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V kitajski medicini se koncept krvi razlikuje od biomedicinskega razumevanja krvi. Medtem ko se biomedicinski krvni test večinoma osredotoča na strukturno preverjanje in določanje izmerljivega, TKM krvna diagnostika prav tako preverja funkcionalne in nematerialne spremembe v dinamiki delovanja. Torej za osebo z normalnimi izvidi krvnih preiskav ne pomeni vedno, da so zdravi tudi za pojme TKM.
Kaj je v TKM kri in zakaj je pomembna
Dejanska beseda za kri je v TKM Xue 血. Poživlja jo Qi energija. To pomeni, da Qi kri premika in aktivira, da se lahko po telesu giblje ter in ga prehranjuje v vseh pogledih, vse od kože in mišic do možganov in globljih organov. Ne hrani samo telesa v fizični obliki, vendar tudi naš duh in um. Po drugi strani Qi potrebuje kri kot skladišče in prenosnik, da lahko kroži in ostaja na pravih poteh. Če povzamemo, kri je jin tip energije, ki predstavlja hranilo, dovzetnost, mehkost, sprostitev in lahkotnost; nasprotje je Qi, ki je jang tip energije za preobražanje, aktivacijo, napetost, dinamičnost.
Količina in kakovost krvi sta hkrati pomembni. Ko je v vašem telesu kri v izobilju, se počutite žive, prehranjene in dobro povezane s svojim umom in duhom. Kakorkoli, ko je v osebi premalo krvi, se ta lahko počuti šibko, utrujeno, hladno in izgleda bledo. Nekateri se lahko počutijo tesnobno ali depresivno.
Kako kri nastane
Hrana in pijača, ki ju uživamo, se v prebavnem sistemu transformirata. Po TKM teoriji je to predvsem funkcija želodca in vranice. Slednja skupaj sodelujeta tako, da proizvajata Ku Qi (Qi hrane). Vranica nato pošlje to energijo in material navzgor do pljuč, kjer se spojita s Ta Qi (prečiščen Qi zraka). Ta kombinacija nam daje hranljivi Qi, ki ga potem segreje ogenj srčnega sistema v kombinaciji s posebnim materialom, ki se imenuje Jing (esenca) in izhaja iz ledvic. Po TKM ledvični sistem nadzoruje kostni mozeg in iz sodobne znanosti vemo, da je kostni mozeg pomemben pri izdelavi krvi.
Če vse to skupaj zapišemo s preprostimi besedami: obstajajo nekateri programi in načrti za izdelavo krvi, ki so prirojeni dejavniki, tako da jih ne moremo pretirano spreminjati. Prav tako za njeno izdelavo potrebujemo material. Za uspešen izkoristek tega materiala ga moramo procesirati in transportirati na prava mesta.
Obstaja še veliko podrobnosti o tem, kako vsak sistem deluje skupaj s krvjo, vendar bomo to tokrat preskočili.
Simptomi pomanjkanja krvi
Kri je tako osnoven tip energije, da jo potrebuje vsak sistem, zato težave s krvjo lahko vplivajo razvoj širokega razpona težav, kot so:
Anemija
Anoreksija
Izguba krvi
Neenakomerna in suha koža
Mrzle okončine
Bled obraz in nohti
Srčne palpitacije
Neredno ali odsotno mesečno perilo
Izguba las
Počasno zdravljenje in okrevanje
Počasne misli
Šibek imunski sistem
7 nasvetov za oblikovanje krvi
Jejte hrano- hranjenje je edini način za pridobivanje materiala za vzdrževanje življenja, razen če si želite imeti PEG gastrostomo cev ali intravensko cev, da boste v svoje telo lahko umetno vnašali hranila. Osnova za kri je prečiščen Qi, ki izvira iz hrane. Krvi ne morete izgraditi, če ne jeste. [Preberi še: Zdrava prehrana v tradicionalni kitajski medicini]
Jejte redne obroke in se izogibajte postenju- energija, ki jo boste porabili danes, naj bi idealno prihajala iz živil, ki ste jih v svoj sistem vnesli prejšnji večer ali danes, ne iz vašega skladišča energije. Dokler se izogibate slabi hrani, ni potrebe po postenju, niti po preskakovanju večerje ali izogibanju večernega uživanja hrane.
Zaščitite svoj želodec- želodec so prva vrata pri sprejemanju energije. Je kot blagajnik v trgovini. Če vaša trgovina ne more sprejeti denarja, kako bo potem lahko vaš posel sploh tekel? Zato zaščitite svoj želodec z uživanjem rednih toplih obrokov z določeno porcijo žitaric. Izogibajte se mrzlemu, surovemu in prepekoči hrani, prav tako tudi dražečim pijačam, kot so kava, alkohol in preveč zelenega ali zeliščnega čaja.
Izboljšajte svojo prebavo- osnova krvi je hrana, vendar tudi če jeste dobro in čudovito, boste imeli težave pri proizvajanju svoje krvi, če je vaša prebava šibka. Hidrirajte se z juhami ali toplo vodo ter zdravimi semeni. Jejte blago kuhano zeleno zelenjavo, da boste pridobili omehčane vlaknine za prečiščevanje svojega črevesja. [Preberi še: Hrano je potrebno skuhati - tradicionalna kitajska medicina pojasni prebavni sistem]
Negujte svojo kri po obdobju krvne izgube- obnovite zaloge po kakršnemkoli tipu izgube krvi, vključujoč menstruacijo, operacije in porod. Ženske bi se morale naučiti vključevati v svojo prehrano živila, ki so specifično dobra za tvorbo krvi, predvsem po mesečnem perilu, da si opomorejo in se ne počutijo utrujene. Življenje s krvavenjem in nosečnostjo brez primernega okrevanja in obnavljanja krvi lahko vodi do poznejših težav.
Vzemite si počitek- primerno počivanje je pomembno za negovanje in ponovno tvorbo krvi in Qi energije. Predvsem je koristno dremanje v zgodnjem popoldnevu, ki vašim jetrom in vranici daje priložnost, da poživita kri.
Kuhajte v litem železu- moji pacienti mislijo, da se šalim, ko jim rečem, naj kuhajo v železnih posodah, ko imajo pomanjkanje železa. To je RESNIČNO dejstvo. Kitajci, še posebej ljudje z juga kot jaz, že od nekdaj uporabljajo za kuhanje posodo iz litega železa. Če ne uporabljate železnega voka kot mi, potem obstaja preprost način, da zvišate svoj vnos železa, le vtipkajte v Google ‘’Iron fish’’.
Hrana za oblikovanje krvi
Jajčni rumenjak in semena: vsebujejo osnovne gradbene materiale, ki gradijo življenje. Pomnite, da so žitarice in stročnice prav tako semena, ne le oreščki.
Živalski proteini, ribe in meso- stvar, ki najbolj loči živali od rastlin je večinoma to, da je v živalih kri in ravno zato nosijo več krvne energije. Če vaš želodec ni tako močan kot kravji in ne pojeste toliko kot one in pri tem ne izpustite toliko vetrov, potem je za človeka precej težko, da bi proizvajal kri samo tako, da bi užival le rastline.
Mesna juha in hrana s krvjo- isti tip energije bogati to vrsto. Dober razlog za občasno uživanje goveje juhe in krvavic.
Jejte zeleno zelenjavo kot so blago kuhana temna listnata zelenjava (špinača, rukola, regrat itd.), mikro-alge (spirulina)- medtem ko zgoraj našteta živila delujejo tako, da zagotavljajo material za tvorbo krvi, ta zelenjava pomaga pri osvežitvi in čiščenju sistema, kar zagotavlja gladek pretok.
Riž- se spomnite, da kri potrebuje Qi? Riž je najlažji način pridobitve Qi. Kitajska pismenka za Qi 氣 pravzaprav vsebuje pismenko za riž 米.
Goji jagode: najlažji in najpriročnejši vir hitre pospešitve kroženja krvi. Veliko ljudi ve, da imam vsak dan v službi skodelico goji čaja.
Building Blood with more than just iron: How TCM helps with Blood deficiency
The concept of Blood in Chinese Medicine is not the same as the biomedical understanding of blood. While the biomedical blood test mostly focus on the structural or quantifiable checking, TCM diagnostics for Blood also check for functional and non-material dynamic changes. So a person with normal blood check does not always mean they are healthy in the TCM definition.
What is Blood in TCM and why is it important
The actual word of Blood in TCM is Xue 血. Blood is enlivened with Qi. That means Qi moves and activate the blood so blood can move around the body to nourish every aspect of it, from the skin and muscles to the brain and deep organs. It doesn’t just nourish the physical body but also our spirit and mind. On the other hand, Qi needs Blood as a container and carrier so Qi can circulate and stay in the right pathway. In summary, Blood is a Yin type of energy representing nourishment, receptivity, softness, relaxation, ease ;verse Qi is a Yang type of energy for transformation, activation, tension, dynamism.
Both quantity and quality of Blood matters. When Blood is abundant you feel alive, nourished and well connected in mind and spirit. However, when Blood is deficient a person might feel weak, tired, feel cold or looks pale. Some might even feel anxious or depressed.
How Blood is made
Food and drink that we take in are transformed in the digestive system. It is the function of Stomach and Spleen in the TCM theory. Stomach and Spleen work together to make Ku Qi (Qi of Food). The Spleen then sends these energy and material upwards to the Lungs where it is mingled with Ta Qi (the refined Qi of Air). This combination gives us Nutrient Qi that is then heated up by doctrine fire of the Heart system in the combination a special material called Jing (Essence) from the Kidneys. (Bone marrow is ruled by the Kidney system in TCM and we know from modern science that bone marrow is important in making blood.)
Let’s make all these in simple words:
There are some programs and blueprints for making blood, these are congenital factors so we cannot change much. We also need material to make them. To successfully use those material, we need to process and transport them to the right places.
There are still plenty of details how each system works with Blood but we will skip it this time.
Symptoms of Blood deficiency
Blood is such a basic type of energy that EVERY system needs so the problem of blood could affect a wide range of issue, like:
anemia
anorexia
blood loss
Uneven and dry skin
cold limbs
Pale face and nails
palpitations
Irregular or absent of menstrual periods
Loss of hair
slow healing and recover
slow mental thought
weak immune system
7 Tips for building Blood
Eat food— Eating is the only way to obtain life-sustaining material, unless you want a GI tube or IV tube to artificially infuse material into your body. The basis for Blood is the refined Qi from food. You cannot build Blood if you do not eat. [Read more: Healthy eating in traditional Chinese medicine]
Eat regular meals and avoid fasting—The energy that you use today, should ideally come from the foods you are putting into your system last night and today, not your store houses. As long as you are avoiding toxic food, there is no need at all of fasting, not even skipping dinner or avoiding eating at night.
Protect your stomach— Stomach is the very first gate of energy acceptance. It is like cashier of a store. If your store cannot even accept money, how can your whole company runs. So protect your Stomach by eating regular warm meals with a certain portion of grains. Avoid cold, raw and over spicy food as well as irritating drinks like coffee, liquor and too much green tea or herbal tea.
Improve your digestion—The basis of Blood is food, but even if you eat well and beautifully, you will have problems building Blood if your digestion is weak. Hydrate yourself with soups or warm water or healthy seeds. Eat lightly cooked green vegetables to get the softened fiber for cleansing the guts. [Read more: Cook your food - digestive system explained in Traditional Chinese medicine]
Nourish Blood after times of blood loss— Rebuild after any type of blood loss, including menstruation, operations and childbirth. Women should learn to include specifically building foods after their cycle to rebuild so you don’t feel exhausted. A lifetime of bleeding or child bearing without proper rebuilding can lead to serious problems later.
Take a nap– Proper rest is important for nourishing and rebuilding Blood and Qi. Napping in the early afternoon is particularly beneficial, giving your Liver and Spleen a chance to revitalize the Blood.
Cook in cast iron— My patients think that I am joking when I ask them to cook iron for their iron deficiency. It is a REAL thing. Chinese, especially people from the south like me, have been using cast iron for cooking for a long time. If you do not use an iron wok like us, there is now a simple way to increase your iron intake, just google “Iron fish”.
Blood building food
Egg yolk and seeds— These are basic building materials that grows into life. Remember, grains and beans are also seeds, not just the nuts.
Animal protein, fish and meats— One thing separate animals to plants the most is that animals bleed so, of course, they carry more blood energy. Unless you have a stomach as strong as a cow, plus eating and gasing all day like they do, humans are difficult to make blood just by eating plants.
Bone broth and blood food— The same type of energy nourish their kind. A good reason to enjoy beef soup with blood sausage sometimes.
Eat the greens— Lightly cooked dark leafy greens (spinach, rocket, dandelion, etc.), macro-algaes (seaweed), micro-algaes (spirulina). While the above food work by providing the material for building blood, these greens help to refresh and cleans the system to ensure smooth circulation.
Rice— Remember that Blood needs Qi? Rice is the easiest way to obtain Qi. The Chinese word 氣, actually have the word rice 米 inside.
Goji— The easiest and most convenient source for quick blood boosting. Many people know that I have a cup of Goji tea each day at work.