What to eat to regulate qi and blood deficiency

Sep 18, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Generally, for regulating and improving deficiency of qi and blood, one can consume foods such as red dates, spinach, pork liver, longan, and black-boned chicken, as well as oral medications like Danggui Bu Xue Oral Liquid, Bazhen Granules, Ejiao Oral Liquid, Guipi Pills, and Shiquan Dabu Pills. To effectively manage qi and blood deficiency, it is important to maintain a varied diet in daily life, ensure balanced nutrition, and increase intake of foods rich in iron and vitamins.

Generally, for regulating and improving deficiency of qi and blood, one can consume foods such as red dates, spinach, pork liver, longan, and black-boned chicken, along with oral medications like Danggui Buxue Oral Liquid, Bazhen Granules, Ejiao Oral Liquid, Guipi Pills, and Shiquan Dabu Pills. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Foods

1. Red Dates: Rich in various vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, red dates have the effects of tonifying the spleen and stomach, replenishing qi, nourishing blood, and calming the mind. They provide essential nutrients to the body and help improve symptoms caused by qi and blood deficiency such as pale complexion and fatigue. They are suitable for daily consumption in porridge, steeped in water, or eaten directly to regulate qi and blood.

2. Spinach: High in iron, folic acid, and vitamin C, spinach provides key components for hemoglobin synthesis. Iron is a crucial raw material for blood production, folic acid supports red blood cell formation, and vitamin C enhances iron absorption. It helps alleviate qi and blood deficiency related to iron deficiency and supports recovery of qi and blood.

3. Pork Liver: Contains abundant heme iron, vitamin A, and B-complex vitamins. Heme iron is easily absorbed by the body and effectively replenishes iron stores, helping prevent and improve iron-deficiency anemia. This makes pork liver beneficial for individuals with qi and blood deficiency accompanied by anemia when consumed in moderation.

4. Longan (Dragon Eye Fruit): Contains glucose, sucrose, B-complex vitamins, and iron. It has the function of strengthening the heart and spleen, nourishing blood, and calming the spirit. It helps boost energy and relieve symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, and fatigue caused by qi and blood deficiency. It can be eaten directly or used with red dates in soups.

5. Black-Boned Chicken: Rich in high-quality protein, iron, and various amino acids, it provides abundant nutrition, strengthens physical constitution, and helps improve symptoms of qi and blood deficiency such as weakness and sallow complexion. It is commonly used in soups to exert its tonic effects.

2. Medications

1. Danggui Buxue Oral Liquid: Main ingredients include Angelica sinensis (Danggui) and Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi). It functions to tonify qi and nourish blood, and is suitable for symptoms such as body fatigue, pale complexion, dizziness, and vertigo due to dual deficiency of qi and blood.

2. Bazhen Granules: Composed of herbal ingredients such as Codonopsis pilosula (Dangshen), Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), Poria cocos (Fuling), and Angelica sinensis (Danggui), this formula replenishes both qi and blood. It is used for symptoms including sallow complexion, poor appetite, limb fatigue, and low spirits caused by deficiency of both qi and blood.

3. Ejiao Oral Liquid: The main ingredient is donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao), which nourishes blood, enriches yin, and moistens dryness. It is indicated for symptoms related to blood deficiency such as sallow complexion, dizziness, palpitations, irritability, and insomnia.

4. Guipi Pills: Contains ingredients such as Codonopsis pilosula, honey-fried Astragalus, honey-fried licorice, and longan aril. It strengthens qi, invigorates the spleen, nourishes blood, and calms the mind. It is suitable for conditions due to deficiency of both heart and spleen, manifesting as shortness of breath, palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams, dizziness, fatigue, and lethargy.

5. Shiquan Dabu Pills: Made from herbs including Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, and Angelica sinensis, this formula has the effect of warming and tonifying qi and blood. It is indicated for dual deficiency of qi and blood, presenting as pale complexion, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, and general fatigue.

To effectively regulate and improve qi and blood deficiency, it is important to maintain a diverse diet, ensure balanced nutrition, increase intake of iron- and vitamin-rich foods, develop healthy lifestyle habits, avoid overexertion, and maintain regular作息 (daily routines).

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How to manage qi and blood deficiency with cold body constitution

For the regulation of insufficient qi and blood accompanied by cold body constitution, it is generally possible to adopt nourishing diets that warm and supplement qi and blood, engage in mild and consistent physical exercise, and ensure adequate body warmth. Increase consumption of ingredients such as lamb, beef, red dates, longan, and red beans. Cooking methods should primarily include stewing and boiling, combined with warming seasonings like ginger and angelica root. Avoid raw, cold, and cooling foods to prevent damage to the spleen and stomach, which may impair the production of qi and blood. This way, the body can be supplied with sufficient energy through diet.

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Does a small crescent-shaped white area on the fingernail indicate cold body constitution or deficiency of qi and blood?

In general, a reduced number of lunulae (the white half-moons at the base of the fingernails) may indicate either cold body constitution or insufficient qi and blood. When determining the cause of reduced lunulae, it is important to consider other bodily symptoms collectively, rather than drawing conclusions based on this single sign alone. Mild physical exercise can be helpful in promoting the circulation of qi and blood. In terms of diet, ingredients such as red dates (jujubes) and longan may be beneficial, although adjustments should be made according to individual body conditions.

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What is the most effective way to regulate body coldness?

In general, body coldness may be caused by long-term consumption of raw and cold foods, lack of exercise, cold deficiency of the spleen and stomach, kidney yang deficiency, insufficient qi and blood, and other factors. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through general treatments, medication, and other methods under a doctor's guidance. In daily life, it is important to stay warm, especially in the abdominal area, waist, and feet, and to adjust clothing appropriately according to weather changes.

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Should I take Guipi Pills or Jianpi Pills for dampness accumulation?

If the main symptoms are indigestion and poor appetite, then Jianpi Pills are suitable. These should not be taken arbitrarily if symptoms do not match. Guipi Pills contain ingredients such as Codonopsis Root (Dang Shen) and Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), which can invigorate qi, strengthen the spleen, nourish blood, and calm the mind. When dampness is excessive and accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams, limb fatigue, and weakness, taking Guipi Pills can simultaneously strengthen the spleen and regulate qi and blood, thereby alleviating discomfort caused by spleen deficiency and insufficient qi and blood.