In the third month of spring, the temperature gradually rises. Ladies, who are naturally fond of beauty, have纷纷换上了轻薄的针织，有一些朋友甚至穿上了短裙、短裤等。倩影固然十分生姿，但是不注意保暖，女性朋友就有可能会患上宫寒。
What is Palace Cold? As the name suggests, Palace Cold refers to a deficiency of Yang energy in women. When the uterus lacks the nourishment of Yang energy, a series of Palace Cold symptoms may appear, such as a feeling of heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, which is alleviated by heat, abnormal vaginal discharge, painful menstruation, and irregular cycles. Palace Cold is a disease name from the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and cannot be directly equated with specific disease names in Western medicine. However, some common acute and chronic gynecological inflammations in Western clinical practice (such as cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, etc.) can be treated based on the TCM syndrome differentiation of Palace Cold, and this has shown good clinical results.
Astragalus and Red Date Chicken Soup
What's good for preventing and treating Palace Cold?
Women with insufficient Yang energy and a cold uterus can appropriately consume "hot-natured" foods, such as beef, dog meat, mutton, walnuts, melon seeds, red dates, chestnuts, longans, lychees, and cherries. During winter and spring, you can drink more nourishing soups, such as mutton and radish soup. This allows the deficiencies of one's constitution to be supplemented by the high energy of acquired nutrition. There's no need to worry about "internal heat" (上火), as a Palace Cold constitution is characterized by a lack of "fire" energy and is not prone to symptoms of excessive heat. Office ladies should pay more attention to incorporating these warming foods into their lunch. However, the core of TCM wellness is balance. Too many "hot-natured" foods can also have a counterproductive effect.
In addition to "hot-natured" foods, one can also eat more foods that benefit and replenish kidney Qi and blood. Foods that replenish Qi and blood include red dates, black-bone chicken, animal blood, lotus root, liver, and various red meats. Products like bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin are especially good choices for women to regulate their bodies. Goji berries have a strong warming effect, so people with colds, fevers, inflammation, or diarrhea should avoid them. Generally, healthy adults should consume about 20 grams of goji berries per day and not overdo it.
Medicinal Food Introduction
Red Date and Astragalus Stewed Chicken Soup
Ingredients: 1 black-bone chicken, 6g each of Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui), Astragalus root (Huang Qi), and red dates (Hong Zao).
Method: Pluck and clean the black-bone chicken, removing its internal organs. Place the cleaned medicinal herbs into the chicken's abdominal cavity. Stew in a clay pot for 2 hours. Remove the medicinal residue, add seasonings, and then eat the meat and drink the soup. Consume in 2-3 servings. Take one dose daily before menstruation for 3-5 consecutive days.
Efficacy: Replenishes Qi and blood, and strengthens the body. Suitable for conditions caused by insufficient Qi and blood, such as scanty, light-colored menstruation, dizziness, blurred vision, palpitations, a sallow complexion, a sensation of emptiness and heaviness in the lower abdomen, pale red tongue, and a thready pulse.
Chives, Ginger, and Milk Pudding
Ingredients: 300g of chives, 30g of ginger, 250ml of milk.
Method: Clean and chop the chives. Peel and clean the ginger. Put the chives and ginger into a juicer and extract the juice, setting it aside. Pour the chive and ginger juice into a pot, add the milk, and heat gently until it comes to a boil. It is ready to eat.
Effects: Chives have the effect of nourishing the stomach and kidneys. They warm the middle to dispel cold, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and alleviate symptoms like a sensation of emptiness in the lower abdomen and aches in the abdomen and back.
p>Indulging in Raw and Cold Foods is Detrimental
As women get older, their innate Yang energy gradually diminishes, their spleen and stomach functions weaken, and the uterus loses its protection. If one still indulges excessively in raw and cold foods at this time, cold energy will accumulate in the body and be difficult to dispel, ultimately affecting the health of the reproductive system. In summer, food taken from the refrigerator should be left out for a while before eating. In autumn and winter, it's best to avoid raw foods and cold drinks. If you must eat something cold, have something warm first, then the cold food; the order cannot be reversed.
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