Qi and blood are the basic substances for human physiological activities. The maintenance of qi and blood is particularly important for female friends. Many female friends have dull complexion, frequent acne, and lackluster hair due to immense work pressure and poor dietary habits. The root cause of these problems is blood deficiency or blood heat disturbance, which means that the blood is not functioning properly.
The most important function of blood in the human body is nourishment. The nutrients and oxygen carried by blood are the material foundation for the life activities of various tissues and organs in the body. Blood is even more important for women. With sufficient blood, the complexion will be rosy, the skin will be plump and full, the hair will be smooth and shiny, and the spirit will be energetic. Because blood is the best carrier to deliver the efficacy of qi to all organs in the body, traditional Chinese medicine calls it "the mother of qi" or "blood can carry qi".
Blood production is related to two factors: the digestive function of the spleen and stomach, and the level of qi. In other words, blood replenishment can be approached from these two aspects. The spleen and stomach are important organs for the digestion and absorption of food in the human body, and they are also the source of blood production. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of nourishing the spleen to nourish the blood. Qi plays a role in promoting blood circulation, so sufficient qi is necessary for robust blood production. Traditional Chinese medicine also states that "qi can generate blood", which means that if there is blood deficiency, qi should be replenished first. Blood deficiency or improper circulation can lead to various discomforts such as forgetfulness, irritability, insomnia, palpitations, and menstrual disorders. If left untreated, it may lead to more serious diseases.
1. Dietary Regulation
Female friends should eat more nutritious foods rich in high-quality proteins, trace elements such as iron and copper, folic acid, and vitamin B12, such as longan meat, eel, sea cucumber, jujube, lotus seeds, walnuts, mushrooms, pig liver, pig blood, black-bone chicken, eggs, spinach, black sesame, shrimp, carrots, black fungus, and brown sugar. These foods are not only rich in nutrients but also have the effect of nourishing and activating blood.
2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulation
Common blood-nourishing Chinese herbs include angelica, safflower, prepared rehmannia root, walnut kernel, codonopsis root, astragalus root, polygonum multiflorum, goji berries, Chinese yam, donkey-hide gelatin, salvia miltiorrhiza, and rose. These herbs can be used together with blood-nourishing foods to make delicious medicinal diets with the function of regulating endocrine and nourishing blood.
3. Exercise and Health Preservation
Exercise is also an essential part of health preservation. Female friends can practice gentle exercises such as yoga and tai chi. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine believes that "excessive eye strain damages the blood". Therefore, professional women who spend long hours working in front of a computer should pay special attention to resting and caring for their eyes to prevent the depletion of qi and blood caused by excessive eye use.
4. Meridian Therapy
Female friends can regularly receive head, face, and foot massages to disperse stagnant blood. They can also insist on moxibustion on acupuncture points such as guan yuan, qi hai, zu san li, and san yin jiao, which have certain effects in delaying aging.
Taking care of oneself, as a woman, is no longer a difficult task as long as attention is given to nourishing and activating blood.
