Medicinal herbs for women's health
Adolescence: Angelica sinensis, Coix seed
Common problems in adolescent girls include menstrual irregularities and excessive vaginal discharge. During this time, the uterus is still developing and its function is not stable. Coupled with the academic pressure, changes in living environment, and irregular lifestyle, it is easy to cause menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and increased vaginal discharge.
Angelica sinensis can regulate menstruation, relieve pain, and promote blood circulation. Research has found that Angelica sinensis can also promote estrogen secretion, reduce vascular resistance, increase blood circulation, and nourish the skin. If there is Qi stagnation and blood stasis, delayed or painful menstruation, it can be combined with fragrant angelica, bupleurum, and chuanxiong for decoction. If there is Qi and blood deficiency, light-colored and abundant menstruation, palpitations, and shortness of breath, it can be combined with baked astragalus, codonopsis, and white atractylodes for decoction. Chinese patent medicine such as Guipi Pills can also be used.
Abnormal vaginal discharge is often caused by spleen deficiency. Common symptoms include white or pale yellow discharge, sticky and odorless, continuous flow, pale or sallow complexion, cold limbs, fatigue, and poor appetite. Coix seed and white atractylodes can be combined with yam, atractylodes, and poria to strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness. Chinese patent medicines such as Sanleng Pills or Wujibaifeng Pills can also be used for treatment.
Medicinal herbs for women's health
Postpartum: Donkey-hide gelatin, Leonurus
After childbirth, women often experience blood deficiency and stasis due to childbirth injuries and blood loss.
Blood deficiency after childbirth is characterized by dizziness, fever, constipation, insufficient lactation, body pain, and muscle spasms. Donkey-hide gelatin is a good blood tonic. It can be used in combination with other herbs that tonify qi and blood, promote blood circulation, and calm the mind, such as codonopsis, red dates, and longan flesh. Note that donkey-hide gelatin should be melted and added to the herbal decoction before consumption. Other options include donkey-hide gelatin and Angelica sinensis combination formula.
Blood stasis after childbirth is characterized by abdominal pain, fever, and incomplete lochia. Leonurus is the best herbal medicine for postpartum recovery. Take 20 grams of Leonurus and add 15 grams of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 15 grams of Angelica sinensis, and 10 grams of chuanxiong. Decoct and drink the herbal tea. Chinese patent medicines such as Leonurus Paste or Leonurus granules can also be used.
Medicinal herbs for women's health
Menopause: Pueraria root, Saffron
Women entering menopause may experience physical and mental exhaustion, irritability, insomnia, dry skin, dull hair, and menstrual disorders, which can affect their daily life and work. Currently, 27% of white-collar women aged 30-40 have varying degrees of premature menopause. Therefore, in addition to increasing the intake of estrogen-rich foods such as soybeans, tofu, black rice, sweet potatoes, and pine nuts in their diet, women in middle age can also use Angelica sinensis, Pueraria root, licorice, saffron, and other medicinal herbs to make herbal tea or incorporate them into their food. This can alleviate menopausal symptoms and have beauty and nourishing effects.
Research by German scientists has also shown that Angelica sinensis can inhibit tyrosinase activity, thereby inhibiting melanin production, and can treat freckles and melasma.
Pueraria root is rich in flavonoids, which have a dual regulating effect on estrogen and have the effects of beauty, nourishing, and regulating endocrine. Licorice extract has estrogen-like effects, promotes epidermal development, promotes the production of hair melanin, and prevents dry and graying hair. Saffron is known as the "protector of women" and has good effects on menopausal syndrome, menstrual disorders, insomnia, and irritability.
In daily life, you can use about 10 grams of Angelica sinensis, Pueraria root, or licorice to make herbal tea instead of regular tea, which can improve the symptoms caused by reduced estrogen. Licorice has a sweet taste, so it can be combined with Angelica sinensis or Pueraria root to add sweetness. Take a small pinch (about 50 milligrams) of saffron and steep it in water. Drink a cup in the morning and evening. Pueraria root powder can also be directly mixed with water and consumed. In addition, you can take 10 grams of Angelica sinensis, chop it, stew it with water, and then steam 100 grams of rice to make dry rice. Put the dry rice into the Angelica sinensis water and simmer for half an hour until the soup thickens and the rice is cooked, which becomes Angelica sinensis porridge. You can also take 30 grams of Pueraria root, 50 grams of glutinous rice, rinse the glutinous rice and soak it overnight, put it in a pot with the Pueraria root, add 1000 grams of water, and simmer over low heat until the rice becomes thick porridge, which can be eaten as Pueraria root porridge.
