If you feel heavy and lack energy recently, have a pale complexion, not eating well or sleeping properly…
Pay attention! This is not simply due to the heat making people lazy; Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that it is very likely due to insufficient Qi and blood.
How does summer “steal” your Qi and blood?
1. Sweating. Traditional Chinese Medicine says, “Sweat is the fluid of the heart, and sweat and blood have the same origin.” Excessive sweating leads to significant depletion of Qi and blood, making the body feel like it has been emptied.
2. High stress. The saying goes, “Overthinking consumes heart and blood.” Nowadays, people worry about many things while balancing family and work. Staying up late and other similar behaviors also deplete heart and blood energy.
3. Women begin to experience a decline in Yangming pulse around the age of 35, which means that the supply of Qi and blood to the body, especially to the face, begins to diminish, leading to a decline in health and appearance. Moreover, for women, Qi and blood are constantly being consumed.
Therefore, to revitalize the body, one must find ways to replenish Yang energy and Qi and blood.
Start consuming it in August to replenish Qi and blood for the whole year.
When it comes to good things that replenish Yang energy and Qi and blood, today I want to recommend a super fruit — longan (also called lychee). It has a sweet taste and high nutritional value.
In autumn, many places have the custom of “fattening up for the autumn,” but modern people are not lacking in fat; what we lack is Qi and blood! So, we should start with longan flesh.
Just before and after the start of autumn is the season when the first batch of fresh longans for 2024 ripens! The dried longans made from them are fresh and in season.
Benefits
1
Replenishes heart and spleen, nourishes blood and calms the mind
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that longan flesh is sweet and warm, entering the heart and spleen meridians, with benefits for replenishing the heart and spleen, nourishing blood, and calming the mind. It is commonly used to treat overthinking, exhaustion of heart and spleen, palpitations, insomnia and forgetfulness, dry skin, and Qi and blood deficiency caused by aging, postpartum recovery, or serious illness.
2
Strengthens the spleen and enhances intelligence, replenishing both Qi and blood
The “Ben Cao Qiu Zhen” states that its benefits surpass that of jujubes, saying “longan is sweet and warm, similar to jujubes, but its sweetness is stronger, and it moistens Qi more significantly, thus having remarkable blood-nourishing properties besides supplementing Qi. Therefore, it is considered a key medicine for nourishing the heart and spleen.”
3
Protects blood vessels and prevents vascular sclerosis
Modern studies show that longan has a high nutritional value, rich in carbohydrates, proteins, various amino acids, and vitamins, particularly high in vitamin P, which helps protect blood vessels, prevents vascular sclerosis, and reduces brittleness, especially for middle-aged and elderly people.
People with these issues can also try longan
1. Those who are weak, anemic, elderly, or have chronic illnesses will find that regularly consuming longan is very beneficial.
2. For women postpartum, longan is also an important nutritional food. It is rich in iron and vitamins, which can alleviate uterine contractions and the sensation of uterine prolapse. For postpartum women with weakness, fatigue, or anemia, longan flesh can be stewed with Angelica, goji berries, and a few pitted red dates. Alternatively, daily consumption of longan flesh with boiled eggs can invigorate blood circulation and promote recovery.
Contraindications
1. Those with phlegm-heat in the spleen and stomach, damp stagnation, indigestion, or nausea and vomiting should avoid consumption.
2. Pregnant women, especially in early pregnancy, should avoid consuming longan flesh to prevent fetal movement and premature birth.
3. Diabetics should not consume too much.
It is important to note that unripe longan should not be eaten as it can easily trigger asthma. Even as a dietary therapy, the recommended amount of dried longan flesh per serving is 6 grams, and it should not be consumed in excess.
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