This article has been reviewed by the “Professional Review Team” of Hongxinglin Academy▼
Today, let’s get straight to the point.Blood stasis is a very serious condition; if not addressed in a timely manner, it can lead to severe or critical illnesses. For example, atherosclerotic plaques, lacunar cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, tumors, coronary heart disease, etc. We all understand the risks of myocardial infarction and cerebral thrombosis; once they occur, one might be gone in an instant. How do these diseases arise? They are caused by blood stasis. Look at some elderly friends around us; suddenly, they no longer recognize those close to them. What happened? It is also due to prolonged blood stasis. How can you determine if you have symptoms of blood stasis? I will share with you 3 self-check methods. Edited by | Wu Mao Source | Beijing BTV “Health Hall”
Self-Check for Blood Stasis1. Observe Facial Color for Symptoms of Blood Stasis1) Dark purple complexion, dull and lackluster, with spots that are scattered and patchy across the face; 2) Dark circles around the eyes;
3) Purple and dark tongue surface, enlarged and dark veins under the tongue, indicating possible stasis; 4) Purple and dark lips, indicating poor circulation of blood in the body.2. Check the Abdomen for Symptoms of Blood Stasis The patient lies flat with legs slightly bent, hands at their sides. Another person should naturally align their second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers together and use the fingertips to palpate the abdomen, starting from the level of the navel and gradually moving towards the upper abdomen below the xiphoid process. The red circle indicates the xiphoid process.
When palpating, be sure to apply pressure gradually, starting lightly and increasing the pressure, but always maintaining a moderate force.
If during palpation, you find a hard mass in the abdomen that is immovable and painful at that specific spot, it is likely due to blood stasis.3. Check the Legs for Symptoms of Blood Stasis1) Rough, scaly skin on the lower limbs, with enlarged pores.2) Edema, lighter in the morning, worsening in the evening.3) Purple discoloration, with bruises and spots.
If after self-checking, you find that you do not have blood stasis, that is great! However, I still recommend you continue reading the article, because the methods I will introduce later can both regulate and prevent blood stasis. As long as you are willing to spend a little time each day, blood stasis will basically be a thing of the past. If after self-checking, you find you do have blood stasis, you must read on. How does blood stasis occur? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that the heart governs blood, the liver stores blood, and the spleen controls blood. The spleen is the commander of blood. If there is blood stasis, and blood flow is obstructed, it is certainly a problem with the spleen. If you want to prevent or regulate symptoms of blood stasis, you cannot simply treat the stasis without addressing the spleen; this is absolutely not acceptable! Even for different types of blood stasis, it is not permissible to treat without considering the spleen. Today, I will discuss how to regulate different types of blood stasis.1. Qi Deficiency Blood Stasis Qi deficiency blood stasis is very common; people of all ages can suffer from it. Once afflicted, your aging process will accelerate compared to others. Blood needs to flow in the body, and it requires Qi to push it along; if Qi is weak, blood circulation will lack momentum. As people age, bodily functions gradually decline. This decline is a process of Qi deficiency. Qi comes from the spleen, which is the source of Qi and blood production, and all nutrition in the body comes from it. Therefore, if the spleen is deficient, the production of Qi and blood is insufficient, leading to weak Qi and stagnant blood flow. To put it simply: the spleen governs Qi and blood, Qi pushes blood; if the spleen is weak, Qi is weak, blood cannot move, and naturally, blood stasis occurs. What happens to a person in this case? They feel lethargic all day, fatigued, and even slight exercise leads to profuse sweating and shortness of breath; they eat much less than before, their complexion is dull, and their vitality is visibly lacking; additionally, a person with Qi deficiency blood stasis will have pain in some part of their body. If you are curious, just press on that area with force, and they will surely jump up and want to hit you. For Qi deficiency blood stasis caused by spleen deficiency, Professor Xin Suicheng from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine recommends using Huang Qi Hua Yu Tea. Use 20 grams of Huang Qi (Astragalus) and 2 grams of Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng) to tonify spleen Qi and enhance the spleen’s production function.
Autumn winds are clear, and the autumn moon is bright
Take 10 grams of Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) to open the heart Yang, as the heart governs blood~
Take 10 grams of Bai Shao (White Peony) to nourish the liver Yin, allowing the liver to coordinate Qi.
Then take 5 grams of Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-Fried Licorice) to harmonize the above herbs.
Boiling is fine, or you can use it as a tea substitute. I recommend you purchase from a reputable pharmacy, as it is something you will be consuming, and quality must be guaranteed. “Huang Qi Hua Yu Tea” has the effect of tonifying Qi and opening Yang, and you can drink 1 cup daily. Additionally, pay attention to rest, eat well, and sleep well. Persist for half a year to a year, and you will see results.2. Damp Stagnation Blood Stasis Damp stagnation blood stasis means heavy dampness combined with blood stasis. TCM views dampness as a Yin evil, believing it easily harms Yang Qi and obstructs the flow of Qi throughout the body. What does this mean? When your Qi is moving throughout the body, dampness acts like a roadblock, occupying the path, thus blocking the flow of Qi and causing blood stasis. Friends with damp stagnation blood stasis often feel as if their head is heavy, and their body is burdened, feeling both tired and lethargic. Why? Because dampness traps the spleen, hindering the movement of Qi, leading to poor blood circulation. Additionally, emotional issues may arise. According to TCM, emotions are regulated by the liver. If Qi is obstructed, it also affects the liver’s ability to disperse, leading to liver Qi stagnation and emotional problems. For damp stagnation blood stasis, the Tang Dynasty herbalist Sun Simiao invented the Tu Xing Gong. Based on TCM’s five elements, earth corresponds to the spleen. This Tu Xing Gong primarily improves the living environment of the spleen, serving to strengthen the spleen and transform dampness. Whenever you have time, you can practice it, and it is not restricted by time or place. How to practice Tu Xing Gong? Watch the video where Professor Xin Suicheng personally teaches you.3. Phlegm Congestion Blood Stasis Phlegm congestion blood stasis is the most troublesome type of blood stasis. It not only indicates that you have insufficient righteous Qi (meaning there are issues with the internal organs), but also that there is phlegm in the body. When we undergo color Doppler ultrasound for blood vessels, the detected atherosclerotic plaques are phlegm; lumps on the body, such as uterine fibroids and benign tumors in the breast, are also phlegm. Many strange and difficult-to-treat diseases are caused by phlegm. They often have a long course of illness and are characterized by a mix of various diseases. Therefore, you can see how troublesome phlegm congestion blood stasis can be. How to determine if it is phlegm congestion blood stasis? Generally, friends with phlegm congestion blood stasis will have excess phlegm. For example, upon waking in the morning, there is a lot of mucus in the mouth, and during bowel movements, there may be sticky stools. Some may have many lumps in their bodies, such as uterine fibroids. Some may even experience dementia or mania due to the accumulation of phlegm and other substances in the brain. Given this, how should we regulate phlegm congestion blood stasis? Remember, the spleen is the source of phlegm production; if dampness accumulates in the spleen and cannot be transformed, it becomes phlegm, i.e., dampness turning into phlegm. Therefore, to regulate phlegm congestion blood stasis, you still need to strengthen the spleen. I recommend a food therapy that can “strengthen the spleen and transform dampness”, which you can easily prepare at home. The main ingredient of this food therapy is Konjac.
TCM believes that “Konjac” can strengthen the spleen, transform dampness, eliminate phlegm, lower the three highs, and promote bowel movements. It is an excellent health food.
However, to make konjac flavorful, delicious, and healthy, a little technique is needed.
A good way is to pair konjac with round eggplant and green peppers to make a dish called Konjac with Three Fresh Ingredients.
【Ingredients】
1 block of konjac tofu
1 round eggplant
Appropriate amount of green peppers
Appropriate amount of scallions and garlic
【Step 1】
Before cooking, konjac should be frozen in the refrigerator; after it is frozen solid, thaw it. At this time,the konjac will have many holes, and we will cut it into pieces, sprinkle some salt, and set aside.
【Step 2】
Cut the round eggplant into strips, wash it with water, but do not squeeze out the moisture.
Then, in a pan, add a small amount of oil, put the eggplant in, quickly cover the pan, and steam for a short time.
When the sizzling sound of water and oil diminishes, uncover the pan, flip the eggplant, and continue steaming for 2-3 minutes, then take it out and place it on a plate.
【Step 3】
While the eggplant is steaming, slice the scallions and garlic into a bowl, add 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, a little salt, sugar, sesame oil, and then add water and starch to mix evenly. Set this sauce aside.
【Step 4】
Stir-fry the konjac in the pan until it is slightly charred, then add the green peppers and eggplant, pour in the sauce, and stir-fry evenly.
The finished “Konjac with Three Fresh Ingredients” looks like this. How does your version of Konjac with Three Fresh Ingredients look?
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