Dietary therapy for menopausal syndrome caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency and spleen and kidney yang deficiency

Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu): Polygonum multiflorum is a superior tonic for menopause. In folk medicine, it is often taken as a powder or mixed with black sesame seeds and sugar. Its main functions are to tonify the kidneys, replenish essence and blood, and resist aging. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty believed that Polygonum multiflorum's effects surpassed those of Rehmannia glutinosa and Asparagus cochinchinensis, highlighting its nourishing power. It has a therapeutic effect on the symptoms of liver and kidney yin deficiency in menopause.

Sea cucumber: Sea cucumber has the effects of tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence, nourishing blood and moisturizing dryness. "When men reach the age of seventy-eight (i.e., in their fifties), their 'tiankui' (menstrual blood) is depleted, their sperm count is low, and their kidneys are weak." Sea cucumber is precisely a nourishing and strengthening food for treating deficiency of essence and blood, and general weakness. Physicians throughout history have also believed that sea cucumber has the functions of "tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence," "reducing heat and nourishing the kidneys," and "tonifying the kidney meridian and benefiting the marrow." Therefore, men in their "seventy-eight" years should eat sea cucumber regularly, as it is beneficial for alleviating and eliminating menopausal symptoms.

Cuttlefish: Cuttlefish is neutral in nature and salty in taste. It can nourish yin and blood, making it suitable for men going through menopause. The *Bielu* states that it "benefits qi and strengthens will." The *Yilin Zuanyao* also believes that "cuttlefish nourishes the heart and unblocks the meridians, harmonizes the blood and clears the kidneys, removes heat and preserves fluids; when eaten raw, it can nourish blood and yin, improve eyesight and remove heat." This indicates that cuttlefish has the effects of "nourishing blood and yin" and "benefits qi and strengthens will" on symptoms such as memory loss, decreased sperm count, dizziness, lower back pain, and tinnitus caused by liver and kidney deficiency during menopause in men.

Clam meat: Clams are cold in nature and sweet and salty in taste. They not only nourish yin and clear heat, but also nourish the liver and improve eyesight. They are especially suitable for men experiencing yin deficiency and excessive fire during menopause. The *Sui Xi Ju Diet Manual* states, "Clam meat clears heat and nourishes yin, nourishes the liver and cools the blood, improves eyesight and calms mania." *Ben Cao Zai Xin* believes it "treats liver heat, kidney deficiency, and clears heat and quenches thirst." This can have a therapeutic effect on those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, experiencing symptoms such as five-center heat (heat in the palms, soles, and chest), dry mouth and tongue.

According to the principle of what is suitable and unsuitable, men with male menopausal syndrome due to liver and kidney yin deficiency should also eat foods that nourish the liver and kidneys, nourish yin and reduce fire, and promote sperm production and marrow replenishment, such as pork kidney, soft-shelled turtle, frog meat, duck meat, clam, eel, cockle meat, razor clam, oyster meat, mussels, bluefish, white fungus, and bird's nest.

(II) Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency

Men of this type are often obese, fatigued, cold-sensitive, have poor appetite, loose stools, clear and copious urine, frequent urination at night, decreased libido, thin and cold semen, pale and swollen tongue, thin white coating, and weak and deep pulse.

In their daily lives, they should pay attention to avoiding various raw, cold, and cooling foods that damage the spleen and stomach, deplete qi, and are greasy, such as persimmons, dried persimmons, water chestnuts, watermelons, cucumbers, winter melons, raw radishes, raw lotus roots, water shield, bamboo shoots, black fungus, kelp, tofu, cucumbers, pears, apples, strawberries, celery, chrysanthemum leaves, snails, river snails, crabs, ducks, soft-shelled turtles, duck eggs, preserved eggs, purslane, goji berries, honeysuckle, white chrysanthemums, mint, malva nut, American ginseng, and various cold drinks.

For those with spleen and kidney yang deficiency, traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy suggests consuming warming foods that replenish vital energy, or warming and tonifying foods that strengthen the spleen and warm the kidneys, such as:

Lamb: Lamb is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It can benefit kidney qi, warm kidney yang, warm the spleen and stomach, and replenish the middle qi. Throughout history, physicians have frequently used lamb to treat spleen yang deficiency. For example, the *Bielu* records: "Lamb is good for weakness and coldness, replenishes the middle qi and benefits the spleen." The *Riyong Bencao* says: "Lamb treats weakness in the waist and knees, strengthens muscles and bones, and thickens the stomach and intestines." Meng Shen of the Tang Dynasty said to use "half a pound of white lamb, remove the fat membrane, cut it, and eat it with garlic and leeks once every three days to benefit kidney qi and strengthen yang." Li Mingzhen of the Ming Dynasty also said, "One leg of fatty lamb, boiled until tender, and eating the soup and meat, treats five types of weakness and seven types of injury, and coldness." It is especially suitable for men experiencing spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome during menopause.

Dog meat: Dog meat is warm in nature and salty in taste. It nourishes the middle energizer, invigorates qi, warms the kidneys, and strengthens yang. Meng Shen of the Tang Dynasty believed that dog meat "nourishes blood vessels, strengthens the stomach and intestines, solidifies the lower jiao, and replenishes essence." The "Rihuazi Materia Medica" also records that "dog meat nourishes stomach qi, strengthens yang, warms the waist and knees, nourishes deficiency and fatigue, and benefits qi and strength." For men with spleen and kidney yang deficiency type menopausal syndrome, who experience symptoms such as weak spleen yang, poor appetite and loose stools, or diarrhea at dawn, kidney yang deficiency, impotence and coldness, thin semen, and frequent urination at night, eating dog meat regularly is most beneficial.

Chestnuts: Warm in nature and sweet in taste, they enter the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians. They can strengthen the spleen and stomach, as well as nourish the kidneys and strengthen muscles. The *Yuqiu Yaojie* states, "Chestnuts replenish the middle *qi*, nourish deficiency and weakness, strengthen the spleen, and are superior to other foods." The *Jingyan Fang* states, "For treating kidney deficiency and weakness in the lower back and legs, put raw chestnuts in a bag and hang them to dry. Eat ten or more each morning, followed by pork kidney porridge. With continued use, one will become strong and healthy." This indicates that chestnuts do indeed have the effect of tonifying the spleen and kidneys. For men with spleen and kidney yang deficiency and menopausal syndrome, eating chestnuts regularly is suitable. According to past experience, eating raw, air-dried chestnuts is best.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is warm in nature and has a sweet and pungent taste. It warms the spleen and stomach and promotes blood circulation. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is often used to treat symptoms such as insufficient primordial yang, deficiency of kidney yang, weakness of the lower abdomen, or spleen and stomach deficiency, aversion to cold, loose stools, and urinary incontinence. When male menopausal syndrome presents with the above-mentioned symptoms of insufficient spleen yang and kidney yang deficiency, it is advisable to frequently add cinnamon to cooking, which is most beneficial for treating this condition.

Ginseng: Ginseng is warm in nature and has a sweet and slightly bitter taste. It is a common folk remedy for replenishing vital energy and strengthening the body. The *Compendium of Materia Medica* states that ginseng can "nourish the primordial yang," while the *Medical Origins* says it "treats insufficient yang qi in the spleen and stomach." Throughout history, medical practitioners have praised ginseng extensively, generally concluding that it has beneficial effects on those with qi deficiency, blood deficiency, and yang deficiency. Modern practitioners also believe it can warm the kidneys and strengthen yang, effectively treating male impotence and premature ejaculation. For men with spleen and kidney yang deficiency and menopausal syndrome, drinking ginseng tea is highly recommended and beneficial.

Placenta: Placenta is warm in nature and sweet and salty in taste. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that placenta is a nourishing substance, greatly replenishing qi and blood, tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence, and has remarkable effects on strengthening the body. Wu Qiu of the Ming Dynasty said: "It treats weakness and exhaustion, calms the mind and nourishes blood, and replenishes qi and essence." The "Huiyue Yijing" points out: "It can replenish all kinds of lower back pain, weak knees, emaciation and depletion of essence." In modern times, some doctors have also used it to treat impotence. For men over fifty years old, whose qi and blood gradually decline and whose spleen and kidney yang qi gradually weakens, leading to male menopausal syndrome, regular consumption of placenta can be very beneficial.

Cordyceps sinensis: Cordyceps sinensis is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It has the effect of replenishing deficiencies and benefiting essence and qi. For men in their fifties and sixties going through menopause, regular consumption of small amounts of Cordyceps sinensis can be beneficial in strengthening the body, replenishing kidney qi, and alleviating menopausal syndrome. The "Pharmacopoeia" states that Cordyceps sinensis "preserves essence and benefits qi, specifically replenishing the gate of life," fully demonstrating its efficacy. It is most suitable for menopausal syndrome caused by spleen and kidney yang deficiency, characterized by fatigue, decreased libido or impotence, premature ejaculation, thin and watery semen, frequent urination, and nocturia.

In addition, men with male menopausal syndrome due to spleen and kidney yang deficiency should also eat beef, beef tripe, sparrow meat, sparrow eggs, seahorse, sea cucumber, walnuts, Cistanche deserticola, Cynomorium songaricum, Eucommia ulmoides, beef bone marrow, sheep bones, sheep tripe, eggs, pigeon meat, pigeon eggs, and sheep milk.