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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners would say that the fundamental elements to restore after childbirth are qi and blood. Qi speaks to the vital energy balance in our bodies such that every part of the body can properly do their part to keep you healthy. Blood is what keeps the circulation flowing through your body.
After childbirth, certain organs that have been “overworked” during the pregnancy phase need to be “pampered” back to shape.
Take the spleen as an example, it helps to absorb nutrition of food and produce blood. All this time, it has been working overtime for you and baby. The kidney is in charge of many functions such as supporting the reproductive system, removing waste from the body and giving nutrients to your bone and hair. It is considered a crucial organ in creating qi and blood.
The sensation of feeling tired, muscle soreness, low energy and even sadness can often be an indication of your qi imbalance. Other signs and symptoms are listed here as things to watch out for.
Signs & symptoms of Qi and Blood deficiency are:
Tiredness, fatigue and/or weak limbs
Pale skin and complexion
Dizziness, headache
Poor appetite
Blurred vision
Depression
Poor memory
Insomnia
Loose stools
Spinal pain
Weak pulse
So, what’s the solution you ask?
Eating right and getting rest is the best remedy in this case. Simple stuff, right? You’ll be surprised how it is often overlooked when everyone in the house is depending on you to be fed, to be cared for and to keep things in order.
Here are the top 7 things you ought to consider in restoring your body:
Drink a pot of postpartum herbal tea a day
Have a bowl of warm soup using soup recipes tailored for women during postpartum
REST REST REST...and REST some more
Avoid raw foods and cold drinks/food straight out of the fridge
Avoid going to places that are cold and have draughty conditions
Avoid greasy, fatty foods and keep your intake of sodium and sugar low
Incorporate food ingredients that naturally enhance blood circulation into your daily meal
Food ingredients that helps to enhance qi and blood:
Meat/Protein
Beef
Lamb
Chicken breast
Pork
Fish
Silkie / Black skinned chicken (can be founded in chinese grocery stores)
Egg
Offal (Liver, heart, kidney etc)
Vegetables:
GINGER..GINGER..GINGER
Leafy Greens
Tomato
Yam
Beetroot
Spinach
Lotus seed
Kidney beans
Black beans
Black Soya Bean
Fruits:
Plum
Black Grapes or Black Grape Juice
Cherry
Chinese Herbs:
The use of Chinese herbs according to the different stages and individual needs during the postpartum period are the most effective way to help body recovery.
If this is insightful to you in deepening your understanding of Asian postpartum care, please follow us @ MotherlyCare and share it forward!
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