What to eat on Winter Solstice
Sep 16, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Diet during the Winter Solstice should follow the principle of warming, nourishing, and preserving vital energy. Foods can nourish the internal organs, while medicines can provide targeted regulation. Commonly consumed foods include lamb, red dates, longan, Chinese yam, and walnuts; commonly used medicinal products include Jin Kui Shen Qi Pills, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Pills, Ejiao oral liquid, Ba Zhen Granules, and Ren Shen Jian Pi Pills. Nourishing the body during the Winter Solstice should be done gradually, avoiding excessive consumption of spicy and heat-inducing foods. It is advisable to balance nutrition by pairing these with vegetables.
During the winter solstice, diet should follow the concept of warming, nourishing, and conserving. Foods can nourish the internal organs, while medicines can target specific conditions. Commonly used foods include lamb, red dates, longan, yam, and walnuts; commonly used medicines include Jin Kui Shen Qi Pills, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Pills, Ejiao Oral Liquid, Ba Zhen Granules, and Ren Shen Jian Pi Pills. Detailed explanations are as follows:
I. Foods
1. Lamb: Rich in protein and fat, it warms the middle jiao and kidneys, strengthens vital energy, and helps resist the cold of winter. It is best stewed in soup or cooked in soy sauce.
2. Red Dates: Contain sugars and multiple vitamins, invigorate the spleen and stomach, nourish the blood, and calm the mind, promoting harmony of qi and blood. They can be eaten directly or used in porridges and soups.
3. Longan: Contains glucose and B-complex vitamins, benefits the heart and spleen, nourishes the blood, and calms the mind. It improves fatigue and cold intolerance in winter and can be eaten raw or used in cooking.
4. Yam: Contains mucilaginous protein and carbohydrates, strengthens the spleen and stomach, benefits the kidneys, and consolidates essence, enhancing organ function. It is best steamed or stewed with meat.
5. Walnuts: Rich in unsaturated fatty acids and minerals, they nourish the kidneys, strengthen the waist and knees, moisten the intestines, and relieve constipation, supporting nourishment of the internal organs. They can be eaten raw or used in pastries.
II. Medicines
1. Jin Kui Shen Qi Pills: Composed of ingredients such as Aconite Root and Cinnamon Bark, they warm and tonify kidney yang and are suitable for cold intolerance and cold limbs caused by kidney yang deficiency. Take as directed by a physician.
2. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Pills: Contain ingredients such as Astragalus and Codonopsis, and have the effect of replenishing middle jiao qi. They are suitable for poor appetite and fatigue caused by spleen and stomach weakness. Use according to the instructions or as directed by a physician.
3. Ejiao Oral Liquid: The main ingredient is Ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin), which nourishes the blood and yin, and is suitable for sallow complexion caused by blood deficiency. Medication should be taken under a doctor's guidance.
4. Ba Zhen Granules: Composed of ingredients such as Codonopsis, Atractylodes, and Angelica, they replenish both qi and blood and are suitable for dizziness and fatigue caused by deficiency of both qi and blood. Take according to the prescribed course and under medical guidance.
5. Ren Shen Jian Pi Pills: Contain ingredients such as ginseng and Atractylodes, and have the function of strengthening the spleen and boosting qi. They are suitable for indigestion caused by spleen and stomach weakness. Strictly follow medical instructions.
Winter solstice tonification should be gradual, avoiding excessive consumption of spicy and hot foods. Vegetables should be consumed to maintain nutritional balance. Medicines should be selected based on syndrome differentiation. Individuals with yin deficiency and excessive fire should use warming tonifying medicines cautiously and must follow medical advice. If symptoms such as dry mouth and constipation occur after tonification, reduce the dosage or seek medical attention promptly for adjustment.
