How to replenish qi and blood after childbirth
Dec 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Postpartum replenishment of qi and blood should follow the principles of gentle nourishment and spleen-strengthening for blood production, avoiding excessive or blind tonification. Specific methods mainly include dietary therapy, herbal regulation, proper rest and care, emotional balance, and moderate physical activity. During the process of replenishing qi and blood, contraindications and precautions should also be observed—avoid raw, cold, spicy, and irritating foods, and adjust the pace of tonification according to individual recovery progress.
After childbirth, replenishing qi and blood should follow the principles of gentle nourishment and spleen-strengthening for blood production. Blind over-supplementation should be avoided. Specific methods mainly include dietary therapy, herbal regulation, daily routine care, emotional adjustment, and moderate physical activity. The details are as follows:
1. Dietary Nourishment: Prioritize easily digestible blood-nourishing ingredients such as red dates, longan, dang gui (Angelica sinensis), astragalus, lean meat, eggs, and millet. Recipes like Angelica and Astragalus black-bone chicken soup or millet-red date porridge can effectively replenish qi and blood while accommodating postpartum spleen and stomach weakness, gradually restoring the body.
2. Herbal Regulation: Use mild herbs that tonify qi and nourish blood, such as codonopsis, astragalus, dang gui, cooked rehmannia, and white peony root. These are often combined with food ingredients to make medicinal soups. Under professional guidance, classic formulas such as Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Spleen-Qi Tonifying Decoction) may also be used to specifically address postpartum symptoms caused by qi and blood deficiency, such as fatigue and poor complexion.
3. Daily Routine Care: Ensure adequate sleep and avoid staying up late or overexertion, as sleep is crucial for the restoration of qi and blood. Maintain warmth and prevent chilling, especially in the abdomen and limbs, since cold exposure may impede the flow of qi and blood and hinder recovery.
4. Emotional Adjustment: Maintain a cheerful mood and avoid prolonged anxiety or depression. Negative emotions can impair spleen and stomach function and disrupt the generation of qi and blood. Family members should provide emotional support to help postpartum women relieve psychological stress, creating a favorable physical and mental environment for recovery.
5. Moderate Activity: Once the body has recovered sufficiently, engage in gentle exercises such as walking or postnatal yoga, avoiding prolonged sitting or lying down. Appropriate physical activity promotes circulation of qi and blood, enhances digestive function, improves nutrient absorption, and accelerates recovery.
When replenishing qi and blood, it is also important to observe contraindications and precautions. Avoid raw, cold, spicy, and irritating foods. Adjust the supplementation pace according to individual recovery progress and strictly follow medical advice to ensure both safety and effectiveness of the nourishment regimen.
