Blood-tonifying medicinal meals are suitable for patients with dry blood deficiency. The main manifestations of blood deficiency include pale complexion, pale lips and nails, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, pale tongue, and thin pulse, as well as irregular menstruation in women.
Blood tonification should mainly focus on the heart, liver, and spleen. If the heart lacks blood, it will lead to palpitations and insomnia; if blood fails to nourish the head, dizziness and blurred vision will occur, and the tongue will appear pale; if the heart-blood deficiency occurs, the blood vessels will not be adequately filled, resulting in a weak and thin pulse. The liver is responsible for storing blood. If the liver lacks blood, it will cause reduced menstrual flow and irregular menstruation. According to the principle of "tonification of the mother for deficiency," the liver is considered the mother of the heart. Therefore, when tonifying the heart, the liver is often tonified as well. The kidney is considered the mother of the liver, so tonifying the liver often involves tonifying the kidney. The spleen is the source of Qi and blood production. When the spleen function is weak and leads to blood deficiency, it is necessary to tonify the spleen to support the production of Qi and blood. Therefore, the method of blood tonification mainly focuses on regulating and nourishing the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys in the human body.
According to the theory of "Qi and blood originate from the same source" and "Qi is the commander of blood, and blood is the mother of Qi," this category of medicinal meals is prepared with ingredients that promote blood circulation, tonify Qi, and regulate Qi to enhance the therapeutic effect. Common blood-tonifying ingredients include Chinese angelica, Rehmannia glutinosa, polygonum multiflorum, donkey-hide gelatin, longan pulp, various types of meat, and liver. Medicinal meal recipes such as Chinese angelica and ginger broth with single meat, cuttlefish and Chinese angelica soup, and donkey-hide gelatin and sheep liver are commonly used.
Medicinal Meal One: Chinese Angelica and Ginger Broth with Single Meat
Ingredients: 20g Chinese angelica, 12g ginger, 500g lamb, 2g black pepper, 2g Sichuan peppercorn, salt to taste.
Instructions: Remove the bones from the lamb, remove the fascia, blanch in boiling water to remove blood, cool, and cut into 5cm long, 2cm wide, and 1cm thick strips. Put the lamb strips in a clay pot with an appropriate amount of water, add Chinese angelica and ginger, bring to a boil over high heat, remove any foam, and simmer over low heat for 1.5 hours until the lamb is tender. Season with black pepper, Sichuan peppercorn, and salt. Consume 2-3 times a week with meals.
Effects and Indications: Nourishes blood and supplements deficiency, regulates menstruation, relieves pain, warms Yang, dispels cold. Suitable for the elderly and postpartum women with insufficient Qi and blood, dizziness, pale complexion, and abdominal pain caused by blood deficiency and cold stagnation, postpartum abdominal pain, deficiency fatigue, sensitivity to cold, and other symptoms.
Comment: This recipe is commonly used for blood deficiency and cold stagnation.
Medicinal Meal Two: Cuttlefish and Chinese Angelica Soup
Ingredients: 100g dried cuttlefish, 30g Chinese angelica, seasonings as needed.
Instructions: Soften the dried cuttlefish in boiling water, wash, and cut into pieces. Cook together with Chinese angelica until the cuttlefish is thoroughly cooked. Remove the Chinese angelica and season with lard, salt, and ginger slices. Consume with meals.
Effects and Indications: Nourishes blood and regulates menstruation. Suitable for blood deficiency and amenorrhea, or scanty menstruation.
Comment: This recipe is commonly used for blood tonification and regulating menstruation.
Medicinal Meal Three: Donkey-hide Gelatin and Sheep Liver
Ingredients: 15g donkey-hide gelatin, 500g fresh sheep liver, 3g dried Tremella fuciformis, 3g green bell pepper slices, 5g white wine, 3g black pepper, 10g soy sauce, 2g salt, 5g MSG, 5g sesame oil, 10g cornstarch, 3g minced garlic, 3g minced ginger, 5g green onion.
Instructions: Place the donkey-hide gelatin in a bowl, add water and a suitable amount of clear water, and steam until the gelatin is dissolved. Thinly slice the sheep liver and place it in a bowl. Add dry cornstarch and mix well. In another small bowl, mix salt, soy sauce, MSG, black pepper, and cornstarch to make a sauce. Heat 500g of oil in a frying pan. When the oil is 50% hot, add the liver slices and fry until cooked. Remove the liver slices from the oil and drain. Leave a small amount of oil in the pan, add ginger and green onion, stir-fry, add green bell pepper and Tremella fuciformis, stir-fry with white wine, add the cooked liver slices and donkey-hide gelatin sauce, stir-fry for a few more times, then pour in the prepared sauce, stir-fry evenly, and add sesame oil. Consume with meals.
Effects and Indications: Nourishes blood and liver. Suitable for pale complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, darkening vision, dry eyes, and night blindness caused by insufficient liver blood.
Comment: This meal is commonly used for liver blood deficiency.
