Hello everyone, I’m Dr. Wang. We often talk about "supplementing the body," but after all sorts of supplementation, many friends find the effects are not obvious or long-lasting. Why is that? From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the fundamental nourishment of the body lies in having abundant vital essence and blood. Vital essence and blood are the material foundation of human life activities, much like the roots and trunk of a tree. When vital essence and blood are sufficient, the internal organs have the drive to function, muscles and bones become strong and powerful, and a person naturally feels spirited and energetic.

When vital essence and blood are insufficient, the body “speaks up”: feeling heavy in the morning, struggling to get out of bed; being exhausted at night but tossing and turning, unable to sleep; frequent soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, easily fatigued even without strenuous work; sometimes experiencing dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, or forgetting things just mentioned. These are all signs your body is reminding you: it’s time to replenish your vital essence and blood!

How to Supplement Effectively? The Key Lies in "Increasing Resources." It's not simply about putting things into the body, but about awakening and enhancing the body's own ability to "produce blood" and "store essence." Today, I'll introduce a classic pair of Chinese herbs that are often used together: Chinese Angelica (Danggui) and Prepared Rehmannia (Shudihuang). When combined, one primarily targets "blood," and the other primarily targets "essence," working synergistically from the source to enhance overall effectiveness.

Chinese Angelica (Danggui): Nourishes Blood and Promotes Blood Circulation, Combining Motion and Stillness. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Chinese Angelica is recognized as a key herb for nourishing blood and is hailed as the "Saint of Blood." Its greatest characteristic is its ability to both nourish blood and promote blood circulation. Many tonifying herbs only "supplement" but do not "unblock," and excessive supplementation can easily lead to stagnation, creating blockages instead. Chinese Angelica, however, is different—it nourishes without causing stagnation, allowing the supplemented blood to flow smoothly. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for women regulating menstruation, recovering qi and blood postpartum, as well as for men experiencing fatigue, weakness, lackluster complexion, dizziness, or blurred vision due to blood deficiency. Simply put, it "activates" the blood, ensuring it is both replenished and utilized effectively.

Prepared Rehmannia (Shudihuang): Fills Essence and Nourishes Blood, Establishing a Solid Foundation. Prepared Rehmannia is made from raw Rehmannia (Shengdihuang) through a process of "nine steamings and nine sun-dryings," which makes its medicinal properties gentle. It is an "expert" in nourishing kidney essence and yin blood and is classified as a superior-grade herb in the TCM classic "Shennong Ben Cao Jing." The kidneys store essence, and essence can transform into blood. Prepared Rehmannia excels at nourishing kidney yin and filling essence to enrich the marrow. In TCM, almost all formulas for regulating various deficiencies, consumptive injuries, and kidney essence deficiency include it. It’s like adding high-quality "nutrients" to the body’s "foundation."

Chinese Angelica (Danggui) + Prepared Rehmannia (Shudihuang): What Makes This Classic Pair So Remarkable?

When these two herbs are used together, they truly complement and enhance each other:

Nourishing blood and generating essence: Angelica sinensis focuses on nourishing blood and promoting blood circulation, while prepared rehmannia root emphasizes tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence. Since essence and blood share a common source and can transform into one another, they work together to address the root cause of essence and blood deficiency.

Balance and gentleness: Their combination achieves the effects of "tonifying without stagnation" (tonification without obstruction), "moistening without dryness" (moisturizing without causing excess heat), and "nourishing without greasiness" (nourishing without stickiness). Their nature is relatively mild, making them suitable for long-term regulation.

Real case: I once treated a 35-year-old Mr. Zhang, a designer who frequently worked overtime and stayed up late. His main issues were: severe soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, as if filled with lead; constant fatigue, feeling exhausted after minimal activity; dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes, and poor memory, often being forgetful and disorganized at work. Upon examination, his tongue appeared pale with scant coating, and his pulse was thin and weak—classic signs of essence and blood deficiency. I prescribed him a formula based on angelica sinensis and prepared rehmannia root, with minor adjustments tailored to his specific constitution. After over a month of regulation, he reported: increased strength in his lower back and legs with reduced soreness and weakness; significant relief from dizziness and tinnitus, along with improved eye comfort; most importantly, his energy levels improved, and his focus at work returned. This exemplifies how regulating essence and blood can restore the body's inherent vitality.

In closing, Dr. Wang would like to say: Modern nutrition emphasizes supplementing with iron, protein, folic acid, and other nutrients, which are essential for synthesizing blood. However, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) reaches a higher level by focusing on "unblocking" and "regulating." Simply supplementing iron may increase hemoglobin levels, but it may not effectively regulate the functions of the liver and spleen (the liver stores blood, and the spleen governs blood). Supplementing protein provides the raw materials for blood production, but it may not activate the body's intrinsic mechanisms for "producing and storing blood essence." The wisdom of TCM lies in using medicinal herbs as catalysts to stimulate the body's inherent repair and regenerative capabilities. The combination of Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) with Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) precisely embodies this philosophy—they don’t merely supplement substances but also mobilize the body's innate ability to restore abundant blood essence. This is the fundamental path to maintaining long-term health and vitality.