In winter, both men and women should nourish the spleen. This formula with four herbs strengthens the spleen and stomach, ensuring sufficient qi and blood.

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When it comes to strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach many people think it is only necessary for those with poor appetite In fact everyone regardless of age or gender needs to nourish themBecause the spleen and stomach are the foundation of the acquired constitution and the source of qi and blood production。A strong spleen and stomach function gives people vitality and makes them less prone to illness.

If you oftenAbdominal distension and pain, postprandial fullness and indigestion, poor appetite, diarrhea after consuming raw, cold, or greasy foods, fatigue and weakness, sallow complexion, cold hands and feet, or loose, sticky stools.These are allSpleen and Stomach DeficiencyTranslate the following text to en, maintaining the original format but without adding any symbols: , especiallyspleen and stomach deficiency cold, impaired transportation and transformationperformance

The qi of the human spleen and stomach gradually depletes with age, improper diet, and overwork, leading to insufficient generation of qi and blood, which gives rise to various illnesses. To maintain physical strength and delay aging, it is essentialProtect the Spleen and Stomach。

Look at those people with poor digestion, why are they listless and have flabby muscles?It is because the spleen and stomach are weak and cannot transform food into essential substances to nourish the whole body.

Why is the complexion dull and the lips paleIt is still due to the insufficient function of the spleen and stomach in transforming and generating qi and blood.

Why are you prone to catching colds and have poor resistance?The root cause also lies in the spleen and stomach, where earth fails to generate metal, leading to insecurity of lung defense.

Winter is the season for nurturing and storing energy, and it is also a good time to regulate the spleen and stomach.

Only when the spleen and stomach function well can nutrients be better absorbed, laying a foundation for the growth and development in the coming spring. I suggest that everyone, regardless of age or gender, should pay attention to strengthening the spleen in winter.

In winter, strengthening the spleen in children can promote nutrient absorption and support growth and development. Issues such as poor appetite, indigestion, sallow complexion, emaciation, susceptibility to food stagnation, and diarrhea are often due to the delicate spleen and stomach in children and insufficient digestive function, which require regulation.

Middle aged men and women need to strengthen the spleen more. High work pressure and irregular diet are most harmful to the spleen and stomach. Strengthening the spleen is to reserve energy for the body to cope with busy life.

Middle aged and elderly individuals who want to maintain health and slow down functional decline should focus on strengthening the spleen. This is especially important for those with chronic stomach issues, indigestion, or weak constitutions. When the spleen and stomach are in good condition, many minor ailments will naturally improve.

Here is a classic small formula to share with everyone, it only contains four herbs

It is derived from the traditional Chinese medicine approach of strengthening the spleen and warming the middle, targeting syndromes of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold with impaired transportation and transformation, making it a formula with simple ingredients yet potent efficacy.

Explanation of the Prescription: Each of the four herbs has its own function, and together they work to strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach

Sovereign drug Atractylodes macrocephalaIt is the "fixed star" in the formula, with the heaviest dosage. It is warm in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, and specifically enters the spleen and stomach meridians. It is a key herb for tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen, drying dampness, and promoting diuresis. Just as dry soil can absorb moisture and support all things, Atractylodes macrocephala can dry and transform damp turbidity in the spleen and stomach, restoring the spleen's transportation and transformation functions. When stir-fried with soil or bran, its ability to strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea is further enhanced, making its tonifying effects solid without being greasy. Once the spleen and stomach functions are strengthened, abdominal distension and loose stools will naturally disappear, qi and blood will rise to nourish the body, and the complexion will gradually become rosy.

Poria and CodonopsisThey are a pair of "spleen-strengthening gems". Poria is sweet and bland, excelling at promoting diuresis, draining dampness, and strengthening the spleen while calming the mind. It acts like an efficient "cleaner," capable of expelling the damp turbidity produced by spleen deficiency through urination, allowing the spleen to operate unburdened and focus on transportation and transformation. Codonopsis is sweet and neutral, effective at tonifying the middle and boosting qi, generating fluids, and nourishing blood. It is an excellent choice for gently tonifying spleen and stomach qi. Unlike ginseng, which is more potent in tonification, it is more suitable for long-term regulation and can gradually enhance the spleen and stomach's transportation and transformation power, as well as the ability to generate qi and blood. When used together, one tonifies and the other drains, strengthening the spleen without retaining dampness, and draining dampness without harming the body's vital energy.

The most wonderful part is the adjuvant and messenger herb dried gingerSeemingly ordinary, it is actually the "fire that warms the middle" in the formula. Extremely pungent and hot, it can directly enter the spleen and stomach, warming the middle and dispelling cold, invigorating spleen yang. For symptoms such as cold stomach pain, vomiting clear water, preference for warmth and pressure caused by spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, dried ginger is like the warm sun in winter, capable of dispelling the yin-cold in the middle jiao. It can also warm and unblock the meridians, promote the circulation of qi and blood, and guide the medicine directly to the affected area, making the entire formula tonifying without stagnation, warming without dryness.

The combination of the four herbs is precise:White Atractylodes strengthens the spleen and dries dampness to treat the root cause, Codonopsis pilosula replenishes qi and generates blood to address deficiency, Poria cocos promotes diuresis and eliminates dampness to aid transportation, Dried ginger warms the middle and disperses cold to warm yangThe entire formula combines warming and tonifying, addressing both the root cause and symptoms, thereby warming the spleen and stomach, resolving damp turbidity, and restoring transportation and transformation. With improved spleen and stomach function, not only can various symptoms of indigestion be resolved, but a person's energy, complexion, and physical strength will also improve accordingly.

Treatment Principle Approach: Addressing the core pathogenesis of "spleen-stomach deficiency-cold and impaired transportation and transformation," the treatment method of "warming the middle, fortifying the spleen, boosting qi, and dispelling dampness" is established. By using warming and tonifying to mobilize the spleen and stomach's own functions, and by dispelling dampness to reduce the burden on the spleen and stomach, the goal of restoring their normal intake and transportation is achieved.

Outpatient Medical Case Notes - A Healthy Spleen and Stomach Ensure the Well-being of All Symptoms

There was a 48-year-old female patient who was diagnosedChronic Atrophic Gastritis (Stage C2) with Bile RefluxFor many years, the patient has often felt cold and experienced vague pain, which is relieved by drinking warm water or applying pressure. There is poor appetite, with early satiety and discomfort after eating, especially noticeable in the afternoon. The stool has been consistently loose for years, occurring 2-3 times daily. The complexion is sallow and dull, with mental fatigue and cold hands and feet throughout all seasons. The tongue is pale and swollen with tooth marks on the edges, a white and slippery coating, and the pulse is deep and thready.

This is a typicaldeficiency cold of spleen and stomach with dampness stagnationBased on the above ideas, the modified treatment of strengthening the spleen and warming the middle is administeredThe main formula contains Atractylodes macrocephala, Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, and dried ginger, with slight modifications based on the syndrome.and instructed them to ensure their diet is warm, soft, and fine, avoiding raw and cold fruits as well as greasy and sweet desserts.

After about a month of conditioningThe patient reported a significant reduction in cold pain in the stomach, improved appetite, and decreased bloating. Upon reexamination after some time, the stool was basically formed, occurring once daily, with a brighter complexion and a subjective improvement in energy. A follow-up gastroscopy six months later showed that the pathological report indicated a reduction in the extent of gastric mucosal atrophy (improved from stage C2 to stage C1) and a decrease in inflammatory activity. The patient remarked, "I never thought this chronic stomach condition could actually be regulated by these few ordinary herbs. Now I enjoy my meals and feel more energetic."

SummaryThe spleen and stomach are the cornerstone of health. In winter, leveraging the natural world's gathering force and employing the right methods to strengthen the spleen and nourish the stomach is like solidifying the foundation of the body's house. With a solid foundation, the production of qi and blood has a source, not only improving digestive system issues but also revitalizing the overall state of the body. Please refer to this approach under the guidance of a professional traditional Chinese medicine practitioner based on syndrome differentiation.