100 common sense about traditional Chinese medicine health care

There are no "iron rules" that must be adhered to in the following 100 TCM health-preserving common sense. I have marked out the differences in all items that are controversial among schools. They are all derived from the daily clinical experience of front-line TCM doctors. There is no metaphysical content. Ordinary people will not have problems if they try it. There is no need to worry about "did I violate the health-preserving rules" - the one that suits you is the right one.

1. If your mouth feels bitter when you wake up in the morning and you feel nauseous while brushing your teeth, it is probably due to a rise in courage. Don’t eat too late or too oily dinner the day before to relieve the pain. You don’t have to take pills to relieve internal heat. (I just met a young man last week who took coptis supernatant tablets for half a month. The pain became even worse, and his spleen and stomach became cold.)

2. Controversy about eating ginger: Most of the northern typhoid fever sects believe that anyone with a weak spleen and stomach can eat it all year round. The southern febrile disease sect believes that people with hot weather and body heat should eat less. You can just follow your own feelings. Eat when you feel comfortable, and stop when your throat hurts. Don’t worry about the extreme statement of "eating ginger and arsenic at night".

3. Don’t sleep with wet hair after washing your head, even in summer. Once in a while, it’s okay. People who do this all year round will most likely suffer from migraines. If they do, rubbing your temples with ginger slices can relieve the pain.

4. Have you ever felt lazy just after eating and just wanted to lie down? This is actually a sign of spleen deficiency. After eating, walk slowly for 10 minutes instead of lying down immediately, and you can adjust it slowly.

5. Don’t drink iced drinks all year round, especially after exercise or during your period. If you drink it now, you will feel fine. But when you are 30 years old and your spleen and stomach are weak, you will either suffer from stomachache or abdominal pain. These are all accumulated problems.

6. Don’t soak your feet until you are sweating profusely. It is enough to soak your feet until your back is slightly warm and the tops of your feet are red. Soaking your feet for too long will dissipate energy and blood, and people who are weak may easily faint.

7. Honey is not suitable for everyone. People with febrile diseases believe that raw honey is cooler and is useful for people with internal heat and constipation. People with typhoid fever believe that cooked honey can nourish the body and relieve stress. People with weak spleen and stomach can also eat a small amount. If you have diarrhea, don’t drink it.

8. Don’t always lie on your side when staying up late to check your phone, otherwise the blood on one side will be blocked and half of your face will be swollen when you wake up the next day. I’m not talking nonsense. Dr. Li in the acupuncture department encounters this kind of patient every day.

9. Deliberately take deep breaths several times a day. Don’t always breathe shallowly from the chest. The breath sinks to the Dantian. If you persist for half a month, you will find that your anxiety is much less.

10. Don’t eat throat lozenges immediately if you have a sore throat. Many throat lozenges are cooling in nature. If you have a sore throat caused by wind and cold, which will become worse the more you eat it, drinking a bowl of warm ginger and brown sugar water will help.

11. Don’t blindly gain weight in autumn, especially for people who are prone to getting angry and have a bad breath. Eating meat every now and then will only increase the burden on the spleen and stomach, and make it easier for people to catch a cold due to food accumulation.

12. Don’t cross your legs all the time. If you cross your legs for a long time, not only will your pelvis become distorted, but the Qi and blood in your lower limbs will also be blocked. Many people’s cold feet in winter are inseparable from this habit.

13. Millet porridge does nourish the spleen and stomach, but don’t drink it every day, especially for people with acid reflux. Drinking too much millet porridge will aggravate the reflux. It is better to neutralize it with some steamed buns or soda crackers.

14. In spring, you can go out more and fly kites to generate Yang Qi. The turbid Qi that has been held at home all winter can be released. It is much more effective than taking tonics.

15. Controversy about drinking chrysanthemum tea: Hangzhou white chrysanthemum clears lung fire, while wild chrysanthemum clears liver fire. People with weak spleen and stomach should not drink it every day. Add two wolfberries when brewing to neutralize the cold nature.

16. Be sure to dry your toes after washing your feet, especially for people whose feet sweat a lot. The accumulation of dampness can easily lead to athlete's foot, and over time, it will cause dampness in the spleen and stomach.

17. Don’t just pick the mud in your belly button. The belly button is the Shenque point. It is easy to get stomach upset when you catch a cold. If you really feel dirty, just use a cotton swab dipped in warm water and gently rub it twice.

18. Don’t eat when you are angry. Even if you eat food, you cannot digest it. It will be blocked in the spleen and stomach. Over time, nodules will easily develop. If you are really angry, sit down for 10 minutes to calm down before eating.

19. Don’t wear pants that expose your ankles in winter. There is a Sanyinjiao point on the ankle. Girls who have it exposed all year round will probably have pain. Don’t tell me that you are fine wearing it now. You will know the pain after you are 30 years old.

20. You can drink a cup of warm salt water on an empty stomach every morning when you wake up. Especially for people with constipation, it is more effective than drinking honey water. People with high blood pressure should not try it.

21. Don’t hold in your yawns or sneezes. This is because your body is expelling cold. If you hold it back, the cold evil will stay in your body, making you more likely to get sick.

22. Controversy over the cold nature of mung bean soup: If it is clear mung bean soup that is boiled on high heat for 10 minutes and then turned off, it is indeed cold. People with weak spleen and stomach should drink less.； If it is mung bean paste that has been cooked for more than half an hour and the beans have bloomed and rotten, most of the coldness has dissipated, and most people can drink it without touching it.

23. If you sit for more than 40 minutes, you must stand up and move around for two minutes, twist your waist and lift your legs. I used to sit in the clinic every day and my waist felt uncomfortable after sitting for a long time. Later, I learned from the doctor in the acupuncture department. Every time I stand up, I press the Shenshu point on the lower back twice. Now I have not had back pain in more than half a year.

24. Don’t stay in air-conditioned rooms all the time in summer. Sweating a little every day is a good thing, as it can take the dampness out of the body. People who never sweat are more likely to develop eczema.

25. Red dates do replenish blood, but don’t eat too many raw ones. 3 to 5 pills a day is enough. Eating too much can cause bloating. People with weak spleen and stomach are better to steam or boil water to drink.

26. Don’t sleep with your head covered. You will inhale the turbid air in the bed, and you will feel dizzy and lethargic when you wake up the next day.

27. Controversy over eating wolfberry: Some schools of thought say that wolfberry causes internal heat, and people with body heat should not eat it. Others say that wolfberry is neutral in nature and can be eaten by most people. If you have a sore throat or acne after eating it, stop. If there is no reaction, you can eat it every day. About 10 pills at a time will be enough.

28. Don’t eat too full. Seventy-eight percent full is enough, especially for dinner. Eating too full will not only make you unable to sleep, but will also increase the burden on your gastrointestinal tract. The old saying "If the stomach is not in harmony, you will have restless sleep" is really not nonsense.

29. Don’t always drop eye drops when your eyes are dry. Close your eyes and massage the Jingming point, which is the inner corner of the eye, for two minutes. It is more effective than eye drops and has no side effects.

30. If you get caught in the rain on a rainy day, be sure to boil a bowl of ginger and brown sugar water to drink when you get home to force the cold out. Otherwise, you will easily catch a cold and suffer from joint pain.

31. Don’t always touch your face with your hands to pop pimples. There are many bacteria on your hands, especially pimples in the triangle area. If you squeeze pimples in the triangular area, they will easily become infected. If you get acne and get angry, soak some honeysuckle water and drink it to relieve it.

32. Don’t eat hot pot with iced drinks in winter. The combination of heat and cold is particularly irritating to the spleen and stomach. This is why many people have diarrhea after eating hot pot. It’s best to have warm sour plum soup or barley tea.

33. Controversy about "spring cover and autumn freeze": Spring cover should focus on covering the back and feet. Autumn freeze should not freeze the stomach and joints. The elderly, children, and people with weak constitution should not freeze too. If necessary, add more clothes.

34. You can tap your teeth 30 times a day, which means tapping your upper and lower teeth gently. It can not only strengthen your teeth, but also nourish your kidneys. The old Chinese medicine doctor I followed is over 80 years old this year, and his teeth are still very good. He has persisted in the habit of tapping his teeth all his life.

35. Don’t always hold in your urine. Go and urinate when you feel the need to urinate. Holding in your urine for a long time will not only damage your bladder, but also your kidneys. Many people’s prostate problems are related to frequent holding in their urine.

36. Don’t step on the floor with bare feet in summer, especially tiled floors. The cold starts from the feet. If you step on it for a long time, you will easily catch a cold and make you sick. Just wear thin socks.

37. Rose tea can indeed soothe the liver and regulate qi. Girls who are angry and have breast hyperplasia can drink it regularly. If they have heavy menstruation, don’t drink it, as it can easily aggravate bleeding.

38. When sleeping, the pillow should not be too high or too low. A fist-high pillow is most suitable. If it is too high, it will cause a stiff neck. If it is too low, your face will be swollen the next day.

39. Controversy about eating donkey-hide gelatin: Donkey-hide gelatin does nourish blood, but it is particularly greasy. People with weak spleen and stomach who are prone to food accumulation should not eat it. It will not be digested after eating it. Instead, it will increase the burden on the spleen and stomach and waste money.

40. Don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating, especially after eating something sour. Brushing your teeth immediately will damage the enamel. It’s best to wait 10 minutes before brushing.

41. You can press and rub the Zusanli point more often, which is four fingers down from the outside of the knee. Pressing it for a few minutes every day is more effective than taking tonics. As the old saying goes, "pressing the Zusanli point for a long time is better than eating old hens."

42. Don’t always stay up late. It’s best to go to bed before 11 o’clock. 11 o’clock to 1 o’clock is the time for liver meridian detoxification. People who stay up late all year round not only have a bad complexion, but are also prone to liver problems.

43. Don’t take cough medicines randomly when you cough, especially when there is phlegm. Taking cough medicines will hold the phlegm in the body, which will lead to pneumonia. It is better to dissolve the phlegm first and then stop the cough.

44. Don’t turn on the heater that is too hot in winter. The most suitable indoor temperature is about 20 degrees. Too hot will dissipate body fluids, making people prone to dry mouth and getting angry.

45. Controversy about eating bird's nest: From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, bird's nest can indeed nourish yin and moisturize the lungs, but the price/performance ratio is not high. Ordinary people can eat some Tremella, Lily and Lotus Seed soup in winter, and the effect is not much different, and they don't have to waste money.

46. ​​Don’t exercise too much, especially for people who don’t exercise much. Suddenly running 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers will deplete energy and blood. Exercise intensity that makes you sweat slightly is enough. Brisk walking and Tai Chi are more suitable for ordinary people than strenuous exercise.

47. People who suffer from oral ulcers should not always think that they are caused by internal heat. Many people are caused by deficiency of the spleen and stomach and rising internal heat. Drinking a bowl of ginger and egg water can relieve the pain. The more you eat gunpowder, the slower the recovery will be.

48. Don’t always breathe through your mouth, especially when sleeping. Breathing through your mouth will not only make you look ugly, but will also inhale a lot of cold air, which can easily lead to pharyngitis. Your throat will also be dry and sore when you wake up.

49. Tangerine peel can indeed regulate qi and reduce phlegm. You can drink it when you have food accumulation or cough with white phlegm. Fresh orange peel is not suitable because it contains pesticide residues and can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract. The tangerine peel must be stored for at least one year to be effective.

50. When you sweat a lot in summer, don’t take a cold shower right away. When the pores are open, cold water goes in, and the cold evil enters the bones directly. Over time, it is easy to develop arthritis. Wait until the sweat has subsided before taking a warm shower.

51. When your aunt is in pain, don’t just drink hot water. Apply a hot water bottle to the Guanyuan point on the lower abdomen. It is more effective than drinking hot water. Don’t eat too much ice. It is better than anything else.

52. Controversy about "eating black food to nourish the kidneys": Black rice, black beans, and black sesame seeds can indeed nourish the kidneys, but it also depends on your physical condition. People who are prone to food accumulation and sticky stools should not eat too much black sesame seeds. Too much oil will increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

53. Don’t always frown or express too tightly. The meridians on your face are blocked, which will not only cause wrinkles easily, but also trap anger. Smile more when you have nothing to do, and your qi and blood will flow.

54. When buying traditional Chinese medicine, don’t just buy the most expensive one. The one that suits you is the best. For example, the ephedra soup that can cure a cold can be cured for just a few yuan. There is no need to buy imported cold medicine that costs hundreds of yuan.

55. Don’t always give your children too many supplements. Children have weak spleens and stomachs, and eating too many supplements will lead to premature puberty. Normal meals and balanced nutrition are enough.

56. Don’t blow the air conditioner directly on your head and joints. Especially when sleeping, it is best to cover your shoulders and knees with a small blanket, otherwise it will be easy to feel pain when you wake up the next day.

57. Controversy about drinking red wine to maintain health: Traditional Chinese medicine does not believe that red wine can maintain health. Red wine is still cold. Especially for people with weak spleen and stomach, it is better not to drink it every day. If you really want to drink a small amount, drink a little warm rice wine.

58. You can rub your face every morning when you get up, from bottom to top, to promote blood circulation on the face. If you stick to it, your face will look much better and wrinkles will be reduced.

59. Don’t always take laxatives if you have constipation. Taking too much will cause dependence and damage the spleen and stomach. Eat more whole grains such as sweet potatoes and corns. If nothing happens, massage the Tianshu point on your stomach for two minutes, and it will slowly heal.

60. You can eat more pears in autumn to moisten the lungs and remove dryness. People with cold spleen and stomach should not eat them raw. They can be steamed or boiled into pear soup for drinking. Adding some rock sugar and Sichuan scallops will have a better effect.

61. Don’t always say “I have kidney deficiency”. Back pain is not necessarily kidney deficiency. Many people suffer from lumbar muscle strain caused by sitting for a long time, or dampness traps the spleen. Don’t take kidney-tonifying medicines blindly. If they are not symptomatic, they will make things worse.

62. Don’t open the windows while sleeping, even in summer. The human body’s health qi is weak when sleeping, and wind evil can easily cause colds and migraines.

63. Controversy about "being vegetarian is healthier": Being vegetarian is suitable for people who usually eat too much meat and have high blood lipids. If you are weak in Qi and blood and have a weak constitution, eating vegetarian all year round will lead to malnutrition. A combination of meat and vegetables is the best.

64. You can stand on tiptoe more often, for 10 minutes at a time, to promote blood circulation in the lower limbs, especially for office workers who sit for a long time. Tiptoeing can also nourish the kidneys and is good for the prostate.

65. Don’t eat too much tonic when you have a cold. Don’t eat chicken soup or ginseng. Tonics will retain evil spirits in the body, which will make the cold better more slowly. Just eat some light porridge.

66. Don’t always use plastic cups to hold hot water. Harmful substances in plastic will precipitate when heated. It’s best to use glass or ceramic cups. Don’t use thermos cups to hold acidic juices and teas, which will corrode the cup walls.

67. Controversy about "drinking 8 glasses of water a day": How much water you drink depends on your own situation. If you sweat a lot, drink more. If you have a weak spleen and stomach and are prone to edema, drink less. If you drink it without digestion, it will turn into moisture. There is no need to force the amount of 8 cups.

68. Sighing is not a bad habit. It is the body's way of dispersing liver qi. Don't hold it in. Sigh when you want to. If you hold it in all the time, you will easily develop nodules.

69. Don’t tear off the barbs on your hands. If you tear them off, they will easily become infected. Just cut them off with nail clippers. Barbs on your hands are a sign of spleen deficiency. Eat more yams and pumpkins to replenish your spleen and stomach.

70. You can spend more time in the sun in winter, focusing on your back. The back is the Du Vein. Exposure to the sun can replenish yang energy, which is more effective than taking tonics. Just don’t sunbathe your face, as it is easy to get tanned and cause spots.

71. Don’t take painkillers randomly when you have stomach pain. Many painkillers can damage the gastric mucosa. If you have stomach pain caused by cold, drink a bowl of ginger and brown sugar water and massage the Zhongwan point for two minutes to relieve the pain. If the pain is severe, go to the hospital as soon as possible. Don’t bear it.

72. Controversy about "milk is cold": People with weak spleen and stomach and diarrhea after drinking milk are really not suitable to drink it. They can switch to yogurt or soy milk. If there is no reaction after drinking it, it is also good to drink calcium supplements. There is no need to quit completely.

73. Don’t bite your nails or pen all the time. These small actions will eat the bacteria on your hands and damage your teeth. Many people’s bad spleen and stomach are also related to this habit.

74. You can rinse your mouth after eating. You don’t need to brush your teeth every time. Just rinse out the food residue. It is good for your teeth and can also prevent bad breath.

75. Don’t always apply hormonal ointments to eczema. Although it heals quickly, it is easy to relapse. According to traditional Chinese medicine, eczema is caused by excessive dampness. You should avoid exposure to ice and eat more poria and barley to drain away the moisture, and the root of the eczema will be eliminated slowly.

76. Don’t eat too many out-of-season fruits in summer. For example, watermelons in winter are mostly grown in greenhouses and are extremely cold. Eating them can easily damage the spleen and stomach. It’s best to eat fruits that are in season.

77. Controversy about "eating walnuts to nourish the brain": Walnuts can indeed nourish the kidneys and strengthen the brain, but eating two or three a day is enough. Eating too much can easily lead to internal heat and diarrhea. Don't expect that eating a few walnuts will make you smarter. It's just a food supplement.

78. Don’t always wear clothes that are too tight, especially underwear. If they are too tight, the blood and qi will not flow through, and it is easy to develop breast nodules and thyroid nodules. Wear looser clothes that are more comfortable and good for the body.

79. Don’t always take sleeping pills when you have insomnia. Taking too much will lead to dependence. Don’t use your mobile phone half an hour before going to bed. Soak your feet, drink a cup of warm milk, and listen to soft music while lying down, and you will slowly fall asleep.

80. Don’t wear too thick clothes too early in autumn. A proper freeze can enhance your resistance. Otherwise, you will easily catch a cold when it gets cold in winter.

81. Don’t always think that bad breath is an oral problem. Many people have severe gastritis or Helicobacter pylori infection. Eat less spicy and oily food, and soak some patchouli water and drink it to relieve the problem. If it doesn’t work, go to the hospital for a check-up.

82. Controversy about "foot massage for health": Regular foot massage can indeed promote blood circulation and relieve fatigue, but pregnant women and people with wounds on their feet should not do it, and don't let the technician press too hard, as it will be bad if it hurts.

83. You can comb your hair more often, using a wooden comb or a horn comb, from the forehead to the back of the head, combing for 5 minutes at a time, which promotes blood circulation in the head, relieves headaches, and prevents hair loss. The old Chinese medicine doctor I follow combs every day, and his hair has not turned white even after he is over 80.

84. Don’t always eat things that are too salty. Eating too much salt will not only cause high blood pressure, but also damage the kidneys. A lighter diet is good for your health. Don’t eat more than 6 grams of salt a day.

85. Don’t take antidiarrheal medicine randomly when you have diarrhea. If you have diarrhea caused by eating unclean things, it will be better to eliminate it. After you have diarrhea, just drink a bowl of warm salt water to replenish electrolytes. If the diarrhea is severe, go to the hospital.

86. Don’t stay indoors all the time in winter. Go out for a few steps when the temperature is high at noon to stretch your muscles and bones. Otherwise, the energy and blood will be stagnated and people will easily lose energy.

87. Controversy about "vitamin tablets can replace vegetables": Traditional Chinese medicine still recommends eating more fresh vegetables. Vitamin tablets are purified and do not contain the dietary fiber and other nutrients in vegetables. They cannot replace normal diet. Don't just take vitamin tablets to save trouble.

88. Don’t make decisions when you are angry, and don’t quarrel with others. Most of the things you say when you are angry will be regretted. Take 10 deep breaths first, and wait until the anger subsides before speaking.

89. People with cold feet can wear thin socks when sleeping. Do not put a hot water bottle directly on the feet, which may cause burns. Wear socks to keep them warm all night. Your feet will be warm when you wake up the next day.

90. Don’t lick your lips all the time. The more you lick, the dryer they become, and you are more likely to get cheilitis. When your lips are dry, apply a little additive-free lip balm or some sesame oil, which is more effective than licking the tube.

91. Don’t put too many clothes on your children. Children are full of yang energy and are more afraid of heat than adults. If they wear too much clothes, they will easily catch a cold.”