In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), health and wellness must be considered from multiple aspects. We will explore these aspects together, and please leave your comments in the message area.
TCM’s concept of Qi deficiency is very similar to the “sub-health” state identified by modern medicine. As people age, they are more prone to Qi and blood deficiency. Merely focusing on dietary therapy without exercise can lead to further Qi deficiency. This creates a vicious cycle where the lack of energy leads to even less activity, exacerbating the symptoms. Let’s take a look at the following introduction.
Symptoms of Qi Deficiency
Qi deficiency does not refer to discomfort or disease in a specific part of the body; rather, it manifests throughout the entire body. Symptoms may include night sweats, fatigue, weakness in the limbs, tiredness, mental fatigue, dizziness, and a weak pulse. It is crucial to address these symptoms promptly to restore health. Generally, we categorize Qi deficiency into two main types: Yang Qi deficiency and Yin Qi deficiency. The specific symptoms are as follows:
1. Yang Qi Deficiency:
If this condition occurs, the patient’s symptoms mainly include a pale complexion, dizziness, fatigue, and even possible fainting. In addition to the aforementioned symptoms, patients may also experience cold intolerance, night sweats, a weak pulse, and a white tongue coating.
If it is a case of heart Qi deficiency, the patient may also experience palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. If it is spleen Qi deficiency, symptoms may include abdominal distension, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In cases of kidney Yang deficiency, patients may feel cold in the limbs, experience diarrhea, and shortness of breath with minimal exertion.
2. Yin and Qi Deficiency:
In addition to Yang Qi deficiency, there is also Yin deficiency, which presents different symptoms. For instance, patients may experience dry mouth and throat, irritability, constipation, and weakness in the limbs, with a weak pulse and a red tongue coating.
If it is a case of heart Yin and Qi deficiency, patients may easily experience chest tightness and palpitations. It is recommended to use roasted licorice (Zhi Gan Cao) in soups. If it is kidney Yin and Yang deficiency, symptoms may include dizziness, chest tightness, tinnitus, lower back pain, and forgetfulness.
Five Exercises to Help Nourish Qi Deficiency
1. Finger Combing to Open Meridians:
Using your fingers to comb your hair can promote blood circulation and enhance nutrient supply to brain cells, delaying brain aging. Every morning upon waking and every evening before sleeping, place your palms facing each other with fingers spread like a tiger’s claw, starting from the hairline at the forehead and slowly combing back to the nape of the neck. Repeat this action 3-5 times. While combing, apply slight pressure to the scalp, but do not press too hard; a mild pressure is sufficient. For those with sparse or dull hair, regularly consume blood-nourishing foods such as jujubes (Da Zao), longan (Gui Yuan), and black sesame (Hei Zhi Ma) to ensure sufficient Qi and blood for healthy hair.
2. Patting the Gallbladder Meridian to Enhance Absorption:
The gallbladder meridian (Zu Shao Yang Dan Jing) is a crucial hub for the rise and fall of Qi in the body, regulating the functions of various organs. Many people are unsure where to pat for the gallbladder meridian. Experts suggest patting the outer thigh daily to stimulate the gallbladder meridian and enhance the body’s absorption capacity.
3. Ear Massage to Regulate Qi and Blood:
While sitting and watching TV or resting, instead of letting your hands remain idle, use your fingers to massage your ears and feet. The ears and soles of the feet contain numerous acupoints, and appropriate massage can benefit the circulation of Qi and blood in the organs.
4. Morning Hand Clapping to Supplement Qi:
In the morning, as the sun rises and Yang Qi begins to ascend, clapping your hands can promote the rise of Yang Qi and open up the Qi pathways throughout the body. There is a technique to this: spread your fingers, palms facing each other, and clap evenly, ensuring that your thumbs are separated from the other four fingers to avoid excessive pressure that could cause bruising. The force of the clapping should be within your comfort level, but not too light, or it will not stimulate the acupoints and reflex zones effectively.
In addition to basic palm clapping, you can also clap the backs of your hands against each other or clap the tiger mouth of each hand together. Place your hands on top of each other and rub the center of your chest (Zhong Feng) for 30 times to smooth the Qi pathways, stimulate the thymus, and enhance immunity. Alternatively, you can make two loose fists and tap the upper part of your calves at the Zu San Li (足三里) point to tonify the kidneys, strengthen the liver, and protect the spleen and stomach.
5. Neck Massage to Prevent Illness:
Gently use your fingertips to massage your neck, which can promote Qi and blood circulation, serving both health maintenance and early detection of any lumps in the neck.
Dietary Adjustments for Qi Deficiency
1. Staple Foods:
Wheat, rice, various beans, corn, and sorghum (350-500 grams daily).
2. Meats:
Beef, fish, chicken, and a small amount of lamb (50-100 grams daily).
3. Vegetables:
Various green vegetables (beneficial for the liver), yellow vegetables (supporting the spleen, such as pumpkin and cabbage), and red vegetables (beneficial for the heart, such as tomatoes, carrots, and peppers) to enhance immunity, with appropriate combinations of white (beneficial for the lungs) and black/purple (beneficial for the kidneys).
4. Fruits:
Oranges, kumquats, strawberries, cherries, apples, grapes, bayberries, lychees, longans, jujubes, figs, and pomegranates.
5. Teas:
It is advisable to drink more black tea; you can also brew a tea with astragalus (Huang Qi), fangfeng (Fang Feng), and licorice (Gan Cao) in hot water.
6. Meat Broths:
Broths can include astragalus, codonopsis (Dang Shen), and reishi mushrooms (Ling Zhi); when making congee, add lotus seeds, peanuts, longans, jujubes, and gorgon fruits (Qian Shi).
7. Mushrooms:
Black fungus, white fungus, shiitake mushrooms, common mushrooms, lion’s mane mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and chicken leg mushrooms to nourish lung and spleen Qi, support liver and kidney health, regulate the stomach and intestines, and promote overall health and cancer resistance.
8. Root Vegetables:
Sweet potatoes, yams, potatoes, and taro (to nourish the spleen and stomach and benefit the intestines, with anti-tumor properties).
9. Eggs:
One egg per day.
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