用美味藥膳養腸胃調理應激

Gastrointestinal health can be improved by diet and acupressure, and Chinese medicine offers some easy-to-follow health practices.
Problems of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system fall under the category of "spleen and stomach" in Chinese medicine. In Chinese medicine, the spleen is not only the splenic organ as in Western medicine, but also includes the stomach and the entire large and small intestinal systems.
The spleen is an earthy substance and should be kept in a dry state. If the spleen and stomach are too wet, the body will suffer from disorders such as diarrhoea or diarrhoea.

Why are people who are nervous or have a stressful life prone to gastrointestinal discomfort?
Chinese medicine uses the concept of phlogiston to explain the relationship between the five viscera and six organs. The five viscera are the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys, and in the phlogiston part of the relationship, it is "the liver begets the heart, and the heart begets the spleen", therefore, the liver and heart will also affect the functions of the spleen and stomach.
The heart referred to in Chinese medicine includes not only the heart, but also the autonomic and cerebral nerves. Therefore, people with high work pressure are prone to "excessive fire in the heart", and excessive fire in the heart will also affect the spleen and stomach.
In addition, the liver is responsible for regulating the flow of Qi. When a person is depressed and cannot think straight, his Liver Qi will not be in good condition, so it is called "Liver Qi Stagnation". If liver fire is too strong, it will interfere with other organs. Irritable bowel syndrome is a good example, where the liver affects the spleen, which is what Chinese medicine calls "Liver-Wood Undermines Spleen-Earth".
Therefore, both Chinese and Western medical practitioners have recommended thatFrequent gastrointestinal discomfortFor those who are not able to do so, it is important to relax or find a good way to relieve their stress.
In terms of diet, apart from the basic principle of regular meals, Chinese medicine practitioners also suggest that the diet should be appropriate in terms of heat and cold.
Taipei City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine physician Lin Changjin explained that the diet of heat and cold is not only the temperature of the heat and cold, but also includes food properties of heat and cold. Such as watermelon and seafood are cold, some people with a weak stomach, eat a diarrhoea.
Cold foods are often encountered in daily life, and some people may eat cold foods due to personal preference or dietary deviation, and often overindulge in them without realising it.
◎ Recommended reading: (This article is not over, there is more to come.)

Practising "Beggar's Squat" for 15 minutes after meals promotes circulation of blood and qi in the spleen and stomach, and reduces flatulence.
Chinese medicine practitioners have suggested that people with weak stomachs should try to understand the properties of different foods and avoid too many cold foods, otherwise it will be a great burden to the stomach and intestines.
Those who have already suffered damage to their spleen and stomach should be more restrained in what they eat and drink. Fruits, fruit juices or drinks are cold and raw and should not be consumed in excess. Fermented foods such as bread, steamed buns or Nutella are also not suitable for those who already have phlegm-dampness. Fried or barbecued food is inflammatory and should not be eaten in excess.
Chinese medicine practitioner Lin Changjin said that in Taiwan's hot and humid environment, cold and hot food should not be eaten, rice, grains and cereals, as well as mild cooked food is healthy.
In addition to not eating too much cold food, Yang Hsien-hung, director of the Department of General Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Chang Gung Hospital, said that ginger is a very good food and is recommended.
Ginger is also a kind of Chinese medicine, which can strengthen the spleen and relieve dampness, and the skin of ginger has a slight diuretic effect. Ginger can also slightly stimulate the secretion of gastric acid, which helps digestion without over-stimulating the gastrointestinal tract, which is why some people drink a little bit of ginger soup to relieve nervousness, nausea or vomiting. For mild diarrhoea, ginger soup is also effective because it can inhibit smooth muscle contraction.
Ginger is one of the most beneficial foods to the body, and it is often the best ingredient in our daily diet. For example, if you stir-fry seafood with ginger, apart from removing the fishy smell, the most important thing is to remove the coldness of the seafood.
Ginger is hot in nature and only when eaten in excess will the mouth become dry and the throat slightly sore.

In addition, soft exercise is very important for the stomach and intestines.
Chinese medicine books record that in ancient times there was a kind of "Five Animal Exercises", which was a soft exercise done in imitation of the appearance of animals, similar to what is now known as the Eight Pieces of Brocade.
Soft exercises can relieve the muscles and bones and promote blood circulation.Relaxation of the gastrointestinal tractIt reduces abnormal contractions or spasms and reduces gastrointestinal disorders.
Tai chi is also a good choice, and walking is also good. There is a saying in Chinese medicine: "Walk a hundred steps after a meal and you will live to be 99". After eating, a little walk, with the rhythm of gastrointestinal peristalsis, can help digestion and reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines.
There is a way to maintain the stomach and intestines, that is, relaxation, three meals at regular intervals, do not eat too much cold food, do more soft exercise, you can have a comfortable and healthy life.

Cold foods:
Chinese cabbage, cabbage, enoki mushrooms, mustard greens, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, loofah, lotus root, winter melon, bitter gourd, wild rice bamboo shoots, radish, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, straw mushrooms, abalone mushrooms, Chinese beets, Chinese cabbage, sauerkraut, mustard greens, sherried cabbage, dried mustard greens, kelp, hairy greens, golden needles, fungus, tofu.
Lemon, Pineapple, Watermelon, Melon, Plum, Young Peach, Orange, Tangerine, Grape, Tomato, Loquat, Mango, Coconut, Pear, Cherry, Persimmon, Kiwi, Passion Fruit, Tea Leaf.
Shrimp, crab, cuttlefish, jellyfish skin.
Flat food:
Spinach, green cabbage, sweet potato leaves, nine-layer pagoda, mushrooms, amaranth, leeks, chives, chive blossoms, green peppers, lettuce, kale, taro, potatoes; carrots, onions, corn, water chestnuts, beets, aubergines, pumpkins, soybeans, peanuts, soya beans, red beans, natto beans, pea shoots, green beans, yellow peas, Semen Coicis, okra, shiso.
Apple, banana, papaya, lotus, peach, saga, pomegranate, pomegranate, peach.
Chicken, beef, goose, yellow croaker, carp, perch, sea cucumber, suppon.
Hot food:
Ginger, spring onion, chilli, sesame seeds, cinnamon, garlic, spring onion, garlic, fennel greens.
Durian, Lychee and Longan.
Mutton, eel.

Massage Foot Sanli
Left foot with the left hand, right foot with the right hand, the palm of the hand is facing the knee, the middle finger to the tibia, five fingers naturally press, the ring finger is pressed to the place is the "foot Sanli point", press down will have a soreness and numbness of the feeling.
Foot Sanli is the most important point of the stomach meridian, and it is also a very good point for health. You can press it whenever you want, three or four times a day, for three minutes at a time.
Massaging this point can help digestion and regulate the stomach and intestines. For those who are easily fatigued in the lower limbs and cannot walk, you can also press the foot-sanli, and your legs will be stronger.
Belly massage
To the navel as the centre, clockwise direction massage, regardless of the number of times, massage to the stomach warm and hot, very comfortable, for example, can be kneaded ninety-nine eighty-one times. Touch your belly directly, preferably not through your clothes.
Don't touch your tummy for too long after you've eaten, but do it again after you've digested. You can also touch your tummy when you do exercise in the morning.

Shikigami Soup
It is suitable for most people as it strengthens the spleen and stomach and helps digestion. The five herbs in the soup are all Chinese herbs of mild nature. For those prone to diarrhoea, the Four Gods Soup can also be used as a dietary supplement, with the addition of ginseng and astragalus for those who are weak in qi and a little ginger for those who have a cold spleen and stomach.
Those who are prone to constipation should not take Si Shen Tang.
Ingredients: 1 catty of pork intestines or pork belly
Ingredients: Job's tears 40g, Poria 20g, Gorgon fruit 20g, lotus seed 40g, yam 20g.
Seasoning: 1 tsp (5g) salt
Practice:
1. Soak the gravy and lotus seeds for 20 minutes.
2. Pork intestines or pork belly cut into pieces or cut into pieces, first into 5 cups of water 1200 ㏄), and then add Job's tears, Poria, Gorgonzola, yam, rice wine 1 cup (240 ㏄)，boiled together for 1 hour.
3. Cook the pork intestines or pork belly until it is cooked through, then add the lotus seeds and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Season with salt and serve.
(Courtesy of Dr Lam Cheong Kam, Department of Medicine, Municipal Chinese Medicine Hospital)

Lotus Seed Congee
Strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhoeaBenefiting the Kidney, consolidating astringency, nourishing the Heart and calming the mind.
Ingredients: 100g of glutinous rice
Herbs: Lotus Seed 50g
Seasoning: 20g rock sugar
Practice:
1. Soak the tender lotus seeds in water to swell, then remove the heart and rinse.
2. Put lotus seeds into a pot with water and cook over low heat.
3. Put glutinous rice into a pot with water (about 480g) and simmer over low heat to make porridge.
4. When the porridge is cooked, add lotus seeds and rock sugar, stir well and serve.

White Atractylodes and Red Date Tea
Strengthening the spleen, invigorating the qi, improving the appetite and eliminating food.
Herbs: Atractylodes 15g, red dates 15g
Seasoning: a little malt
1. Boil the atractylodes and red dates first.
2. Add malt and drink as tea.
(Courtesy of Yang Xianhong, Director of General Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Hospital)
※Editor's note: This article was published in 2001, and the background of people, events, and things in the article may have been adjusted or changed, so please forgive me for any inconvenience caused.