Blood in Chinese Medicine

Blood deficiency:

In Chinese Medicine Blood has a nourishing and moistening function. It is derived mostly from food Qi produced by the Spleen. Blood deficiency is one of the most common patterns seen in women. There is a distinction between Liver Blood deficiency (cramps, numbness, dry hair, blurred vision, floaters, dry/brittle nails, insomnia and excessive dreaming, scanty or no periods) and Heart Blood deficiency (palpitations, insomnia, mild anxiety, poor memory, dizziness, dull-pale complexion)

Food that strengthen Blood:

Grains: Barley, corn, oats, rice, brown rice, wheat, bran

Vegetables: Alfalfa sprout, artichoke, beetroot, button mushroom, cabbage, carrot, celery, dandelion leaf, dark leafy greens, kelp, shiitake mushroom, spinach, watercress, wheatgrass,

Fruit: Apple, apricot, avocado, cherry, date, fig, grape, goji berries, longan, mulberry, raisins

Beans: Aduki, black soya, kidney, Bean products: tofu, miso, tempeh

Nuts and seeds: Almonds, black sesame, sesame seeds, spirulina, tahini, wheatgerm

Fish: Mussel, octopus, oyster, salmon, sardine, tuna

Meat: All red meat especially bone marrow and liver (beef, pork, sheep)(except during pregnancy as they are high in vit A)

Dairy: Chicken egg

Herbs, spices: Nettle (tea), parsley

Oils, condiments: Amasake, molasses

Beverages: Soya milk

Common supplements: Algae, pollen

Thanks to Debora Betts https://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/acupuncture/dietary-therapy/

I am a big advocate of drinking Beetroot juice daily for people who need to nourish their Blood, There is a good quality organic juice called BEETIT (http://beet-it.com/), which can be found in most supermarkets and local helthcare food shops.

If you are looking for receipes to eat beetroot here is a nice website with some good ideas:

http://www.lovebeetroot.co.uk/recipes/

Enjoy!