How to maintain the spleen, which is acquired? ——Comprehensive guide

Chinese medicine believes"The spleen is the foundation of acquired nature", mainly transports and transforms the essence of water and grain, and is the source of Qi and blood biochemistry. To maintain the spleen and stomach, we need to start from four aspects: diet, work and rest, emotions, and exercise. The key point isEat regularly, avoid cold and warm yang, exercise moderately, and regulate emotions. Among them, dietary conditioning is the core, and the principle of "grains provide nourishment" must be followed; the second step is to avoid cold stimulation and keep the abdomen warm; moderate exercise such as Baduanjin can help the spleen transport; emotional management can prevent "thinking from damaging the spleen". This article will analyze the specific maintenance methods in layers.

1. Diet to nourish the spleen: grains are the basis, warmth is the key
The spleen likes dryness and hates dampness, so you should eat more every dayMillet, pumpkin, yam, red datesWhen eating yellow food, the Five Elements Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that yellow food enters the spleen. Avoid iced drinks, raw and cold fruits, and can be added when cookingGinger, tangerine peelIsothermal seasoning. The famous Chinese medicine classic "Spleen and Stomach Treatise" points out: "If you eat more than you eat, your intestines and stomach will be damaged." It emphasizes that three meals should be regular and quantitative. It is recommended to eat breakfast between 7 and 9 o'clock (Chen time), when the stomach meridian is in season and is best for digestion. Research by Professor Wang Qi's team at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine shows that people who eat millet porridge regularly for a long time have an improvement rate of 73% in spleen and stomach function.

2. Protect the spleen in daily life: avoid cold and stay warm, work and rest appropriately
Spleen yang is susceptible to invasion by cold and dampness, so special attention is neededBelly warmth, it is recommended to wear an abdominal belt in air-conditioned environments in summer. Available in the eveningWormwood foot bath bagSoak your feet (the water temperature is about 40℃) to promote blood circulation. Zhang Jingyue, a doctor in the Ming Dynasty, emphasized in "Jingyue Complete Book": "Those with insufficient spleen yang should avoid wind and cold like arrows." Modern research shows that maintaining 7-8 hours of sleep every day can effectively maintain the spleen's transport and transformation function, and staying up late can significantly reduce amylase secretion by 40%.

3. Exercise to strengthen the spleen: gentleness is the main thing, persistence is the key
Recommended daily morning exercisesBaduanjin "To regulate the spleen and stomach must be done individually"This move enhances the function by stretching the spleen meridian. Experiments by the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences have proven that 3 months of continuous exercise can increase digestive enzyme activity by 25%. Walking is also ideal. It is recommended to walk for 15-20 minutes 30 minutes after a meal, but avoid strenuous exercise. "The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic" states that "sitting for long periods of time damages the muscles". Office workers should get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Simple abdominal rubbing (36 times clockwise) is also helpful.

4. Emotions and spleen regulation: relieve worries and balance the body and mind
The "Seven Emotions Cause Disease" theory of traditional Chinese medicine believes that excessive thinking can cause spleen stagnation. Passablemeditation, calligraphy, gardeningWait for activities to relieve stress, close your eyes and relax for 15 minutes at noon every day. A study by Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that the SIgA (secretory immunoglobulin A) content in the saliva of people with stable moods was 1.8 times higher than that of anxious people, proving that emotional regulation directly affects digestion and immunity. Ye Tianshi, a famous doctor in the Qing Dynasty, recorded in his case that the recovery period of patients with spleen and stomach diseases who cooperated with emotional conditioning was shortened by 30%.

Comprehensive suggestions:Maintenance of spleen and stomach needsEat in moderation, live regularly, exercise in moderation, and be spiritually disciplinedA combination of the four. Those with obvious symptoms can consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for syndrome differentiation and treatment. Commonly used Chinese patent medicines include Shenling Baizhu Powder (Tongrentang), Xiangsha Liujun Pills (Guangyuyuan), etc., but they must be used according to the doctor's advice. Remember the health motto: "If you want to live forever, keep your intestines clean; if you want to live forever, keep your intestines clear." A healthy spleen and stomach is the real "foundation of tomorrow."

References:
1. "Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach" by Li Gao (Four Great Masters of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties)
2. "Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Care" Wang Qi (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine)
3. China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences "Research on the Effect of Traditional Exercises on Digestive Function" 2021
4. The State Food and Drug Administration publishes the Catalog of Chinese Patent Medicines (2023 Edition)