The blood stasis constitution is mainly related to the liver's ability to spread and discharge. According to traditional Chinese medicine, if the liver qi is frequently stagnant, it is prone to blood stasis constitution. Women with blood stasis constitution often experience painful menstruation, while men may have bruises on their bodies. To improve the blood stasis constitution, it is important to pay attention to soothing the liver and regulating qi. When the liver's qi is smooth, the blood will also flow smoothly. Below are some recommended dietary therapies for blood stasis constitution.
Recipe 1: Hawthorn and Chicken Porridge
Ingredients: 15g hawthorn slices, 1 chicken gizzard, 50g glutinous rice
Method: Stir-fry the hawthorn slices until they turn brown, then set aside. Wash the chicken gizzard with warm water, dry it, and grind it into powder. Rinse the glutinous rice, and cook it with the fried hawthorn slices and chicken gizzard powder in a sand pot over low heat for 30 minutes.
Efficacy: Dissolves blood stasis, regulates qi stagnation.
Recipe 2: Peach Kernel Porridge
Ingredients: 10g peach kernels, 10g raw rehmannia, 100g glutinous rice, 2g cinnamon powder, 50g brown sugar
Method: Soak the peach kernels and raw rehmannia, remove the skin and tips, wash them, and add them to cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat. After 30 minutes, remove the residue, add the glutinous rice to the medicinal liquid, and cook the porridge. Add the cinnamon powder and brown sugar after the porridge is cooked. The thickness of the porridge can be adjusted according to personal preference. Eat a small bowl 3-4 times a day. This porridge has a bright red color, with tender rice, sweet and smooth taste.
Efficacy: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "pain indicates stagnation, and smoothness indicates no pain." Peach kernels can promote blood circulation, moisturize the intestines, and nourish and activate blood. Cinnamon and brown sugar can warm and invigorate the blood vessels and relieve pain. Glutinous rice is sweet and neutral, which can invigorate the spleen and stomach. It contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, and vitamin B1. Brown sugar not only provides energy but is also rich in iron. Protein and iron are the main materials for blood production. This porridge has the effects of dispelling blood stasis, promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, and nourishing the spleen and stomach.
Note: This porridge is suitable for those who have stopped bleeding from peptic ulcers or have not experienced bleeding. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is suitable for the blood stasis internal stagnation type, which is characterized by fixed and stabbing pain in the epigastric region, and the tongue is dark purple or has ecchymosis. If there is active bleeding from the ulcer, this porridge should be avoided.
Recipe 3: Winter Mushroom and Rapeseed
Ingredients: 400g rapeseed, 200g winter mushrooms, vegetable oil, salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG) as needed
Method: Wash and cut the rapeseed into 3 cm long pieces, separate the stems and leaves. Soak the winter mushrooms in warm water and remove the stems. Heat the oil in a pan, stir-fry the rapeseed stems until they are 70% cooked, season with salt, then add the rapeseed leaves and stir-fry. Add the winter mushrooms and the soaking liquid, cook until the stems are soft, and then add MSG.
Efficacy: Promotes blood circulation and resolves stasis.
Recipe 4: Cuttlefish and Peach Kernel Soup
Ingredients: 250g fresh cuttlefish, 15g peach kernels, 10g garlic chives, cooking wine, sugar, salt to taste
Method: Rinse the cuttlefish, cut it into strips, and set aside. Wash the peach kernels and peel them. In a pot, bring 1000ml of water to a boil, add the peach kernels and simmer over medium heat. Then add the cuttlefish, cooking wine, salt, and sugar. Add the garlic chives before serving.
Efficacy: Nourishes blood and regulates menstruation.
Recipe 5: Hawthorn and Brown Sugar Bun
Ingredients: 10g hawthorn, brown sugar as needed
Method: Simply grind the hawthorn and brown sugar into a filling, make it into flour buns, and steam them until cooked.
Efficacy: Helps to dissolve food stagnation, reduce meat accumulation, phlegm, fullness, acid reflux, and relieve qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Note: Although hawthorn and brown sugar buns are a good choice for people with blood stasis constitution, they should be avoided by those with high stomach acid.
Tips: People with blood stasis constitution can consume foods such as chives, onions, garlic, cinnamon, crabs, and sea cucumbers to regulate their condition. They can also drink rose tea and ginger jujube tea for conditioning purposes.
