How to stay healthy in spring

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Spring, a time of the regeneration of nature and the renewal of the spirit, is also characterized by the dramatic rise and fall of the barometer.

That is why this time of the year is somewhat troubling as more health risks may accompany the seasonal changes.

Consequently, people must learn to live with the changes and discover ways to guard against illnesses, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) experts who have inherited centuries-old theories that offer varied advice.

Their prescriptions range from a healthy diet to supplementary herbal concoctions.

Achieving harmony

People and nature are inseparable, as TCM theories stipulate. The changes in the climatic and seasonal environments will have a significant impact on people's health.

"TCM always emphasizes that people should follow the changes of nature," said Cao Dongyi, a research fellow from the TCM Academy of Hebei Province.

"When their bodies cannot adapt to the environmental changes, people will get sick."

Respiratory tract-related diseases inflict people most in spring, especially in the country's north.

The dominant feature of spring is the wind, which is highly active and changes fast, according to TCM theories. It is the wind that causes the temperature to widely fluctuate within a short time.

When cold and heat alternate frequently, people are prone to the cold and flu.

From the TCM perspective, the unfavourable influence of the seasonal changes is perceived as exogenous evil qi that threatens our health. If the human body is weak, this evil qi will take the opportunity to attack the body, making people susceptible to the cold or flu. Qi is the circulating life energy inherent in all matter.

The most harmful qi comes along with the wind, which is usually accompanied by some other adverse qi, such as heat and cold.

To protect yourself from the harmful qi, people need to follow TCM doctors' advice and strive to adjust the internal environment of the human body via herbal medicine and a healthy diet so that the flu virus cannot survive.

According to Fan Zhenglun, a veteran TCM doctor from the Pingxintang TCM clinic in Beijing, people should eat more high-fibre food, such as cereals, beans, vegetables, fruits and nuts, to prevent cold and flu in spring.

When they get sick, they should have food with little fat and meat. Porridge is especially preferable as it is easy to digest.

Another TCM theory stipulates that in nature, the cyclical movement of the heavenly bodies produces certain atmospheric influences and the laws ancient Chinese doctors observed are recorded in the "Huang Di Nei Jing" (Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor), the oldest TCM book.

Fan suggested that in cold seasons people should often eat warm food, such as chicken, beef, mutton, wheat and millet, to guard against the outside cold.

Beware of diseases outbreak

Still another TCM theory preaches that spring is the season of yang energy rising.

For people living in the temperate zones, their bodies store a lot of energy during the winter. When spring comes, inside qi will flow outside. The process is similar to germinating trees, whose nutrients start to spread to the branches from the roots in spring.

"If people suffer from certain diseases, the outward flow of qi will be stagnated in certain parts of the body; then they will feel uncomfortable. So spring is a time of the outbreak of chronic diseases," said doctor Fan, who made the conclusion based on his decades of clinical experience.

For example, people with arthritis and rheumatism tend to suffer more in spring.

Skin diseases like eczema and dermatitis are also very common in the season.

"Internal heat hidden in the body would accompany the flow of qi to come out of the body and affect the skin," said Fan.

TCM experts also try to analyze different illnesses from the viewpoint of the functions of different internal organs. For instance, one theory stipulates that spring is a liver season. People should take care of their liver carefully.

In a TCM perspective, the liver is responsible for spreading and ensuring the smooth flow of qi. Especially in spring, it is the liver that mobilizes qi outward.

Thus, the season may be the worst time for people with liver diseases.

People may also suffer a return of stomach disorders like gastric ulcer.

A TCM pattern for the case is called Disharmony of Stomach and Spleen.

In TCM's Five Element theory, the spring season is associated with the wood element, and the spleen and stomach are governed by the earth element. So they restrict each other, which would affect the function of the lung and spleen.

To prevent chronic diseases from recurring, Fan suggested that people should keep their warm clothes in spring, which is favourable for the pores to open up from a closed state in winter and ensures the body realizes a smooth transition from winter to summer.

From ChinaDaily.com

Nice topic to start with, medboop. Spring is really a nice season but i did not adjust myself to the drastic changing weather conditions. Most oftenly, i get myself in a sick condition. How can your Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help me out? What diet can i follow? Is it strictly vegetarian or something else?
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