. At six o'clock in
the morning, the Heart Sutra is in command, and one can practice the Eight Section Brocade techniqu
e of "shaking the head and tail to dispel the fire in the heart". Balsam pear and spareribs soup, lotus se
ed and lily Congee can not only clear the heart fire, but also strengthen the spleen and remove dampn
ess. Shaoxing folk still retains the tradition of "Sanfu Tie", applying warm yang medicine to the acupoin
ts of the Du meridian, which is in line with the principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer". Ho
wever, it is necessary to be vigilant about the "cold form and cold drink" in air-conditioned rooms, and
to maintain the spleen and stomach yang energy with a normal temperature diet.
3、 The method of autumn harvest: moistening the lungs and reducing stagnation
In the golden autumn, the weather is urgent and the earth's qi is clear. The Inner Canon teaches people
to "lie down early and wake up early, and be happy with chickens". White foods such as tremella snow
pear soup and almond dew are in time, but it is necessary to pay attention to "not eating ginger in aut
umn", which means to avoid damaging the lung yin with pungent and loose substances.
4、 The foundation of winter storage: tonifying the kidneys and consolidating essence
The cold winter has arrived, and the water, ice, and earth are cracked, without disturbing the sun. The I
nner Canon advocates that one must wait for the sunlight when lying down early and getting up late.
At the hour of You (17-19 o'clock), the kidney meridian is in full swing, and you can rub your waist with
your palm until it feels warm. Angelica ginger mutton soup, black beans and walnuts Congee are black
into the kidney. However, it is necessary to grasp the principle of "tonifying but not greasy". Those with
yin deficiency and high fire should be assisted by ophiopogon japonicus, polygonatum odoratum and
other yin nourishing products.
Looking back at the nodes of seasonal rotation, the four season health preservation rules in the Yellow
Emperor's Inner Canon are like precise ecological clocks. From the dietary wisdom of "eating sprouts in
spring and melons in summer" to the daily routine of "taking three hundred steps in the morning and
a pot of soup in the evening", the philosophy of life of "harmony between yin and yang and numerolo
gy" is evident everywhere. When we let go of our obsession with nature and learn to listen to the soun
d of our bodies like migratory birds sensing the monsoon, we find our true way of health. This survival
wisdom that conforms to the times is not only a precious legacy left by traditional Chinese medicine to
future generations, but also a compass for modern people to rebuild the rhythm of life.
