Do you experience headaches, itchy skin, sore joints, and drowsiness in the spring? In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), these are symptoms of the emergence of “Kaze,” or “wind evil.”
In TCM, there are six evil spirits related to illness in humans—wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire. Among them, wind evil is “the origin of all diseases” and is nicknamed the “big brother of the disease kingdom.” It is said to lead to the incidence of most other diseases and can crop up all year round.
“Kaze” often forms a devil’s alliance with other evil spirits to attack people. For example, when “wind evil” crosses “cold evil,” it may lead to colds, or as cold wind blows, cause headaches, stiff necks, and the feeling of chill.
Story continues below advertisement
When “wind,” “damp,” and “cold” evils combine, they may cause joint swelling and pain, leading to reduced mobility.
If “wind evil” is added to “dry evil,” it may cause dry and itchy skin. In severe cases, it may cause scratches and bleeding.
If “wind evil” combines with “heat evil,” symptoms such as headache, fever, and irritability are likely to occur. In severe cases, it may even lead to stroke.
Massage Certain Acupoints to Relieve Headaches
Spring is well known for its unpredictable weather. The cold wind in spring is an ideal breeding ground for the “wind evil,” causing colds and headaches. This is especially true for people who spend most of their time outdoors, and they need to be much more careful. The best way to prevent headaches is to keep your neck warm, such as by wearing a scarf, to avoid direct cold contact.
Wind-cold headaches usually start from the back of the neck and the rear of the head and are often accompanied by swelling and soreness in the eyes, making it difficult to concentrate. Relief for this headache can come through self-treatment. Use your thumbs to press the two “Fengchi Points” on the left and right and the one “Fengfu Point” in the middle. These points are located in the depression above the hairline on the back of the head. Massaging them one to three minutes a day can effectively relieve headaches.
Story continues below advertisement
GB20 Wind Pool Feng Chi
DU16 Wind Palace Feng Fu
Soup to Relieve Itchy Skin
“Wind evil” in spring often works with “heat evil,” making the skin prone to red rashes that become itchier when exposed to heat. At this time, I would recommend trying “Mung Bean Licorice Soup.” This soup exhibits an excellent detoxification effect.According to the “Diet Therapeutic Materia Medica,” mung beans have a tonic effect, which can harmonize the five internal organs, calm a restless mind, and smooth the meridians (energy channels) throughout the body.
Story continues below advertisement
It should be noted that mung beans should not be peeled to best retain their medicinal property. Modern research has also found that mung beans are rich in protein and antioxidant flavonoids, which have detoxifying effects.
Licorice is an all-purpose partner in TCM. It can be blended with medicinal ingredients to enhance the curative effect.
Mung Bean Licorice Soup
Ingredients- 300 grams mung beans
- 15 grams raw licorice( about 4 or 5 pieces)
- 1000 milliliters water
- Wash mung beans and add to a pot with 1000ml water. Soak for 1 hour.
- Add raw licorice, bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and continue to simmer for another five minutes.
Note: People with chills, indigestion, and diarrhea should not eat too many mung beans or mung bean soup.
Soup for Improving Joint Pain
Many people experience stiffness and joint pain when it rains in the spring. The joke is that they may even sense climate change sooner than the meteorological channel. This is the work of “wind evil.“ When ”wind evil” finds its way in and succeeds in blocking the meridians, people with rheumatoid arthritis will feel more pain, which may even lead to joint deformation in severe cases.TCM believes that wind, cold, and dampness can cause pain in joints, bones, and muscles, collectively known as “numbness syndrome.” One treatment for removing wind and dampness is dietary therapy. Taiwan’s traditional snack, “Sishen Soup,” is a good choice.
Sishen Soup
Ingredients- 60 grams gorgon
- 30 grams Dioscorea polystachya
- 60 grams lotus seeds
- 25g poria
- 30 grams pearl barley
- 1500 milliliters water
- Wash all ingredients and add to a pot with the water
- Bring them to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 40 minutes
Story continues below advertisement
“Sishen decoction” is effective in removing dampness and can also improve gastrointestinal problems. For example, people who are prone to diarrhea or flatulence will benefit from Sishen decoction.
In addition, patients with rheumatoid arthritis should avoid eating fish skin, offal, straw mushrooms, asparagus, and thick broth, as these foods may aggravate inflammation.
Cautions: Pregnant women should not take it because the coix in barley may cause miscarriage.
3 Worthwhile Foods for Springtime Good Health
Ancient literature says, “mishap in spring by the wind, diarrhea will come in summer,” which means if you’re affected by wind evil in spring, your digestive system will be prone to problems in summer.In this respect, the following three foods are particularly suitable for eating in the spring:
- Spinach: TCM believes that spring is the season to protect the liver. Spinach nourishes the liver and enhances blood circulation, reversing dryness and quenching thirst, protecting the eyes, and delaying aging.
- Soybean sprouts: Soybean sprouts are known as the “spring detoxification artifact.” They can clear heat, detoxify, diuretic, and dehumidify, and help improve spring allergies and itchy skin. Studies have found that eating soybeans during germination can promote the release of bioactive compounds in the intestines. Soybeans germinating for four days have six times more active peptides and other ingredients than ungerminated soybeans and have better anti-inflammatory effects.
- Wolfberry: Considered to be one of the best medicines to nourish the liver and kidneys. They can be made into tea or eaten as a snack. Eating a handful of wolfberries every day can also help protect your eyes and improve your complexion.
In addition, one component in wolfberry, Zeaxanthin dipalmitate, is a carotenoid that is beneficial to the liver and offers hepatoprotective, anti-fibrosis, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Spring is the season when wind evil is notoriously active. Keeping ourselves warm, adjusting our diet, and massaging appropriate acupoints can effectively reduce the impact of wind evil on the body and keep the body healthy.Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
Copy
