Many friends experience symptoms such as insomnia and dreams, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and lethargy, sallow and pale complexion, dizziness and fatigue, blurred vision and palpitations, and excessive sweating when the weather gets hot. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these are considered manifestations of body deficiency, with Qi deficiency and blood deficiency being the most common types. So, what should one do about body deficiency? The author believes the best approach is dietary therapy. For dietary therapy aimed at body deficiency, the following 6 "treasures" must not be missing. Let's take a look at the specific details!
1. Chinese Yam
Chinese Yam, also commonly known as "Huai Shan," is a classic example of a food-medicine source with strong nourishing effects. It is sweet in nature and neutral in flavor, affecting the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It functions to tonify Qi and nourish Yin, benefit the Spleen and Lung, tonify the Kidneys and secure essence, aid digestion, restrain deficient sweating, and stop diarrhea. Moreover, its Qi-tonifying effect is quite noticeable among various food and medicinal ingredients. It not only tonifies Spleen Qi and Lung Qi but also Kidney Qi. It not only tonifies Qi and Yin but also generates fluids to quench thirst, moistens the Lungs and nourishes Yin, and strengthens the Spleen and Kidneys. It is extremely effective for dietary therapy for loss of appetite, loose stools caused by Spleen disharmony, and Lung and Kidney deficiency.
2. Ginseng
Ginseng is classified as a Qi-tonifying Chinese herb. Among numerous medicinal herbs, ginseng has the most significant effect in tonifying Qi. Ginseng is neutral in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, affecting the Spleen, Lung, and Heart meridians. It has excellent effects in tonifying Qi, calming the spirit, strengthening the Spleen to benefit the Lung, and generating fluids to quench thirst. It is very effective for dietary therapy for Spleen deficiency, Lung deficiency, fluid damage, and internal heat, making it an excellent food and medicinal herb for replenishing body deficiency. Additionally, ginseng can be used not only to soak medicinal wine or cook medicinal meals but also to stew chicken soup, all of which can exert its Qi-tonifying effects.
Ginseng Steam Pot Chicken
3. Astragalus Root
Astragalus Root is also a Qi-tonifying Chinese herb, similar to ginseng, with an excellent Qi-tonifying effect. Astragalus Root is sweet in flavor and slightly warm in nature, affecting the Spleen and Lung meridians. It has the effects of tonifying Qi and raising Yang, promoting urination to reduce edema, anti-aging, promoting metabolism, enhancing human immunity, and protecting the liver and heart. It is very effective for dietary therapy for loss of appetite, Qi and blood fatigue, sallow complexion due to blood deficiency, and edema due to Qi deficiency, which often occur in summer. Furthermore, Astragalus Root is not only good at tonifying Qi deficiency but also has an excellent effect in replenishing blood deficiency.
4. Angelica Sinensis
Many female friends who see a TCM doctor for irregular menstrual periods will find a particular herb on their prescription: Angelica Sinensis. Angelica Sinensis is a blood-tonifying Chinese herb. It is warm in nature, sweet and pungent in flavor, affecting the Liver, Heart, and Spleen meridians. It has the effects of invigorating blood and nourishing blood, regulating menstruation to relieve pain, and is very effective for conditions like sallow complexion due to blood deficiency, irregular menstruation, and menstrual abdominal pain. For friends with blood deficiency, taking Angelica Sinensis can effectively enhance the body's immunity, improve lung function, remove free radicals from the body, moisten the intestines to promote bowel movements, and improve blood function, thereby making a person's complexion ruddy and rosy.
In TCM, Angelica Sinensis is often used together with Astragalus Root to make Angelica Blood-Supplying Decoction to treat a sallow complexion and shortness of breath caused by blood and Qi deficiency. Additionally, Angelica Sinensis is often used with ginger and lamb to make Angelica and Ginger Lamb Soup to invigorate blood and dispel stasis, but it should be consumed less in summer to avoid "heatiness."
Angelica and Chinese Yam Lamb Soup
5. Red Dates
Red dates are also great for tonifying both Qi and blood, and are another classic example of a food-medicine source. Red dates, also known as dried jujubes, are warm in nature and sweet in flavor, affecting the Spleen and Stomach meridians. They have the effects of tonifying Qi and blood, nourishing the Spleen to strengthen the stomach, nourishing Yin and supplementing Yang, calming the mind to tranquilize the spirit, and fighting cancer and lowering blood pressure. Furthermore, red dates are known as natural vitamin pills, containing various vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin P, and B vitamins, which have excellent effects for whitening, anti-cancer, and calming the spirit, making them a rare and excellent blood-tonifying and beauty-enhancing product for women. Additionally, red dates are rich in calcium and iron, which can effectively prevent and treat osteoporosis and anemia. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people, menopausal women, teenagers, and other women can all eat more red dates.
6. Donkey-hide Gelatin
The blood-nourishing effect of donkey-hide gelatin is well-known, especially among women, who regard it as a sacred treasure for blood nourishment. Donkey-hide gelatin is neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, affecting the Liver, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It is actually made by boiling the hide of a donkey and is a blood-tonifying Chinese herb with extremely strong effects in nourishing blood to stop bleeding and nourishing Yin to moisten the lungs. It is very effective for conditions like sallow complexion, dizziness and palpitations, insomnia and dreams, and dry cough due to Lung dryness caused by blood deficiency. There are many donkey-hide gelatin products on the market, such as the common donkey-hide gelatin dates, which are a very affordable snack. Friends with blood deficiency can supplement it appropriately. It is worth noting that consuming too much donkey-hide gelatin can easily cause "heatiness," so do not overindulge.
Donkey-hide Gelatin and Walnut Cake
Spicy rice
Shrimp fried tomatoes
It's lamb soup