The causes of blood stasis (xue yu) are varied, so what are the general characteristics of blood stasis? How should it be regulated? There are many methods to improve blood stasis, but it does not mean that anything can be used to improve it. Blood stasis, as a common condition, may be a sequela of other diseases or may arise from the stagnation of qi and blood for various reasons. In short, the causes of blood stasis are diverse and can easily occur due to carelessness regarding one’s health.
Characteristics of Blood Stasis
Individuals with a blood stasis constitution (xue yu ti zhi) are prone to bruising, have a dark complexion, a purple tongue, and are more susceptible to pain.
1. Prone to bruising: A slight bump can lead to the appearance of bruises, and one may often find unexplained bruises on their body.
2. Pain: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pain indicates stagnation. For those with a blood stasis constitution, pain can be quite severe, often manifesting as stabbing pain.
3. Dark complexion: Individuals may experience pigmentation issues and are prone to spots.
4. Psychological symptoms: They may exhibit irritability and forgetfulness.
5. Purple tongue and dark lips: The tongue may appear purple, and the gums may bleed easily.
How to Regulate Blood Stasis
1. Dietary regulation: Individuals with a blood stasis constitution should consume foods that tonify qi and blood, nourish blood, invigorate blood circulation, and promote qi flow to enhance blood circulation. Attention should be paid to dietary structure and regularity.
2. Maintain a comfortable and optimistic mood: Those with a blood stasis constitution should adjust their psychological state daily, maintaining an optimistic and open attitude to facilitate smooth qi and blood flow.
3. Attention to daily living habits: Individuals with a blood stasis constitution have a tendency towards stasis. In cooler climates, they are more likely to experience stagnation or blockage of blood vessels, so they should pay attention to changes in climate, adjust clothing accordingly, avoid cold, and ensure their living environment is well-ventilated and warm.
4. Promote exercise for health: “Life is movement.” Individuals with a blood stasis constitution should adjust their qi and blood by participating in activities beneficial to heart circulation, such as various dances, qigong, and health exercises. However, they should balance work and rest, avoid staying up late, ensure adequate sleep, and find stillness within movement.
5. TCM regulation: Individuals with a blood stasis constitution may consider therapies such as tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage), acupuncture, cupping, and guasha (scraping therapy), and can also use herbal remedies that invigorate blood circulation and dispel stasis.
Foods suitable for those with a blood stasis constitution include lotus root (lian ou), onions (yang cong), mushrooms (mo gu), shiitake mushrooms (xiang gu), lion’s mane mushroom (hou tou gu), black fungus (mu er), kelp (hai dai), kudzu root (ge gen), konjac (mo yu), enoki mushrooms (jin zhen gu), pig heart (zhu xin), pineapple (bo luo), tangerine seeds (ju ren), hawthorn (shan zha), water chestnuts (ling jiao), emblic (yu gan zi), and prickly pear (ci li). Regular consumption of peach kernels (tao ren), rapeseed (you cai), and black soybeans (hei da dou) can help invigorate blood and dispel stasis.
Moderate consumption of red wine can help invigorate blood circulation and soften blood vessels, which is beneficial for improving blood stasis constitution. Additionally, rose tea (mei gui hua cha), ginger and jujube tea (jiang zao cha), and angelica tea (dang gui cha) can also invigorate blood circulation and improve blood stasis constitution.
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