The principle of nurturing individuals with a blood deficiency constitution is to strengthen the spleen and nourish the liver, benefiting qi and generating blood. When treating blood deficiency, it is essential to fully consider the protection of the spleen and stomach, ensuring the spleen’s qi is strong and functional, allowing for continuous transformation and a robust constitution. While nourishing and generating blood, it is also important to incorporate an appropriate amount of qi-tonifying substances to achieve an endless cycle of qi and blood generation.
Emotional Regulation
For individuals with a blood deficiency constitution, emotional regulation should target their introverted and calm psychological characteristics, employing methods that invigorate the spirit, broaden the mind, cultivate personal character, and develop diverse interests.
01
Invigorate the Spirit, Broaden the Mind
People with a blood deficiency constitution often experience low spirits, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating. During times of poor emotional health, methods to invigorate the spirit should be employed. For example, chatting with close friends to relieve gloom; engaging in recreational activities; or taking walks in beautiful natural settings such as gardens, lakes, or rivers, while performing gentle fitness activities.
02
Cultivate Personal Character, Diverse Interests
Cultivating personal character has traditionally included listening to music to dispel sorrow and enjoying flowers for visual pleasure. Listening to music, appreciating drama, or watching humorous performances can help alleviate gloomy feelings and broaden the mind. Gardening and enjoying flowers can also create a refreshing and pleasant experience.
Daily Routine Maintenance
Individuals with a blood deficiency constitution need to maintain a regular lifestyle, ensuring consistent daily routines, quality sleep, and changing unhealthy habits to avoid excessive mental strain, which can deplete yin and blood.
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Balance Work and Rest, Invigorate the Spirit
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that “prolonged viewing harms the blood.” Therefore, individuals with a blood deficiency constitution should develop good habits in reading and working, avoiding excessive mental strain. They should not spend more than one hour continuously in front of a television or computer and should frequently perform eye exercises to relieve eye fatigue. Overuse of the eyes can exacerbate blood deficiency.
02
Enjoy Life, Invigorate the Spirit
Daily routines should be regular, and appropriate physical exercise should be included. Especially for those engaged in mental labor, it is crucial to prevent excessive mental strain to avoid depleting heart blood and worsening symptoms. Therefore, after completing work and study tasks, engaging in leisure activities can help cultivate personal character and invigorate the spirit.
03
Improve Sleep Quality
Good sleep habits and regular sleep schedules should be established, avoiding staying up late, particularly ensuring quality sleep during the night.
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Avoid Excessive Sweating that Harms Yin and Blood
Since sweat is considered a vital fluid, individuals with a blood deficiency constitution should take precautions against heat in summer to avoid damaging heart blood.
Dietary Maintenance
TCM believes that the generation of blood comes from “the middle burner receiving qi and extracting essence, transforming into red, which is called blood.” Thus, the blood in the human body originates from the essence of food and water. Individuals with a blood deficiency constitution should focus on qi-tonifying and blood-nourishing foods, moistening dryness, and calming the heart and spirit, making careful food choices while observing dietary restrictions.
Exercise and Fitness
Individuals with a blood deficiency constitution should choose suitable forms of exercise and engage in regular physical activity. The intensity of exercise should not be too high to prevent excessive sweating that harms blood. Gentle exercises such as walking, Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, internal cultivation exercises, and health qigong are recommended, with static exercises being more suitable in winter.
Medicinal and Dietary Health
TCM states that “qi is the commander of blood, and blood is the mother of qi,” indicating that blood aids in the generation of qi, and qi promotes the circulation of blood. Only when these two major circulatory systems are harmonized and unobstructed can blood deficiency be effectively improved. Therefore, individuals with a blood deficiency constitution should grasp the correct principles and methods for medicinal and dietary health.
Published by the People’s Health Publishing House: Traditional Chinese Medicine Health and Dietary Therapy (TCM Characteristics) 2nd Edition
Authors: Yu Rui, Yao Xin
