Blood-enriching herbs, also known as blood-nourishing herbs, are those that primarily function to nourish and generate blood, commonly used to treat blood deficiency syndromes. In addition to dietary therapy, there are many precious medicinal materials that can achieve the purpose of enriching blood. What are the blood-enriching herbs? Let us take a look at the TCM formulas for blood enrichment, which may be useful to you.
Blood-Enriching HerbsShu Di Huang (Rehmannia Root)
It nourishes blood and moistens, benefits essence, and fills marrow. It is used for blood deficiency with symptoms such as pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, irregular menstruation, continuous bleeding, liver and kidney yin deficiency, tidal fever, night sweats, nocturnal emissions, impotence, infertility, irregular menstruation, excessive bleeding, weakness in the lower back and knees, tinnitus, blurred vision, premature graying of hair, thirst, constipation, and kidney deficiency with shortness of breath.
Hei Dou (Black Soybean)
Black soybean is sweet and neutral, a cooling and nourishing tonic. It has functions of dispelling wind and clearing heat, regulating the middle and lower qi, detoxifying and promoting diuresis, and nourishing the kidneys and blood.
He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti)
A plant of the knotweed family. The tuber of He Shou Wu is called Sheng He Shou Wu when raw; when mixed with black soybean juice and steamed until uniformly brown inside and out, it is called Zhi He Shou Wu.
Zhi He Shou Wu has the effect of nourishing blood and kidneys, used to treat blood deficiency insomnia, diminished vision, dry eyes, and premature graying of hair, tinnitus, weakness in the lower back and knees, etc., caused by liver and kidney essence and blood deficiency.
Sheng He Shou Wu has a laxative effect, used to treat constipation.
Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis)
The dried root is used medicinally, either raw or stir-fried with wine.
1. Nourishing blood for treating blood deficiency syndromes, this herb has a good blood-nourishing effect and is a key herb for blood enrichment, widely used for dizziness, insomnia, forgetfulness, dry eyes, and irregular menstruation caused by blood deficiency. It can be combined with other blood-nourishing, calming, vision-enhancing, and menstrual-regulating herbs.
2. Activating blood for treating various blood stasis syndromes, this herb has a strong ability to invigorate blood and dispel stasis, effectively relieving pain, and is a key herb for treating blood stasis syndromes, especially suitable for those with pain due to blood stasis.
3. Regulating menstruation for treating various causes of irregular menstruation. Since it can both nourish and invigorate blood, it is most suitable for irregular menstruation caused by blood deficiency and blood stasis, including early, late, irregular, scanty menstruation, and amenorrhea.
4. Laxative for treating dry intestines and constipation.
Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin)
It is a solid gelatin made from boiling and concentrating donkey skin.
1. Nourishing blood for treating various blood deficiency syndromes. This product has a good blood-nourishing effect and can also stop bleeding, especially suitable for blood deficiency caused by blood loss (postpartum), and can be used alone or in combination with other blood-nourishing herbs. Modern products include Ejiao paste, Ejiao oral liquid, etc.
2. Stopping bleeding for bleeding syndromes, especially for excessive menstrual bleeding and uterine bleeding.
3. Nourishing lung yin, kidney yin, and liver yin for dry cough due to lung yin deficiency, dry cough, and hemoptysis (pulmonary tuberculosis); dizziness, blurred vision, and cramps due to liver and kidney yin deficiency.
Pharmacological studies show that Ejiao has effects such as strengthening, anti-hypoxia, anti-fatigue, cold resistance, anti-shock, anti-radiation, promoting red blood cell and hemoglobin regeneration, promoting calcium absorption and retention in the body, and increasing white blood cells and platelets (commonly used after cancer chemotherapy).
Da Hong Zao (Red Dates)
Red dates are a good food with blood-enriching and invigorating effects, a favorite among people.
Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan (Black Chicken White Phoenix Pill)
Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan is known as one of the three sacred medicines in gynecology and has a history of over a hundred years. It tonifies qi and nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, and stops leukorrhea. It can be taken by both men and women and has good blood-enriching properties.
Dietary Therapy Secrets
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that “blood” is a red liquid rich in nutrients that circulates in the blood vessels. In TCM, “qi” and “blood” are often mentioned together, and it is believed that one of the important sources of blood is the essence and qi derived from the transformation of food in the spleen and stomach.
The spleen and stomach play a crucial role in the generation of blood, hence the saying, “the spleen and stomach are the source of qi and blood transformation.”
If blood is insufficient and deficient, it leads to “blood deficiency,” causing a pale complexion, dull lips and nails, dizziness, insomnia, and fatigue. Below are three dietary therapy secrets for nourishing qi and blood, which can help women replenish qi and blood during the cold winter.
Dang Shen (Codonopsis) and Goji Berry Red Date Stewed Chicken
Ingredients: 30g Dang Shen, 15g Goji berries, 15g Red dates, 150g Chicken. Steamed with water. This soup can both nourish qi and blood and is relatively mild, suitable for those who are deficient and cannot tolerate strong tonics. Consume twice a week.
Ejiao Honey Date Stewed Chicken
Ingredients: 15g Ejiao, 1 Honey date, 50g Chicken. Steamed for one hour. This soup has the effects of nourishing blood and calming the mind, suitable for those with qi and blood deficiency, dizziness, insomnia, and stomach pain, and is suitable for both men and women.
Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) and Ginger Lamb Soup
Ingredients: 500g Lamb, 30g Dang Gui, 50g Ginger. Clean the lamb with water, then stir-fry with ginger. Wrap Dang Gui in gauze and cook it together with the stir-fried lamb. This soup is particularly suitable for women with qi and blood deficiency, chronic illness, and postpartum recovery, and has significant effects on improving dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation.
The above three major blood-enriching dietary therapy secrets may seem complex, but they are quite simple to prepare. It is recommended that women try making them themselves, not only to enjoy delicious food but also to achieve the effect of nourishing blood, killing two birds with one stone!
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