There’s an old saying: “Radish at bedtime, ginger at sunrise; radish in winter, ginger in summer - and you’ll keep the doctor away.” This saying contains unique wisdom about living in harmony with the seasons. Today, let’s explore the meaning behind this traditional advice.

Radish at bedtime, ginger at sunrise
It means eating radish before going to sleep and eating ginger after getting up. Radish is mild and slightly cool in nature. It helps clear heat, soothe the throat, support digestion, relieve coughs, and replenish energy. Eating a moderate amount of radish (preferably cooked) before bedtime can help promote smooth energy flow and support better sleep. Ginger has a warm and spicy nature. It benefits the lungs, stomach, and spleen, helping to warm the middle part of the body, release cold, support digestion, and ease nausea. Eating a little ginger after waking up can help boost your body’s energy and blood circulation for the day ahead, so you feel more energetic and ready for work.

Radish in winter, ginger in summer 
Radish is ideal for winter, while ginger is excellent for summer. This is based on the cool or warm nature of these foods to balance the seasonal climate - cooling what is hot, and warming what is cold. One key point: in winter, radish is mainly used to promote digestion and relieve bloating, especially when we eat more meat and rich foods during the colder months.

Nourish yang energy in spring and summer, protect yin energy in autumn and winter
Why does traditional Chinese medicine suggest nourishing “yang energy” during the warm seasons and protecting “yin energy” during the cold seasons?
In spring and summer, rising temperatures make people crave cold drinks and ice, and they also spend more time in air-conditioned rooms. This can easily harm the spleen and stomach and deplete your body’s yang energy. In autumn and winter, we eat more warm, hearty foods, which can lead to problems like swollen gums or mouth ulcers. That’s why we should also pay attention to nourishing yin.

The saying “Radish in winter, ginger in summer” essentially reflects the traditional idea of “treating winter-related conditions in summer.” This approach uses the strong yang energy of summer to address health issues that tend to occur or worsen in winter. However, it’s not suitable for everyone. People with excessive internal heat or a damp-heat constitution should avoid it.

Keep ginger at home, and minor ailments stay away
In daily life, minor headaches or colds are common, and ginger can help with many of them. Both the Compendium of Materia Medica and Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold describe ginger in similar ways: it is pungent, slightly warm, non-toxic, and available all year round. It can be used in cold dishes, stir-fries, or soups, and is a versatile seasoning. Ginger helps strengthen the spleen, stimulate appetite, warm the body, dispel cold, and relieve abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Modern research shows that ginger contains volatile oils and gingerol, which promote blood circulation, stimulate the nervous system, help expel wind and cold, and improve digestion. That’s why doctors and folk wisdom say, “Keep ginger at home, and minor ailments stay away.”

Because ginger is warm and pungent, it is best used when you have caught a chill. If your symptoms after exposure to cold include a sore throat, dry throat, or constipation, ginger may not be suitable. People with internal heat should also use it with caution. Do not eat too much ginger, as excessive gingerol can be processed by the kidneys and may cause dry mouth, sore throat, or constipation.

Never eat this kind of ginger!
Rotten ginger produces a toxic substance called safrole, which may increase the risk of cell damage and cancer. Do not eat spoiled ginger — cutting off the rotten part is not safe either. Once ginger has gone bad, throw the whole piece away. Don’t risk your health for a small saving.
However, ginger that has simply sprouted is generally still safe to eat, though the flavor may not be as good.