【Spring Sluggishness Wellness Tips】Feeling sleepy and tired easily in spring? 3 tricks to instantly beat spring sluggishness

"Spring fatigue" refers to a general weariness that comes with spring. As temperatures and humidity gradually rise, coupled with excess dampness accumulated in the body during winter, the simultaneous increase of dampness inside the body and in the air leads to "spring fatigue." Besides feeling easily tired, even after plenty of sleep, some people may even experience the symptom of feeling more tired the more they sleep.

While office workers often jokingly claim to be sleep-deprived 365 days a year, many would agree that the fatigue brought on by "spring fatigue" is more intense than usual. How can you tell if you are suffering from "spring fatigue"? Check if you have any of the following symptoms.

Common symptoms of "spring fatigue" – check yourself now:

• Easily tired, always wanting to sleep
• Body swelling
• Weak limbs
• Thick tongue coating
• Feeling bloated or gassy easily, even without eating much
• Poor appetite

Hong Kong is located in the south and already has a humid climate, with spring being particularly damp and rainy. The saying "a spring rain brings a hundred days of dampness" leaves many feeling fatigued and weak in their limbs, with "external dampness" being particularly severe. Coupled with Hongkongers' penchant for air conditioning and cold foods, this exacerbates "internal dampness." Under the combined attack of "external dampness" and "internal dampness," the accumulated dampness can easily make people feel tired and sleepy, leading many Hongkongers to experience "spring fatigue" symptoms caused by dampness.

▴ Under the combined attack of "external dampness" and "internal dampness," Hongkongers are prone to experiencing symptoms of "spring fatigue."

To prevent "spring fatigue," you can start with your daily routine and diet. In winter, most people prefer hot pot and lamb stew, which are convenient and warming. However, as winter transitions to spring, dietary habits should be adjusted. Meals should be light and easy to digest, such as eggs and meat for protein, combined with fresh vegetables and fruits. This helps regulate the digestive system and reduces the chances of "spring fatigue."

▴ To prevent "spring fatigue," you can start with your daily routine and diet.

The feet are known as the body's "second heart," not because they sustain life like the heart, but because they have dense acupoints connected to the five internal organs. Foot soaking (foot bath) helps to alleviate "spring fatigue." As the saying goes, "Soaking feet in spring raises yang and solidifies the essence." This means foot soaking in spring helps to boost yang energy. The cause of "spring fatigue" is dampness hindering the rise of the body's yang energy, leading to fatigue. Those suffering from "spring fatigue" can soak their feet in water at about 40 degrees Celsius for 15 to 30 minutes before bed, which can significantly reduce the symptoms of "spring fatigue."

▴ Foot soaking (foot bath) helps to raise yang energy, aiding in the relief of "spring fatigue."

Heavy dampness, or excessive dampness evil as it's known in Chinese medicine, means that early summer wellness focuses on nourishing the spleen. Dispelling dampness and strengthening the spleen is the best health regimen for this season. You can consume more foods that regulate the five organs, such as Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi), which has high medicinal value. It helps to support vital energy, nourish the body, dispel dampness and detoxify, and enhance immune function. At the same time, avoid frequently consuming cold foods such as iced drinks and ice cream, as damp-heavy foods can lead to spleen deficiency and coldness. The accumulation of cold energy in the body causes "dampness on top of dampness," exacerbating the symptoms of "spring fatigue."

In traditional Chinese medicine, spring corresponds to the "wood" element, and the liver also belongs to "wood." Therefore, the focus of wellness in spring is "nourishing the liver." How exactly should this be done? Green enters the liver meridian, so green foods like green Ganoderma, broccoli, spinach, and green apples help the liver's qi circulation and promote metabolism. Consuming more of these also benefits the internal organs.

▴ Consuming more green foods helps to nourish the liver and alleviate "spring fatigue."