Solar Terms Wellness: Grain Rain (Guyu)

Grain Rain (Guyu), arriving around April 20th or 21st, derives its name from the ancient saying, "Rain nurtures hundreds of grains." As the final solar term of spring, it signals the end of cold snaps and frost. With rising temperatures, conditions become highly favorable for the growth of cereal crops.

Dietary Choices: Bamboo Shoots

High humidity characterizes the Grain Rain period, making dampness elimination and detoxification crucial. This is the season when bamboo shoots emerge from the soil. Consuming bamboo shoots aids in bowel regularity, protects the intestines, and supports detoxification for radiant skin.

This period is also a common onset time for neuralgia, including intercostal neuralgia, sciatica, and trigeminal neuralgia. TCM offers specific medicated diets to address these issues.

Recipe Spotlight: Three-Color Soup

Ingredients:

Soybean Sprouts: 100g (approx. 2 liang) 

Shredded Ginger: 20g 

Red Bell Pepper: 1 unit

Others: Vegetable oil, white vinegar, wet starch, chicken broth, salt, sesame oil, and MSG to taste 

Preparation:

Heat oil in a wok. Stir-fry soybean sprouts briefly, add white vinegar, and cook until 80% done. Set aside. 

In the same wok, add chicken broth and shredded ginger. Bring to a boil. 

Add red bell pepper. Once boiling again, return the soybean sprouts to the pot and add salt. 

Thicken with starch slurry, drizzle with sesame oil, and serve. 

Health Benefits:

Expels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation, and unblocks meridians. Particularly suitable for those suffering from muscle stiffness, waist pain, or knee joint pain.

Dietary Contraindications

For Cold-Damp Bi Syndrome (Wind-Cold-Dampness Arthritis): Avoid cold-natured foods such as persimmons, watermelon, celery, raw cucumber, crab, river snails, clam meat, and kelp.

For Hot Bi Syndrome (Heat Arthritis): Avoid warming and fire-inducing items such as black pepper, cinnamon, chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, scallion whites, and white liquor.