春属木,主发生。宜戒杀,茂于恩惠,以顺生气。春,肝气旺,肝属木,其味酸,木能
胜土。土,属脾,主甘,当春之时,其饮食之味,宜减酸、益甘,以养脾气。肝气盛者,调
嘘气以利之。顺之,则安;逆之,则少阳不生,肝气内变。
春时,阳气初升,万物萌发。正、二月间,乍寒乍热。高年之人,多有宿疾,春气所攻
,则精神昏倦,宿患发动。又复经冬已来,拥炉熏衾,啖炙饮热,至春成积,多所发泄,致
体热头昏,膈壅涎嗽,四肢劳倦,腰脚不任,皆冬所发之疾也,常宜体候。
若稍利,恐伤脏腑。别主和气,凉膈化痰之药消解。或只选食治方中性稍凉、利饮食,
调停与进,自然通畅。
若别无疾状,不须服药。常择和暖日,引侍尊亲,于园亭楼阁虚敞之处,使放意登眺,
用摅滞怀,以畅生气;时寻花木游赏,以快其意。不令孤坐、独眠,自生郁闷。春时,若亲
朋请召,老人意欲从欢,任自遨游,常令嫡亲侍从,惟酒不可过饮;春时,人家多造冷馔、
米食等,不令下与;如水团兼粽粘冷肥僻之物,多伤脾胃,难得消化,大不益老人,切宜看
承。春时,天气燠暖,不可顿减绵衣。缘老人气弱、骨疏,怯风冷,易伤肌体。但多穿夹衣
,过暖之时,一重渐减一重,即不致暴伤也!
今具春时汤药如后。
春季在五行中属木,主宰万物的生发。此时应当戒除杀戮,广施恩惠,以顺应春天的生气。春季时,肝气旺盛,肝属木,其味为酸;木能克制土。土对应脾脏,其味为甘。因此在春季,饮食口味应当减少酸味、增加甘味,以此来滋养脾气。如果肝气过盛,可以通过调节“嘘”字诀呼吸法来疏泄肝气。顺应这一规律,身体就能安宁;违背它,则少阳之气不能生发,导致肝气在内发生病变。
春季阳气初升,万物萌发。正月和二月间,天气忽冷忽热。老年人多有旧疾,受到春气的冲击,会出现精神昏沉疲倦,旧病发作的情况。另外,经过整个冬天以来,人们围炉取暖、熏暖被褥,食用烤肉、饮用热汤,到了春天这些积热就会发泄出来,导致身体发热、头晕,胸膈痞闷、痰多咳嗽,四肢倦怠无力,腰脚沉重难以支撑。这些都是冬季积累引发的疾病,需要经常留意观察身体状况。
如果病情稍轻,可以使用具有调和气血、清利胸膈、化痰作用的药物进行消解。或者只选择食疗方中性质稍凉、有助于消化通利的食物,适当安排给老人进食,自然就能通畅。
如果没有其他病症,就不必服药。应常选择暖和的日子,陪伴尊长,到园亭楼阁等开阔明亮的地方,让他们尽情登高远眺,抒发郁结的情怀,以畅达生机;时常寻找花木游赏,使他们心情愉快。不要让老人独自坐着、独自睡觉,以免自生郁闷之情。春季时,如果有亲朋邀请,老人愿意参与欢乐活动,可以任由他们出游,但必须让亲近的亲属随从照料,只是酒不可过量饮用;春季,人家多制作冷食、米制品等,不要让老人食用;像水团兼粽子那样黏腻、生冷、肥厚难消化的食物,大多会损伤脾胃,难以消化,对老人非常不利,务必小心看护。春季天气温暖,不要一下子减少棉衣。因为老人正气虚弱、骨骼疏松,畏惧风冷,容易损伤肌体。只要多穿夹衣,天气过热时,一层一层逐渐减少衣物,就不会造成突然受寒的伤害!
现将春季适用的汤药列举如下。
Spring corresponds to Wood in the Five Elements and governs the generation and growth of all things. One should abstain from killing, extend kindness and mercy, to accord with the vital energy (Sheng Qi) of spring. In spring, Liver Qi is vigorous; the Liver belongs to Wood, its flavor is sour; Wood can overcome Earth. Earth corresponds to the Spleen, its flavor is sweet. Therefore, during spring, dietary flavors should be reduced in sourness and increased in sweetness, to nourish Spleen Qi. If Liver Qi is excessive, it can be regulated by adjusting the "Xu" breathing technique to facilitate its flow. Following this principle leads to peace; opposing it results in the failure of Shaoyang Qi to generate, causing internal changes in Liver Qi.
In spring, Yang Qi initially rises, and all things sprout. Between the first and second lunar months, cold and heat alternate abruptly. Elderly people often have chronic diseases; attacked by spring Qi, they may experience mental confusion and fatigue, triggering old ailments. Furthermore, having spent the winter huddled around stoves, warming quilts, eating roasted meats, and drinking hot beverages, accumulated heat manifests in spring, leading to body heat, dizziness, chest oppression, phlegm and cough, limb fatigue, and weakness in the waist and legs. These are illnesses originating from winter accumulation and require constant observation of one's condition.
If symptoms are mild, medicines that harmonize Qi, cool the chest, and resolve phlegm should be used for resolution. Alternatively, select food therapy prescriptions with slightly cooling properties that promote digestion and unblocking, arrange them appropriately for intake, and natural smoothness will follow.
If there are no other pathological signs, medication is unnecessary. On warm days, accompany elders to open and bright places such as gardens, pavilions, or towers, allowing them to climb high and gaze afar to vent stagnation and畅达 (smoothly flow) their vital energy; frequently seek out flowers and trees for enjoyment to delight their minds. Do not allow them to sit alone or sleep alone, which may breed depression. During spring, if invited by relatives or friends, and the elder wishes to join in the joy, allow them to roam freely, but always ensure close relatives attend. Alcohol must not be consumed excessively. In spring, households often prepare cold dishes and rice foods; do not let elders consume them. Foods like water dumplings or sticky zongzi, which are viscous, cold, fatty, and difficult to digest, often damage the Spleen and Stomach and are hard to digest, greatly harming the elderly. Careful attention is essential. When the weather becomes warm in spring, do not suddenly reduce cotton clothing. Because elders have weak Qi and sparse bones, they fear wind and cold, making them susceptible to bodily injury. Wear more padded garments; when it gets too warm, gradually remove layers one by one to avoid sudden exposure to cold!
The following decoctions suitable for spring are listed below.