Health Test: Is Your Qi and Blood Sufficient?
When it comes to "qi and blood," most people think it's a rather mystical concept. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the standard for a person's health is sufficient qi and blood. The body's organs are like people themselves; only when they are well-fed can they have the strength to work. Blood is the "food" for the organs. Are your qi and blood sufficient?
1. Look at the eyes: Actually, this means looking at the color of the whites of the eyes. As the saying goes, "a person gets old and their pearls turn yellow," which actually refers to the whites of the eyes becoming cloudy, yellowish, and having blood vessels. This indicates that your qi and blood are insufficient. If your eyes can always be wide open, it means your qi and blood are sufficient. Conversely, large eye bags, dry eyes, and heavy eyelids all indicate insufficient qi and blood.
2. Look at the skin: Skin that is fair with a rosy pink glow, has a lustrous and elastic appearance, and is free from wrinkles and spots indicates sufficient qi and blood. Conversely, rough, dull, dark, yellowish, pale, bluish, reddish, or spotted skin all indicate poor health and insufficient qi and blood.
3. Look at the hair: Black, dense, and smooth hair indicates sufficient qi and blood. Dry, brittle, falling out, yellowish, whitish, or split-end hair all indicate insufficient qi and blood.
4. Look at the ears: Nowadays, people's ears are small, looking increasingly stiff and somewhat deformed in shape. Besides the shape, the main focus should be on the acquired condition, mainly the color, presence of spots, and any pain. If they are a light pink, lustrous, spot-free, wrinkle-free, and full, it indicates sufficient qi and blood. A dull, lusterless appearance indicates a decline in qi and blood. If the ears are shrunken, dry, have spots, or many wrinkles, it signifies that the kidney function is beginning to fail, and you should pay attention. Did you know that a person's ears are constantly growing throughout their life? This is why the ears are also an important organ for observation in TCM diagnosis.
5. Feel the temperature of your hands: If your hands are warm all year round, it indicates sufficient qi and blood. If your palms are hot, you sweat easily, or your hands are cold, it all indicates insufficient qi and blood.
6. Look at the fingertips of your fingers: If the fingertips are flat, weak, or the fingertips are thin, it indicates insufficient qi and blood. If the fingertips are full, fleshy, and elastic, it indicates sufficient qi and blood.
7. Look at the green veins: If you see green veins on the index finger of an adult, it indicates poor digestive function in childhood, and this condition has continued into adulthood. These people have a weak constitution and a deficiency of both qi and blood. If you see green veins on the little finger, it indicates insufficient kidney qi. If the lines on the palm, near the wrist crease, are numerous and deep, it indicates poor nutrition, a weak constitution, and insufficient qi and blood in childhood. In adulthood, such women are prone to gynecological diseases.
8. Look at the lunula (white half-moon) on your fingernails: Normally, the lunula should be present on all fingers except the little finger. On the thumb, the lunula should occupy about 1/4 to 1/5 of the nail area, and on the other fingers (index, middle, ring), it should not exceed 1/5.
If there is no lunula on any finger or only on the thumb, it indicates that the body has a heavy internal cold, poor circulation, and insufficient qi and blood, to the point that blood cannot reach the fingertips. If the lunula is too numerous or too large, it can easily lead to hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and other diseases.
9. Look at the vertical ridges on your fingernails: These only appear on adult hands and are not present in children. When vertical ridges appear on an adult's fingernails, you must be highly vigilant. This indicates a deficiency of both qi and blood, over-exertion, and a sign of physical aging. Palm diagnosis is also a very important part of TCM diagnostics and is the best supplement to comprehensive diagnosis that includes face, tongue, and pulse diagnosis.
10. Look at your gums: Receding gums indicate insufficient qi and blood. As soon as you notice that the gaps between your teeth are widening and food gets stuck more easily, you should pay attention. Your body is on a downward slope, and aging is accelerating.
11. Look at your sleep: If an adult can fall asleep quickly, sleep deeply, breathe evenly, and wake up naturally after a full night's sleep, it indicates abundant qi and blood. Conversely, people who have difficulty falling asleep, are easily startled and wake up frequently, have frequent nocturnal urination, breathe heavily, or snore are suffering from blood deficiency.
12. Look at your exercise: If you experience symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty recovering from fatigue during exercise, it indicates insufficient qi and blood. Those who feel energetic and relaxed after exercise are in good condition.