Nourishing your Blood
Chinese Medicine considers Blood as a ‘vital substance’ that doesn’t just keep the muscles and tissues in the body nourished and moist but it also acts like a conduit or energetic ‘vehicle’ circulating Qi (or energy) around the body providing both physical and mental nourishment.
How Blood is made ..
The quality and quantity of the Blood we have available is derived from a dynamic interplay of factors - The food we eat and the drinks we consume are all transformed into Qi (Food-Qi) by the Stomach and Spleen. This Qi is sent upwards to the Lungs where it combines with the Qi from the air we breathe, and it is this that is made into the Blood that is circulated by the Heart. This process is also supported by Qi (pre natal-Qi) and essence (Jing) generated by our Kidneys.
This highlights the interconnectedness and holistic way all the systems in the body interact, and also that it’s not just down solely to the quality of the food we eat, our lifestyle influences this too - the way we breathe, the way we move our body and also the way we choose to use our energy.
Why is Blood so important?
Blood is seen as being a ‘yin’ substance so it has cooling, grounding qualities that anchors the mind, nourishes our body’s organs and tissues including the muscles, skin, tendons, brain, eyes and also supports a healthy menstrual cycle.
When Blood is abundant it gives us rosy cheeks, vitality, we feel focused and are well connected in both our body and mind.
For women healthy Blood is vital not only to have have regular pain free periods, but also for fertility, pregnancy and beyond. The nutritional quality of our Blood not only nourishes every cell in the body, but it also influences periods- it nourishes the uterine lining and any embryo if there is conception, it is the basis for breast milk to enable us to pass this nourishment onto a child. It also plays an important part in our transition into menopause and our ‘Second Spring’ too.
Not enough Blood = less nourishment =Blood deficiency
This knock on effect means when there is not enough blood to flow to the ovaries and uterus, so there isn’t enough nutrients, hormones or oxygen reaching the reproductive organs and as a result fertility and menstrual flow all become compromised.
Blood deficiency tends to most commonly be caused by either not eating enough nutrients, or when our body is not able to absorb these properly, but it also can be affected by the loss of blood from trauma, childbirth, pregnancy(ies) or just through years of menstruation (especially with flooding or heavy periods). It’s no surprise to learn that women tend to be predisposed to being Blood deficient for these reasons, and often this becomes more evident when it comes to optimising fertility or with menopause.
What Blood deficiency can look like-
You have anemia or a tendency towards this.
You have difficulty sleeping - can’t drop off or stay asleep anymore.
Feel anxious, nervous or are easily startled at times.
You notice palpitations or can feel your heart beating.
Have difficulty concentrating, thinking straight, or your memory just is not as sharp as it use to be.
You are aware of a niggling pain in your lower back pain that feels better with a hot water bottle or heat
You feel flat or disconnected.
You overthink and worry about everything.
Periods are painful, light or have gone AWOL.
You feel sluggish and lack motivation.
You just feel tired all the time.
The CLUES your body is shouting ‘Blood deficiency’..
You have a pale tongue, face, lips or nailbeds.
Your complexion is pale and skin dry and maybe flaky.
You are on the lookout for a conditioner or serum that will soothe and smooth your dry hair.
Your nails have become brittle and break easily.
You feel dizzy when you stand up, or notice black spots floating about in your eyes.
simple Ways you can nourish and support your BLOOD..
Foods to eat to build blood
Chlorpophyll rich foods such as wheatgrass, spirulina and dark leafy green vegetables.
Iron rich foods such as black beans, tofu, organic beef/lamb or chicken liver (can buy good quality supplements) or organic meat, and eggs.
Fruits - dark grapes, blackberries, and raspberries, avocado, stewed apples.
Vegetables - beetroot, button and shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, spinach, celery, cabbage.
Grains - oats, corn, rice, mochi (sweet rice), bran.
Blackstrap molasses, figs, dates, goji berries and apricots.
Beans - kidney, black and aduki beans, lentils.
Nuts and seeds - almond, black sesame.
Fish - oyster, mussels, sardines, calamari.
Nettle tea.
Blood tonics such as Floridax.
Bone Broth - is considered in Chinese Medicine to be one of the most powerful ways to nourish blood.
FOODS TO AVOID
Any cold and raw foods - out with ice cream, frozen berries, sushi and salad and lean towards more warm and steamed foods such as soups or stews, and eating fruit at room temperature.
Coffee and caffeine.
Too much sugar and high carb foods.
Highly processed and refined foods.
LIFESTYLE PRACTICES THAT CAN SUPPORT THIS ..
Don’t skip breakfast - The Chinese energetic clock places the peak energy of the Stomach as between 7-9am, and the Spleen at 9am-11am, making this the best time to start working with digestion.
Eat regular meals and not too late at night - if intermittent fasting is your thing it’s better to stop eating in the afternoon and start again in the morning to work with the energy of the Stomach and Spleen.
Eat sufficient food for your activity levels during the day, and make sure you include some form of movement or activity.
Don’t over exert yourself or over exercise.
Avoid drinking liquids with meals - this dilutes digestive enzymes.
Drink sufficient warm/hot water during the day to stay hydrated.
Sleep - A regular sleeping pattern in bed by 930-10pm and if get up at sunrise.
Work with your flow - eat more blood nourishing foods when you are more likely to be blood deficiency - so during and after your period, postpartum and/or when breastfeeding.
ACUPUNCTURE
The following acupuncture points are amazing to nourish blood -
Liver 8 - You can find this in the inside of your knee - if you bend your knee and look for your popliteal crease, this line runs from below your knee to the inside of your leg, at the end you will feel two tendons - Liver 8 is in between these
Spleen 6 - This point is on the inside of your lower leg, find your inner ankle bone, and Spleen 6 is located roughly 4 finger widths above your ankle bone - normally around about ankle sock line!
You can try pressing these points gently for maybe 1-2 minutes, or when you are massaging or moisturising your legs can be also be a nice way to incorporate this into your day.
References
Pitchford, P. (2009). Healing with whole foods : Asian traditions and modern nutrition. 3rd ed. Berkeley, Calif. North Atlantic Books.
acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz. (n.d.). Debra Betts - Acupuncture and Acupressure for Pregnancy and Childbirth. [online] Available at: https://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/acupuncture/dietary-therapy/blood-deficiency/.