If the anemia is not severe, symptoms can be improved by adjusting the diet.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, blood is transformed from food by the action of Qi. The relationship between blood and Qi is close; not only is the production of blood related to Qi, but the circulation of blood also requires the propulsion of Qi.
Therefore, Qi deficiency often leads to blood deficiency, and blood deficiency is often accompanied by Qi deficiency. Therefore, when replenishing blood, it is also necessary to tonify Qi.
Anemia patients should avoid drinking tea, as it will only worsen the symptoms of anemia. This is because tea contains tannic acid, which easily forms insoluble ferric tannate after consumption, thus hindering iron absorption. Secondly, milk and some drugs that neutralize stomach acid can hinder iron absorption, so they should not be consumed with iron-rich foods.
Blood-nourishing foods are often sweet and greasy, and can be difficult to digest. Therefore, they are often paired with foods that promote Qi and strengthen the spleen, such as Amomi Fructus and radish. They are contraindicated for those with dampness, epigastric and abdominal fullness, and loose stools.
Fruits can also help with blood replenishment.
Lychee: Sweet and sour in taste, warm in nature.
Function: Tonifies the spleen and nourishes blood, promotes the production of fluids to quench thirst, regulates Qi and alleviates pain.
Grape: Sweet and sour in taste, neutral in nature.
Function: Tonifies Qi and blood, strengthens muscles and bones, promotes urination. Suitable for blood deficiency with constipation, and spleen deficiency with poor appetite.
Longan Aril: Sweet in taste, warm in nature.
Function: Tonifies the heart and spleen, nourishes blood and calms the mind. Suitable for spleen deficiency accompanied by palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness.
Expert Tips
1. Contraindicated for those with a cold.
2. Contraindicated for those with heat syndrome or Yin deficiency with blazing fire.
3. Contraindicated for those with epigastric and abdominal fullness, poor appetite, and loose stools.
Blood-Nourishing Recipes:
Blood-Nourishing and Calming Beef Soup
Ingredients: 12 red dates, 300g beef, 100g longan aril, 6 bowls of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 slices of ginger.
Method: 1. Peel and slice the ginger. Wash and slice the beef. 2. Wash the longan aril and red dates, removing the pits. 3. Place all ingredients in a pot, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2.5 hours. Season with salt and serve.
Function: Strengthens the spleen and nourishes blood.
Blood-Nourishing and Beauty-Enhancing Lotus Root Soup
Ingredients: 500g pork backbone, 60g Rehmannia root, 500g lotus root, 10 red dates (pitted).
Method: 1. Wash the Rehmannia root, lotus root, and red dates. 2. Wash the pork backbone and cut into pieces. 3. Place all ingredients in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for 3 hours.
Function: Nourishes blood and enhances beauty.
Blood-Nourishing Congee Recipes
Red Date Congee: Wash the rice, add a few clean red dates, and an appropriate amount of water. Cook until thick, then it is ready to eat.
Jujube and Sheep Bone Congee: 1-2 sheep foreleg bones (lightly crushed), 20 jujubes, 50-100g glutinous rice. Cook into a congee over low heat, season with salt, and consume in portions. Suitable for aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, etc.
Donkey-hide Gelatin Congee: Wash the glutinous rice and cook until done. Add an appropriate amount of donkey-hide gelatin, let it dissolve, then add a little brown sugar and serve.
Blood-Nourishing Herbal Formulas
Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction): 20g Rehmannia root (prepared), 20g Angelica sinensis, 15g White Peony root, 10g Chuanxiong root.
Danggui Buxue Tang (Angelica and Astragalus Decoction): 50g Angelica sinensis, 20g Astragalus root.
Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction): 20g Rehmannia root (prepared), 20g Angelica sinensis, 15g White Peony root, 10g Chuanxiong root, 15g Codonopsis root, 20g Atractylodes macrocephala root, 10g Poria, 6g Licorice root.
Expert Tips
1. Not suitable for those with an unresolved external pathogen (e.g., a cold).
2. Suitable for anyone with anemia, palpitations, insomnia, sallow complexion, and loose skin.
Special Reminder
Not all anemia requires blood tonification. Therefore, a doctor's diagnosis is necessary first. If blood tonification is needed, the correct method should be used under the doctor's recommendation.