As the name suggests, the Great Cold Seasonal Node is the time of the year when the main environmental factor when its cold. The first thing that Chinese medicine recommends for this time is to eat clear and easily digested foods (qing dan shi wu ????).
Why is this? The Spleen and Stomach are the roots of Latter Heaven Qi. During the end of Winter even though the time of the year is still predominantly Yin, the Yang qi is being birthed.
Eating clear and easily digested foods allows the Spleen and Stomach to move and transform appropriately, and to build Latter Heaven Qi. If foods are too heavy, overly greasy or overly sweet, then the ability of the Spleen and Stomach to move and transform is impaired. Easy to digest foods ensures that you continue to build Latter Heaven Yang Qi to get ready for the upcoming spring.
Why is this? The Spleen and Stomach are the roots of Latter Heaven Qi. During the end of Winter even though the time of the year is still predominantly Yin, the Yang qi is being birthed.
In addition to protecting the Spleen with food, during Great Cold it is also important to consume foods that guard against dryness, and in particular Lung dryness.
To this end traditional recommendations for food include consuming white wood ear mushrooms (Yin Er ??) and pears, especially Asian pears.
A great traditional tea for Great Cold is Goji Berry and Red Date Tea (?????). To prepare, take about 1 teaspoon Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi) and 3 small red dates and place in a large mug. Cover with boiling hot water and let steep at least 5 minutes. After drinking about ½ the mug, refill once or twice more with boiling hot water. This tea supplements and moistens the Kidney and Liver, nourishes blood and supplements the Spleen.
Another good recipe for Great Cold comes directly from Tung’s writing. In his 1973 book on Tung’s Acupuncture he includes a chapter on dietary therapy. While not specifically listed for Great Cold, one of the recipes he gives is for pork kidney steamed with ginger strips. This simple dish treats kidney vacuity with dryness, manifesting for example with dry mouth.
Goji Berries
Jujubes
Another good recipe for Great Cold comes directly from Tung’s writing. In his 1973 book on Tung’s Acupuncture he includes a chapter on dietary therapy. While not specifically listed for Great Cold, one of the recipes he gives is for pork kidney steamed with ginger strips. This simple dish treats kidney vacuity with dryness, manifesting for example with dry mouth.