← Wellness Solar Terms
Rain Water 雨水 · Yǔ Shuǐ · ~Feb 19
✓ Reviewed by Liu Meihua, Licensed TCM Pharmacist🕐 Updated Oct 2026📄 1 classic source
AT A GLANCE
Snow turns to rain; the air stays damp-cold while everything begins to thaw.
How the food tradition reads it
Warm the middle while the air is still cold: Chinese yam, honey, a little dates. Sour flavors stay limited.
Tonight’s bowl
Chinese yam congee — yam 100 g, rice 50 g, simmered soft.
The practice of the term
Keep the lower back warm; spring cold hides in the wind.
What to watch for this term
- Cold-damp settles in the middle — warm congee weather
- Contagious-season hygiene: air rooms out
Who feels this term most
Yang Deficiency — The cold you feel is real — warm the middle early
Phlegm-Dampness — Outside damp wakes inside damp — go easy on sweets
Watching a pattern is not a diagnosis — flare-ups and chronic conditions belong with a professional.
The season’s anchor
“The three months of spring are called the unfolding… rise early, walk through the courtyard, let the hair down.” — Suwen, On Nurturing Life by the Four Seasons
