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The Story of Hua Tuo And My Personal Thoughts

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Most people may have heard of Hua Tuo (华佗), one of the four greatest physicians in the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
 
But when asked to compare his skills with those of his two brothers, Hua Tuo replied that he was the least skilled.
 
The following story illustrates his point, and I think this is still one of the best lessons in modern TCM for many people:
 
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One day, Cao Pi (son of Cao Cao) got curious about Hua Tuo’s abilities and summoned him to court. Cao Pi asked Hua Tuo, “Among you and your brothers, who is the best physician?”
 
Hua Tuo responded humbly, “I am the least skilled of the three.”
 
Cao Pi was taken aback. He asked, “If you, who are known as the greatest physician in the land, claim to be the least skilled, then what could your brothers possibly be capable of? Explain!”
 
Hua Tuo smiled and replied, “My eldest brother is the most skilled of us all. He is so adept at understanding the balance of the body that he can sense imbalances before they manifest into illness. When he interacts with someone, they never fall ill because he can correct problems before they even appear. His work goes unnoticed because the people around him never get sick, so few people know of his talents.
 
“My second brother is also very skilled. He can detect illnesses in their early stages and treat them before they worsen. His patients may only experience mild discomfort, and they recover quickly because he addresses the root cause of the illness at the earliest signs. Therefore, his reputation is known locally but not beyond.
 
“As for me,” Hua Tuo continued, “I only treat diseases after they have fully manifested. By the time patients come to me, their illness is often severe, and I must perform drastic treatments such as surgery or complex therapies. Because my patients are visibly sick when they come to me and seem to recover quickly after I treat them, people think I am the best physician. In reality, I am simply dealing with the consequences of neglecting early treatment.”
 
Cao Pi, upon hearing this, was enlightened. He realized that true medical mastery lies not in treating illness after it has taken hold, but in preventing it even before it occurs.
 
Though Hua Tuo is well known as one of the greatest TCM physicians, turns out his eldest brother, who kept his patients healthy without visible treatment, was the truly superior one.
 
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One of the reasons why I wrote this post is because from what I have been observing these years, it is getting harder to meet a good doctor/physician (with good skills and empathy). I also foresee that this situation will continue to worsen in the years ahead.
 
Nowadays TCM is also getting super expensive (I have seen many people living overseas who cannot afford to visit a TCM physician), which I believe this should not be the case! TCM should be kept affordable but because of economic factors, many people can’t even afford TCM now…
 
So what could be the best way forward? I believe the key lies in educating ourselves as much as possible and learning how to better take care of our body like Hua Tuo’s brothers’ philosophy. It is important that we learn to maintain our body more than maintaining other things in life.
 
We can start by learning to read the signals given out by our body, such as observing our urine, stools, and how our body feels after consuming certain foods.
 
Do feel free to share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
 

Shuang Jiang (霜降) Solar Term – Diet and General Wellness Guidelines

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We are into the Shuang Jiang (霜降) solar term (节气) starting from 23 Oct to 6 Nov 2024. Shuang Jiang is the 18th solar term out of the entire 24.

In fact, Shuang Jiang is the last solar term of the autumn season. After Shuang Jiang, we will be entering the winter season.

During this Shuang Jiang solar term, the focus is still on moisturizing the lungs (润肺), nourishing lung-Yin (滋肺阴), and building up our immunity to prepare for the cold weather (or cooler weather, depending on where you live) ahead.

There is a saying, “一年补透透，不如补霜降”. It means that rather than eating tonic foods and herbs all year round, it is better to consume such tonics during the Shuang Jiang solar term!

From the above phrase, it already tells us how important it is to boost our immunity during this period.

Diet Recommendations

1) Persimmon

persimmonsThe first food (fruit) I recommend to eat during Shuang Jiang is the persimmon. The persimmon harvest season is around this time too, hence it is known as the fruit/food of the season (应季食材).

The reason why persimmon is the perfect fruit to eat during this solar term is because it has the properties of moisturizing the lungs, quenching thirst, and protecting the heart. It is also used for treating heat-type cough, mouth ulcers and sore throat.

There is a saying, 霜降吃了柿,不会流鼻涕. It means if a person were to consume persimmon during Shuang Jiang, he/she will not catch a cold during the cooler year end season.

However, there are a few things to take note about consuming persimmon. Firstly, people with constipation should avoid eating it because it has a property of (涩肠), which means it restricts bowel movement.

Secondly, persimmon should not be consumed together with foods that contain high iron (such as animal organs) or high protein (such as crab meat) as it will cause stomach upset.

2) Ginkgo Nuts

ginkgo nutsGinkgo nuts are another excellent food to be eaten during Shuang Jiang as they have great benefits for our lungs (moisturizes lungs and dissolves phlegm to stop cough), and our kidneys (relieves frequent urination).

Despite its health benefits, it is important not to overeat ginkgo nuts as it can be dangerous. For adults, please do not eat more than 10 ginkgo nuts a day. For children, limit the consumption to less than 5. As for children below 5 years old, it is best not to eat ginkgo nuts.

Following is a ginkgo radish porridge recipe that you can try making at home:

Ingredients:

  • Ginkgo nuts (6 pieces)
  • Radish (300g)
  • Rice/Mixed grains (100g)
  • Sugar (according to personal preference, if need be)

Steps:

  1. Wash the radish and cut it into slices.
  2. Put the radish into boiling water for about a minute, remove it from the water and set it aside for later use.
  3. Wash the ginkgo nuts and cook it with the grains.
  4. Depending on the types of grains you use, it may take about 15 to 25 minutes for it to be cooked.
  5. Finally, add the sliced radish to the porridge and serve.

Ginkgo radish porridge has a strong property of dissolving phlegm and it is excellent for treating cough and dissolving phlegm. It can also nourish and moisturize the lungs.

3) Duck Meat

For non-vegetarians who have a Yin-deficient body constitution, consuming duck meat during this period is very beneficial to your body. Duck meat has the strong property of nourishing the Yin of a person.

You can prepare Shi Quan Duck Soup, which is a very popular soup dish that helps to nourish the body’s Yin. This soup is also suitable for almost anyone (except people who are having flu).

You can purchase the Shi Quan soup base in any supermarket or TCM medical store. The following video briefly shows how the soup is prepared:

General Wellness Recommendations

During Shuang Jiang period, the temperature difference will continue to widen between day and night. Thus, remember to keep warm during sleep especially if you are sleeping near a window in a non-airconditioned room.

Remember to wear socks to keep your feet warm if you often wake up feeling cold during this period.

This is also a good time to exercise to build up your body’s immunity to prepare for the year-end weather! Just make sure to stay hydrated and exercise moderately!

Hope you find this post useful!

Han Lu (寒露) Solar Term – Diet and General Wellness Guidelines

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Han Lu 2023

We are into the Han Lu (寒露) solar term (节气) starting from 08 Oct to 22 Oct 2024. Han Lu is the 17th solar term out of the entire 24.

During the Han Lu solar term, the air will continue to be dry, while the temperature difference between the day and night will be wider as compared to Bai Lu (two solar terms ago).

One of the things we should look out for during Han Lu is that the dry air may cause people to cough more frequently. Hence, we should try to consume more foods that can help to moisturize our lungs (润肺) during this period such as pears, white fungus, lotus root, lily (百合) and black sesame.

For those with sinus issues or who are sensitive to changes in air temperature, wearing a fabric mask in the morning can help warm the air that you inhale.

Diet Recommendations 

During the Han Lu solar term, it is a tradition in some regions to eat sesame, as it is believed to help warm and moisturize the lungs.

You can consider adding black sesame to your breakfast – either as a bread spread (black sesame paste) or as a beverage (black sesame powder)!

chrysanthemum teaThis is also the period that chrysanthemum blossoms. And in TCM, the best foods for people are those that are available in that season (应季食材). Thus, drinking some chrysanthemum tea is also highly encouraged. Chrysanthemum has the property of 疏肝 (relieving stagnant Qi in the liver). In TCM, we believe the liver has a lot to do with one’s emotions.

If you experience symptoms like eye redness, dry eyes, and mild sore throat, try drinking some chrysanthemum tea for two to three consecutive days and it will help to relieve your symptoms.

When choosing chrysanthemum, you can consider the yellow type instead of the white type during this period. Click here to understand more about the different types of chrysanthemum.

General Wellness Recommendations 

Lastly, and just as importantly, Han Lu is a time to be extra mindful of your own mental health and the well-being of those around you, as it is said that more people will get depressed during this period.

This is why the saying 防秋愁 (which means ‘prevent autumn sadness’) is often mentioned during Han Lu, reminding us to take care of our emotions and mental health.

One way to liven up a person’s mood and spirits during this period is to go hiking and drink some chrysanthemum tea or rose tea. This will help one’s mind to stay relaxed and composed.

Hope you find this information useful!

Qiu Fen (秋分) Solar Term – Diet & General Wellness Guidelines

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We are into the Qiu Fen (秋分) solar term (节气) starting from 22 September to 7 October 2024. Qiu Fen is the 16th solar term out of the entire 24.

In Chinese, ‘fen’ (分) means divide. So the Qiu Fen (秋分) solar term basically separates the first half and the second half of the Autumn season. This means after 22 September, we will enter the second half of Autumn.

After Qiu Fen, the days will gradually grow shorter while the nights become longer. Temperatures will also get cooler as we step into the second half of Autumn.

As the air becomes cooler and drier during Qiu Fen, more people may experience coughing as the lungs get easily irritated by the dry air.

We will need to keep our lungs moisturized (润肺) by eating foods such as white fungus, pear, etc. Following are some diet recommendations that you can follow during this Qiu Fen solar term:

Diet Recommendation

One of the traditions during Qiu Fen is to eat yam biscuits. That said, you don’t really need to go out and find yam biscuits. Just consider adding yam into your diet will be sufficient.

yam benefits in tcm

Yam is a nutritional food that most people can eat safely. It has a neutral thermal nature, which means people who have heaty or cold body constitution can consume it without worries.

The most significant property of yam is that it helps to strengthen our spleen. This is important during Qiu Fen because when people consume cold or raw stuff, these foods can weaken the spleen. Apart from strengthening the spleen, yam can also aid digestion and relieve constipation.

Do make sure that you cook the yam thoroughly to remove its allergens. A simple way to include yam into your diet is to add chopped pieces of yam into your rice cooker and cook it with your favorite grains or brown rice.

In Qiu Fen, the environment will be cool and dry (凉燥). Hence, we need to consume foods that have warm and moisturizing properties, such as black sesame, walnut, lotus root, pear, hawthorn, apple, lily (百合), and white fungus.

A good habit during Qiu Fen is to drink lightly salted water in the morning and take some honey at night. But do take note for people who already have sticky stools, you need to avoid taking honey as it will worsen the situation. For people with constipation, honey is a good supplement to take in the evening.

A note of caution is that during the later part of Qiu Fen, the temperature will get cooler and people with weak spleen may experience diarrhea or loose and sticky stools at times. It is best to avoid cold drinks and foods during the Qiu Fen solar term as it can cause stomach upset in people with weak spleen. You can consider eating chinese yam or si shen soup to strengthen your spleen.

An Easy-To-Prepare Fruit Salad

During Qiu Fen, some elderly people may find their constipation worsening. If so, the following is an easy-to-prepare fruit salad that can help to relieve constipation during this period:

fruit salad (apple, banana, mulberries)

Ingredients:

  • Banana 100g
  • Apple 100g
  • Mulberry 50g

Steps:
De-skin the banana and apple and cut it to small pieces. Wash and rinse the mulberries then mix them together with the apple and banana.

Banana has a strong property of relieving constipation. It can also moisturize and cool the lungs.

Apple can increase the movement of the intestines and help to relieve constipation too.

Mulberries have been known as a great fruit to nourish the Yin energy in our body, and Qiu Fen is a great time for Yin nourishment.

Important notes: Be sure to choose fully ripened bananas because bananas that are not fully ripe will promote constipation rather than relieve it! Also, apple skin has an ingredient that can stop diarrhea, hence if you are consuming apples for constipation relief, do remove the skin before eating it.

General Well-Being Recommendation

Exercising during the Qiu Fen solar term is beneficial for building up your body’s immunity against flu and sinusitis, as temperatures can change rapidly during this period. Be sure to keep yourself warm at all times to avoid getting cold unexpectedly.

After a good exercise, you can consider consuming foods that moisturize the lungs like black sesame, pear, and white fungus.

If you sweat a lot during exercise, you can try drinking water with added salt to replenish the lost liquids.

I hope you find these recommendations useful in this Qiu Fen solar term!

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