June 5th marks the arrival of “Mangzhong” (Grain in Ear), one of the 24 solar terms. Also known as “Busy Planting,” it signifies the time when “grain crops with awns can be sown.” During this period, temperatures rise significantly, rainfall is abundant, and air humidity is high. Crops enter a vigorous growth phase, and the human body also faces the challenge of a hot and humid environment.
An old saying goes: “In Mangzhong and Summer Solstice, one needs to be led when walking; the one leading needs to be pulled, and the one pulling needs to be pushed.” This vividly reflects the sluggish and muddled state people often experience during this time, making health preservation even more crucial.
During Mangzhong, Remember to Eat More Reishi mushroom slice
Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Spirit, Strengthens the Spleen and Benefits Qi
In the Mangzhong season, the climate is hot and humid, making the human body susceptible to damp-heat. This can lead to irritability and decreased sleep quality, subsequently affecting overall health. Therefore, the focus of Mangzhong health preservation is on clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness, strengthening the spleen and benefiting qi, and nourishing the heart and calming the spirit.
Reshi is a treasure among traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. It is listed as a superior grade in the Shennong Ben Cao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), described as “mild in nature, non-toxic, primarily treating chest congestion and benefiting heart qi,” capable of regulating the five zang viscera.
Organic Reishi mushroom, with its sweet taste, enters the spleen meridian, enabling the spleen and stomach to properly absorb the essence of food and water. Entering the liver meridian, Reishi helps to excrete toxins. Furthermore, Reishi enters the heart meridian, nourishing heart qi, calming the mind, thereby alleviating negative emotions such as anxiety and irritability, and improving sleep.
During the Mangzhong season, consider brewing a cup of Reishi tea to gradually calm your body and mind with its subtle mushroom aroma, or incorporate Reishi into your meals to nourish yourself throughout the day.
Reishi and Spine Date Seed Tea: Calms the spirit and nourishes the heart.
Ingredients: 5g Reishi slices, 10g Spine Date Seed, 5g Poria
Preparation: Wash all ingredients, place them in a teapot, add an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Drink as tea.
Reishi Yam Pork Rib Soup Protects the Liver and Harmonizes the Stomach, Calms the Spirit and Aids Sleep
Ingredients: 10g Reishi slices, 300g yam, 200g pork ribs, appropriate amounts of ginger slices, scallion segments, and salt.
Preparation: Blanch pork ribs, then remove and set aside. Peel and cut yam into chunks. Place Reishi slices, pork ribs, ginger slices, and scallion segments into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 1 hour. Add yam and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Finally, season with salt to taste.
Mangzhong Health Preservation Adheres to Three Major Principles
1. Diet Should Be Light; Eat Bitter Foods to Nourish the Heart
The “bitter summer” of Mangzhong begins, and people often experience loss of appetite. Excessive consumption of cold drinks can also harm the spleen and stomach.
Regarding diet, first, prioritize light and bland foods. Second, “eat something bitter.” In traditional Chinese medicine, the “bitter” taste enters the “heart meridian,” so most bitter foods have the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer-heat, drying dampness, and strengthening yin, such as bitter melon, lotus seeds, and lettuce. Third, eat more heart-nourishing foods like eggs, chicken, lotus seeds, longan, millet, and Reishi, all of which are highly beneficial for heart meridian care.
2. Sleep Late and Wake Early, Take a Midday Nap to Supplement Sleep
To adapt to the changing seasons, during the period from Mangzhong to Summer Solstice, we should align with the characteristic of shorter nights and longer days by appropriately sleeping later and waking earlier.
However, summer days are longer, and sleep can be easily disturbed. In this case, an appropriate midday nap is very beneficial for the body. A midday nap of about 20 minutes is generally recommended. For office workers, if a nap isn’t possible, closing your eyes and resting for 30 minutes can also be effective.
3. Moderate Exercise, Preferably in the Morning or Evening
“Sweat is the fluid of the heart,” so exercising and sweating at noon is most likely to harm the heart. For those who enjoy exercising, it is recommended to engage in moderate physical activity in the cooler mornings or at dusk.
During exercise, ensure adequate water intake. If you sweat excessively, you can appropriately drink light sugar-salt water or mung bean-salt soup. Absolutely avoid craving cold drinks.
Mangzhong has arrived, and all things are flourishing. Why not adapt to the season and harness the nourishing power of Reishi to sow beautiful expectations and harvest abundance and health!
