How to be healthy Lìchūn (Beginning of Spring)
- thyook5
- Feb 5
- 4 min read
Lìchūn (Beginning of Spring) is the first of the 24 solar terms, symbolizing the start of a new year and a critical period for the transition between the old and new energetic fields. The Beginning of Spring in 2026 starts in the early hours of February 4th, which is considered an "Early Lìchūn," meaning the energy activates ahead of schedule! Although temperatures gradually warm up, be cautious of the fluctuating cold and warm weather, as the liver and lungs are susceptible to damage, leading to colds, nasal allergies, and liver qi stagnation. This article will recommend 8 Lìchūn foods and 4 soup recipes to nourish the liver, moisten the lungs, tonify the kidneys, and strengthen the spleen, and also explain Lìchūn health taboos.
The key focus of Lìchūn health preservation is to allow the body's yang energy to rise and flow smoothly without obstruction:
Diet: Consume more foods that are pungent, sweet, and dispersing, such as red dates (jujube), scallions, chives, and radish. Reduce sour-tasting foods, which have a constricting nature, to avoid hindering the rise of liver qi.
Routine: Sleep early and rise early. Encourage outdoor activities like hiking to promote the rising of yang energy.
Warmth Preservation: Guard against cold. With significant day-night temperature fluctuations and unpredictable weather, adjust clothing layers timely according to changes. Pay special attention to keeping the waist and back warm.
Mood: Maintain a happy mood and avoid intense anger to keep liver qi flowing smoothly.
Lìchūn Foods | 8 Nourishing Ingredients
1. Spring Bamboo Shoots
Nature: Cold, Flavor: Sweet.
Benefits: Clears heat, detoxifies, promotes urination, reduces swelling, and aids digestion.
2. Spinach
Nature: Cool, Flavor: Sweet.
Benefits: Nourishes blood, stops bleeding, moistens dryness, lubricates intestines, promotes intestinal health.
3. Bean Sprouts
Nature: Cool, Flavor: Sweet.
Benefits: Clears heat, detoxifies, cools blood, stops bleeding.
4. Chives
Nature: Warm, Flavor: Pungent.
Benefits: Helps tonify kidneys, support yang, warm the middle, and dispel cold.
5. Honey
Nature: Neutral, Flavor: Sweet.
Benefits: Moistens lungs, relieves cough, moistens intestines, relieves constipation, beautifies skin.
6. Fresh Ginger
Nature: Warm, Flavor: Pungent.
Benefits: Induces sweating to relieve exterior syndromes, warms the middle to stop vomiting, dispels cold, alleviates pain.
7. Carrot
Nature: Neutral, Flavor: Sweet.
Benefits: Strengthens spleen, promotes urination, improves eyesight, moistens skin.
8. Red Dates (Jujube)
Nature: Sweet, Flavor: Warm.
Benefits: Helps tonify the middle and boost qi, nourish qi, and calm the spirit.
Lìchūn Soups | 4 Soup Recipes
1. Five-Finger Peach Root, Chayote, Corn, Carrot & Carp Soup
Ingredients: 1 chayote, 20g Job's tears (yi yi ren), 20g white hyacinth beans (bai bian dou), 30g five-finger peach root (wu zhi mao tao), 100g lean pork, 1 carp, 1-2 carrots, 1-2 corn cobs (amount of carrot/corn as preferred).
Method: Peel and cut carrots and corn. Trim ends of chayote and cut into pieces. Clean carp and cut into sections. Place all ingredients in a pot, add water, and simmer for 1 hour.
Benefits: Strengthens spleen, improves appetite, boosts qi, and dispels dampness.
Note: Constipation patients should consume with caution.
2. Pumpkin, Astragalus (Huangqi), & Chinese Yam Soup
Ingredients: 20g astragalus root (huang qi), 30g Chinese yam (huai shan), 1/5 pumpkin, 200g pork ribs, 3 red dates, salt to taste, 10g dried tangerine peel (chen pi).
Method: Remove seeds from pumpkin and cut into chunks. Rinse other ingredients. Make a slit on each red date. Put ribs, pumpkin, red dates, astragalus, Chinese yam, and tangerine peel into a pot with 600ml water. Bring to a boil over high heat for 15 mins, then simmer on low for 45 mins. Add salt to taste.
Benefits: Strengthens spleen and boosts qi.
Note: Constipation patients should avoid.
3. Cordyceps Flowers, Sea Whelk & White Fungus Soup
Ingredients: 30g cordyceps flowers, 30g white fungus (snow ear), 80g dried sea whelk slices, 10g sweet & bitter apricot kernels (nan bei xing), 10g lily bulbs (bai he), 200g lean pork, 3 dried figs.
Method: Soak cordyceps flowers, apricot kernels, lily bulbs, and sea whelk slices. Soak white fungus until soft, then tear into pieces. Blanch lean pork. Add all ingredients to a pot, bring to a boil, then simmer for about 1 hour. Season with salt at the end.
Benefits: Moistens lungs, boosts qi, tonifies kidneys.
4. Goji Berry & Osmanthus Flower Honey Drink
Ingredients: 5 goji berries (gou qi zi), 1 tsp dried osmanthus flowers, 1 tsp honey.
Method: Steep goji berries and osmanthus flowers in hot water. After 5 minutes, add 1 tsp honey and stir.
Benefits: Soothes liver, regulates qi, moistens lungs.
Note: Diabetics should be cautious and avoid.
Lìchūn Taboos | 6 Major Health Preservations Taboos - Avoid Staying Up Late / Over-Tonifying
Staying Up Late: Spring is a prime time for nourishing the liver. Staying up late harms liver health and affects the body's yang energy growth.
Over-Tonifying: While nutrition is needed in spring, excessive tonification may lead to internal heat or burden the body.
Emotional Agitation: Liver qi tends to be vigorous in spring, and emotions can fluctuate greatly. Try to maintain a calm state of mind, avoiding excessive excitement or anger.
Staying Indoors for Long Periods: Go outdoors more to connect with nature and breathe fresh air, adapting to the temperature changes of spring, but be mindful of staying warm.
Overeating: Diet should remain light. Overeating not only affects the digestive system but can also burden the liver.
Excessive Use of Air Conditioning or Heating: Large indoor-outdoor temperature differences can easily cause colds or discomfort. Gradually adapt to natural temperature changes.
The above information is for reference only. If you have any questions, please consult a registered TCM practitioner.
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