Cold hands and feet, whether it's in the cold winter or the hot summer, this phenomenon is not uncommon among women. Why does this happen and are there any remedies to help with it?
Causes of cold hands and feet in women
According to traditional Chinese medicine, cold hands and feet are often caused by a deficiency of yang energy. The deficiency of yang energy leads to poor circulation of qi and blood, which results in cold hands and feet.
Among them, deficiency of heart yang, known as "heart yang deficiency," is an important factor leading to cold hands and feet in women.
The heart is a yang organ and governs yang energy. Heart yang is the part of heart qi that has the functions of warming, propelling, and stimulating, while heart yin is the part that has the functions of cooling, calming, and inhibiting.
If there is an imbalance of yin and yang, and heart yang becomes deficient, the ability to warm the body decreases, and internal coldness develops, which affects the overall warming function of the body;
The deficiency of heart yang leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, cold hands and feet. Moreover, heart yang deficiency often develops from insufficient heart qi, which causes impaired blood circulation, further exacerbating cold hands and feet and may even lead to chest pain and palpitations.
In addition to cold hands and feet, deficiency of heart yang may also manifest as edema, pale complexion, aversion to cold, shortness of breath, fatigue, and even symptoms of heart yang collapse such as bluish lips, profuse sweating, weak pulse, and unconsciousness.
The reason why many women have cold hands and feet is because women have a yin constitution and are more prone to coldness. In addition, poor lifestyle habits such as consuming cold drinks and wearing thin clothing can exacerbate the symptoms.
Furthermore, a yin constitution in women is also an important factor leading to conditions such as infertility due to cold uterus and uterine fibroids.
Dietary therapy to warm and tonify heart yang
For cold hands and feet caused by deficiency of heart yang, simply relying on external measures such as wearing more clothes, gloves, and thick socks is not a fundamental solution. It is necessary to regulate the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine often uses methods to warm and tonify heart yang and nourish heart qi, such as using formulas like Guizhi Gancao Tang combined with Renshen Tang.
1. Vinegar-soaked ginger
Ingredients: 50g of fresh ginger, 100ml of vinegar, adjust the dosage according to a 1:2 ratio.
Instructions: Cut the fresh ginger into thin slices as evenly as possible, then put them into a dry and clean bottle, add enough vinegar to cover the ginger slices. Store them in the refrigerator and consume after one week, 2-4 slices per day.
Vinegar-soaked ginger is used to promote the ascending and warming of yang energy. It is best to take it in the morning to correspond with the gradual rise and strengthening of yang energy during the morning.
Ginger has a warm and stimulating effect, which helps to dispel wind and cold and promote the movement of qi and blood, making it beneficial for refreshing the mind.
If taken at night, it may cause excitement as yin energy is more dominant at that time, which is not conducive to sleep and the rest of the organs.
Effect: Boost heart yang. Ginger has a warming and stimulating effect and is commonly used to dispel wind and cold and promote the ascending of yang energy.
Since ginger's warm nature can easily stimulate liver fire, vinegar is added to moderate its nature and make it more mild.
2. Black bean, red date, and longan porridge
Ingredients: 100g of glutinous rice, 25g each of longan flesh and red dates, 30g of black beans, white sugar, and osmanthus as needed. Adjust the dosage according to the ratio.
Instructions: Wash and soak the black beans, wash and pit the red dates.
Bring water to a boil in a pot, then add the black beans and glutinous rice. Boil on high heat, skim off the foam, and then simmer over low heat.
When the porridge is about 80% cooked, add the red dates and longan flesh, continue to simmer until the beans are soft and the porridge is thick. Add white sugar and osmanthus for flavor.
Effect: Tonify heart qi. Suitable for those with qi deficiency, palpitations, and weakness due to qi and blood deficiency.
