Foods That Nourish Blood
1. One of the foods that nourish blood is Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis). Through long-term clinical observations on the liver, heart, spleen, and large intestine meridians, TCM practitioners have clarified the main functions of blood, blood circulation, alleviation of dysmenorrhea, laxatives, and bowel movements. The Qing Dynasty’s “Ben Cao Jing Bai Lu” states: “Dang Gui is a necessary medicine for blood, a primary product for nourishing blood.” When used, Dang Gui is longer than blood, moistens the intestines, and its tail is longer than blood to relieve pain. 2. Another food that nourishes blood is Black Sesame (Hei Zhi Ma). One of the simplest secrets is that black and red foods are rich in blood. Black foods enter the kidneys and help the kidneys breathe. Kidney essence, marrow, and blood are the essence of blood, so the nature of blood is also related to the kidneys. Sesame enters the liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen, nourishing blood and improving vision, promoting lactation, and benefiting the liver and nourishing yin. Eating sesame can enhance the blood function of the kidneys, liver, and spleen.
3. Longan (Gui Yuan) is a well-known food rich in blood and is definitely a top choice for family blood nourishment. It contains a wealth of iron and is recommended to be combined with Gui Yuan (Longan) as a cooling tea, replacing kidney tea. It has a good regulatory effect on forgetfulness, palpitations, neurasthenia, and insomnia. Additionally, it contains a large amount of vitamins A, B, glucose, and sucrose. 4. Mulberry (Sang Shen) is considered by TCM to have a sweet taste and cold nature, with effects of nourishing yin, nourishing blood, generating fluids, and moistening the intestines. The “Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu” records that mulberries “nourish the liver and kidneys, enrich blood, dispel wind-dampness, strengthen walking, calm wind, and clear empty fire.” People with symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, dim vision, insomnia, and premature graying of hair can consume mulberries regularly. 5. Red Dates (Hong Zao) contain a large amount of nutrients that have blood-nourishing effects, particularly influencing platelets and white blood cells, nourishing qi and blood, and improving immunity due to reduced white blood cells, effectively promoting rapid growth of white blood cells. 6. Pumpkin (Nan Gua) is recognized as an excellent blood-nourishing food, rich in plant protein, carotene, vitamins, essential amino acids, calcium, zinc, iron, cobalt, and phosphorus. Cobalt is an important component of vitamin B12, which helps red blood cells function normally; zinc directly affects the function of mature red blood cells; iron is a basic trace element for producing hemoglobin, all of which are excellent nutrients for nourishing blood.
What Soups Are Good for Nourishing Blood
1. Four Substance Soup (Si Wu Tang) Ingredients: Dang Gui, Shu Di Huang, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, pork ribs, salt. Steps: Clean and chop the pork ribs, blanch them; wash all the herbs; boil clean water in a clay pot, add all ingredients, boil on high heat, then simmer on low heat for one hour, and add salt to taste before serving. Effects: Nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, moisturizes skin, and improves pale complexion and rough skin.
2. Three Red Soup (San Hong Tang) Ingredients: 7 red dates, 50 grams of red beans, appropriate amount of peanuts with red skin. Steps: Prepare a pot of hot water and bring it to a boil; after boiling, add red dates, red beans, and peanuts; the last step is simple: just simmer. Effects: This blood-nourishing soup is easy to prepare, the ingredients are easy to find, and it is quite simple to cook. It has excellent blood-nourishing effects. If women experience dizziness, pale complexion during their menstrual period, they should drink this soup. 3. Longan Meat, Ginger, and Date Soup Ingredients: 10 grams of longan meat, 3 slices of ginger, 15 red dates, 300 grams of lean pork. Steps: Wash the longan meat and red dates, pit the red dates; wash the lean pork and cut it into pieces. Put everything into a clay pot, add 2500 ml of clean water. Boil on high heat, then switch to low heat and simmer for about 2 hours, adding appropriate salt before serving. This amount serves 3-4 people. Effects: This blood-nourishing soup also has a calming effect, making it very beneficial for women in menopause.
What Teas Are Good for Nourishing Blood
1. Ginseng and Date Tea Ingredients: 5 red dates, 1 qian of American ginseng. Method: Place the red dates in 350 grams of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes. Put the ginseng slices in a cup, pour in the red date water, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Effects: It can assist in nourishing qi and blood, clearing heat, and generating fluids. It is used for qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and internal heat.
2. Motherwort and Brown Sugar Tea Ingredients: 1 qian of motherwort, 1 qian of cyperus, appropriate amount of brown sugar. Method: Place motherwort and cyperus in 500 grams of boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes, adding brown sugar to taste. Effects: It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, regulating menstruation, and reducing water retention. Motherwort can promote the rapid recovery of local blood flow microcirculation disorders. 3. Rose, Goji Berry, and Date Tea Ingredients: 6 dried rose flowers, 3 pitted large dates, appropriate amount of goji berries. Brewing method: Clean all ingredients, cut the dates in half, and soak the dried rose flowers in boiling water for 30 seconds before rinsing. Place all ingredients in a pot, pour in about 500 ml of boiling water, and steep for about 3 minutes before drinking. Effects: Rose can nourish and regulate blood; red dates can tonify qi and nourish blood; goji berries can also nourish blood and benefit the kidneys. This combination can help regulate menstruation, enhance immunity, and give women a rosy complexion. More exciting recommendations: Hua Jiao is a great “nourishing medicine” that can treat 4 diseases; a handful of corn silk can treat over 50 diseases; and the contraindications of eating Mu Er (Wood Ear Mushroom).