After the Beginning of Spring, the liver qi within the body grows stronger with the deepening of spring, reaching its peak around the Qingming Festival.

Therefore, Qingming is an excellent time to nourish the liver.

To better nurture and generate yang energy, during the Qingming Festival people should consciously align their daily routines with the seasonal rhythms and rise earlier.

From 7:00 to 9:00 is the Chen hour, when the Stomach Meridian is at its peak. If one fails to rise early, the yang energy that should be rising may be stifled, turning into internal heat that disturbs the heart, lungs, and brain, leading to symptoms such as palpitations, dry throat, dizziness, and blurred vision.

With the Qingming Festival now behind us, we have entered late spring, when temperatures rise and the body’s yang energy begins to surge outward, leading to an imbalance between yin and yang both internally and externally. This results in greater fluctuations in the circulation of qi and blood, so one should be cautious about consuming “triggering foods.”

Foods such as seafood, mutton, dog meat, roosters, chicken heads, duck heads, chicken necks, and duck necks, as well as chives, cilantro, fennel, scallions, ginger, and baijiu, should be consumed sparingly to avoid triggering pre-existing conditions.

It is appropriate to consume blood-tonifying and liver-nourishing foods such as red dates, goji berries, soy products, and poultry, duck, fish, and meat, as well as foods that harmonize the middle jiao and promote bowel movement, such as shepherd’s purse, spinach, Chinese cabbage, gai lan, and celery.

At the same time, it is important to avoid excessive consumption of foods that are cold and damp-producing, as they can damage the spleen and lead to dampness accumulation; special care should be taken to maintain the spleen and stomach’s normal function.

There is a popular folk health adage: “Cover up in spring, endure the chill in autumn.” This principle was distilled to help the body adapt to frequent temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and the temperature differences between indoor and outdoor environments in the morning and evening.

During the Qingming solar term, temperatures can fluctuate unpredictably and the weather is often uncertain, with alternating sunshine and rain. It is therefore advisable not to shed your cotton-padded clothes too soon; at the very least, carry a warm garment when you go out, just in case.

For individuals who already suffer from digestive disorders or rheumatoid arthritis, if they experience discomfort due to exposure to cold, they may add warming, spleen-strengthening, cold-dispelling, and damp-draining ingredients—such as ginger, galangal, and Chinese yam—to soups, broths, or rice porridge.

Since spring mornings are often too cold, if you’d like to exercise, consider doing so around 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.

Note that you should choose gentle, low-impact exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, and strolling, and avoid strenuous activities, as the harsh winter weather can leave your organs vulnerable, making them more susceptible to injury.

With the Qingming Festival now behind us, the spring sunshine is at its peak, making it the perfect time to focus on health maintenance—especially lowering blood pressure and reducing body fat. If you’re struggling with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar, it’s time to take action!

There is a meridian in our waist called the Dai Mai, which is like a belt around our waist.

Increasing excess fat around the waist indicates that the Dai Mai is not strong enough to restrain its growth.

Regularly tapping the Dai Mai can accelerate fat metabolism, reduce excess fat accumulation, and, while nurturing the Dai Mai, also help slim the waist.

The Tianzhu acupoint belongs to the Stomach Meridian and is also connected to the Large Intestine, making it exceptionally effective at promoting bowel movements and relieving constipation—truly a premier acupoint for weight loss.

When the gut is functioning properly, fat won’t accumulate.

The Tianzhu acupoint is located three finger-widths to the side of the navel. Strike it at least twice daily, for 5 to 10 minutes each time, until the lower abdomen feels warm.

The lower abdomen is the yin among yins and the prime spot where cold energy tends to accumulate, which is why massaging it is so crucial.

Regularly massaging the lower abdomen with the palm until it feels warm not only effectively dispels cold and warms the belly, but also nourishes the vital essence, replenishes qi, nourishes yin, and cultivates yang.

When your lower abdomen is at a normal temperature and your vital energy is robust, losing weight will become very easy.