When swallows come to Xinshe, pear blossoms lag behind Qingming. On April 5th, when the sun reaches 15 degrees of the Yellow Meridian, we welcome Qingming, which is both a solar term and a festival among the 24 solar terms. Clear qi and clear scenery make all things visible. ”At this time, peach blossoms are just beginning to bloom, willows are turning green, and the eyes are full of spring vitality, giving people a fresh and bright feeling everywhere. People go hiking in the countryside, sweep tombs to worship ancestors, fold willows to express their thoughts, and their longing and hope grow quietly in the spring breeze. Spring qi is strong, soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen. "Pear blossoms are rising with a clear and bright wind, and wanderers are searching for spring halfway out of the city. ”During the Qingming Festival, temperatures rise and rainfall increases, resulting in a significant temperature difference between day and night. Zhang Qin, chief physician of the Department of Rheumatology at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Capital Medical University, reminds that during this time, the spring qi is strong, the liver qi is slightly elevated, and the dampness gradually increases. At the same time, the wind and rain are moist, and the pollen, willow catkins, dust, and other substances in the air increase. The general population may experience allergies, physical fatigue, and other discomforts; Patients with rheumatic and immune diseases are prone to joint soreness and stiffness, and may also experience symptoms such as irritability, unstable sleep, and indigestion. Therefore, the core of Qingming health preservation lies in soothing the liver and regulating qi, strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness, calming and promoting yang, and regulating emotions. It is necessary to not only follow the spring qi to help yang qi rise, but also avoid excessive divergence, balance liver and spleen care, and maintain the balance of qi and blood and yin and yang. A cup of apricot blossom wine, filled with thoughts of an old friend. ”Qingming Festival is not only a solar term, but also a traditional sacrificial festival, known as one of the four major traditional festivals in China along with Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid Autumn Festival. On this day, people sweep tombs to pay respects to their ancestors and reminisce about their ancestors, reflecting the cultural tradition of the Chinese nation of cherishing the deceased and cherishing the distant, fostering kinship and harmony among the people, and carrying the Chinese people's reverence for life and nature. Nowadays, during Qingming Festival, people pay tribute to their departed loved ones and also use various methods to remember the martyrs and continue their spirit. This commemoration is not only a look back at the past, but also carries expectations for the future. Zhang Qin said that Qingming Festival sweeping helps people release emotions and relieve psychological pressure; But for those who have lost their loved ones, it is easy to feel emotional at this time, especially for the elderly, whose emotional fluctuations are often more obvious. Family members should spend more time with them to help them get through this period smoothly, avoid excessive sadness, and protect their physical and mental health. During the Qingming Festival, which coincides with the blooming flowers in the world, there has been a custom of hiking and praying for blessings among the people since ancient times. Many places still have the custom of "flying disasters with broken wires" - writing troubles on a kite, cutting off the silk thread when it flies into the clouds, watching the kite drift away with the wind, as if all worries have also gone away. Returning from a spring outing, one cannot do without a taste of spring. The food during the Qingming Festival is also a taste bond that connects the mountains and rivers of time and conveys family warmth. Zhang Qin recommends a light and refreshing dish with a mild and balanced flavor - fragrant Chinese toon head mixed with tofu. This dish is a seasonal delicacy that has been passed down for a long time, with one green and one white color, simple and simple, in line with the essence of Qingming health preservation, especially suitable for patients with rheumatism and immune diseases to consume in moderation. Warm and cool balance, suitable for ascending and descending, Xiangchun, also known as Xiangchun Head or Xiangchun Sprout, is a tender sprout of Xiangchun tree in early spring. It comes in green, purple and other varieties and is known as the "vegetable on the tree". Since ancient times, it has been a treasure on Chinese spring dining tables. There is a saying in folk culture that "the fragrant Chinese toon is tender as silk before the rain" and "the first crop is tender, the second crop is fragrant, and the third and fourth crops are uncomfortable with the gums". The fragrant Chinese toon harvested before and after Qingming Festival and before Grain Rain has the most tender taste, strong aroma, and the highest health value. As a seasonal limited ingredient, the timing of picking Chinese toon sprouts is very important. Once the best time is missed, the taste will be greatly reduced. Xiangchun Tou mixed with tofu is pure, elegant, fresh, and simple. It is not only a seasonal delicacy, but also implies a clear and honest mind and body, gradually becoming a quite elegant literati dish. In the Ming Dynasty, Li Lian wrote in his book "Village Residence" that he would leave guests to cut off the tender and juicy sprouts of Chinese toon, and bring the spring scenery to the dining table together; In the Qing Dynasty, Li Yu mentioned the Chinese toon in his book "Idle Love and Occasion", saying that "if a dish can be fragrant to people's teeth and cheeks, then the head of the Chinese toon is also fragrant." In modern times, gourmet Wang Zengqi has a preference for it, saying that "mixing Chinese toon with tofu is the top grade of mixed tofu" and "if you eat it in one pot, you won't forget it in three springs. Ancient medical practitioners often used Chinese toon as a dietary ingredient to regulate spleen and stomach disharmony, alleviate rheumatism and rheumatism. ”Zhang Qin introduced that Chinese toon has a bitter taste, a mild and warm nature, enters the liver, stomach, and lung meridians, and mainly promotes hair growth. It can soothe the liver, regulate qi, invigorate the spleen, stimulate appetite, and dispel wind and dampness. Tofu is made from soybeans, with a sweet taste and a cool nature. It mainly nourishes yin and can nourish qi, promote diuresis, moisten dryness, clear heat and detoxify. The two are one warm and one cool, one rising and one falling. Chinese toon helps to raise hair to soothe the liver and invigorate the spleen, while tofu neutralizes the warm nature of Chinese toon with its cooling and moisturizing properties, avoiding the internal generation of dryness and evil, while nourishing the spleen and stomach and preventing moisture invasion. During the Qingming Festival, it is often humid and windy. Zhang Qin said that Chinese toon can dispel wind and dampness, invigorate the spleen and stimulate appetite, help alleviate physical fatigue and joint discomfort, and improve symptoms of dampness and fatigue such as spring fatigue; Tofu can nourish qi, moisten dryness, clear heat and detoxify. It not only nourishes the yin fluid that is deficient due to the rise of yang qi, but also alleviates the warmth and dryness of Toona sinensis, protecting the spleen and stomach. The synergy of the two, with a balance of warmth and coolness, and suitable for ascending and descending, helps to soothe the liver and regulate qi, strengthen the spleen and dispel dampness, especially suitable for people who experience symptoms such as excessive liver fire, irritability, shallow sleep, poor appetite, bitter mouth, abdominal distension, and heavy body fatigue during the Qingming Festival. For people with high blood lipids and a greasy diet, this dish can also be used as one of the choices for a light daily diet. People in the remission period of rheumatic and immune diseases and those diagnosed with dampness obstructing meridians in traditional Chinese medicine can consume it in moderation to assist in regulating their physical constitution, but not everyone is suitable for eating Chinese toon mixed with tofu. ”Zhang Qin reminds people with spleen and stomach deficiency cold, prone to diarrhea, and sensitive to cold in the stomach to be cautious. Overconsumption may worsen the symptoms of deficiency cold; Patients with acute gout should not consume it; People who are allergic to Chinese toon are prohibited from consuming it, and those with allergic constitution should also be cautious, as Chinese toon is traditionally considered a "volatile substance" and may trigger allergic reactions such as skin itching. From simple to fresh, the spring flavor is served on a plate as a seasonal dish in spring. The ingredients for mixing Chinese toon head with tofu are only two, and the seasoning only requires salt and sesame oil, yet it fills the plate with the freshness and tenderness of the entire spring season. This dish is carefully selected from ingredients to cooking. ”Zhang Qin introduced that it is advisable to choose fresh, short, strong, and purple red first crop of Chinese toon, as this type of toon has a strong aroma and rich nutrition; Tofu is not limited to its age and tenderness, it depends on personal preference. The texture of aged tofu is firm and not easily broken. If you pursue a smooth, tender, and cold taste, you can choose lactone tofu. In terms of seasoning, we strive for minimalism, using only salt and sesame oil, avoiding spicy and stimulating foods such as chili and Sichuan peppercorns, in order to avoid promoting fire and dryness, and stimulating joints and intestines. When cooking, first deal with the Chinese toon: wash the toon and quickly blanch it in boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds. Once the color turns green, immediately remove it and let it cool before chopping it up; Cut tofu into cubes and blanch them slightly with boiling water to remove the bean odor and make them easier to absorb. Finally, mix the two together, add a little salt and sesame oil, and mix well. It should be noted that the Chinese toon must first be blanched in boiling water, which is an essential step. Short term blanching can not only retain the effects of Chinese toon on soothing the liver, promoting hair growth, dispelling wind and dampness, but also remove oxalic acid and astringency, reducing irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. This way, the fragrant Chinese toon head mixed with tofu is light but not bland, not stir fried, and not heavily seasoned. ”Zhang Qin said that it is in line with the health concept of "clear, pure, and harmonious" during the Qingming Festival, as it not only avoids promoting fire and dryness, but also prevents greasy and harmful effects on the spleen. The cold mixing method also maximizes the retention of vitamins and plant active ingredients in Toon and Tofu, making it particularly suitable for patients with rheumatism and immune diseases to have a light diet and maintain the spleen and stomach. It's also very simple to make slight adjustments according to one's constitution. For example, people with a deficiency cold constitution can add a small amount of ginger powder and sesame oil during production to neutralize the coolness of tofu and reduce stimulation to the spleen and stomach; People with high uric acid levels should reduce the use of Toona sinensis and Tofu, maintain a light and low oil diet, and consume them occasionally. If you find the traditional method a bit cumbersome, there is a simpler version: blanch and chop the Chinese toon, cut the tofu into pieces, add a little salt and a few drops of sesame oil, and mix well. The whole process takes only 5 minutes. The essence of Qingming health preservation lies in its clarity and harmony. ”Zhang Qin stated that "qing" refers to a light diet and clear emotions, while "he" refers to the balance of yin and yang and the harmony of qi and blood. At this time, the diet should be mainly light, with a preference for fresh seasonal ingredients. Cooking should be done using methods such as blanching, stir frying, and cold mixing, while reducing deep frying and heavy flavored dishes to avoid excessive heat and dryness, as well as exacerbating dampness in the body. At the same time, during the Qingming Festival, there is an increase in rainfall, and the cold and humid air is prone to invade the joints. Patients with rheumatic and immune diseases should pay special attention to keeping warm and avoid getting cold or exposed to rain. At the same time, one should maintain a relaxed mood, conform to the nature of liver qi rising, and not be impatient or impatient. Why not take advantage of the spring scenery and go for outdoor walks and outings? Walk along the fields and mountains, feel the beautiful spring scenery, and embrace the bright spring. (New Society)