As we all know, replenishing blood requires proper methods; in fact, it follows steps: first clear, then nourish, and finally consolidate. Only by doing so can qi and blood truly be restored at their root.

Some people wonder, why must tonifying qi and blood follow these steps?

Let’s first talk about “clearing.” This “clearing” means removing stagnation and waste from the blood vessels. There is a saying in traditional Chinese medicine: “If blood stasis is not removed, new blood will not be produced.” Think about it: if the vessels are filled with stagnation and waste, it’s like a riverbed choked with silt—how can qi and blood flow smoothly? If you try to tonify qi and blood at that point, it’s like releasing water into a blocked river: it won’t nourish the body effectively and may even increase the body’s burden. So you must first clear internal stagnation and waste to open a path for qi and blood circulation.

If you have phlegm-damp and stagnation, you can consider formulas like Er Chen Wan to resolve phlegm and move stagnation. If there is blood stasis—often manifested by a dark complexion, rough skin, dark circles, melasma, menstrual clots, or dysmenorrhea—then consider Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang to invigorate the blood and dispel stasis. Once the stagnation is removed, you can proceed to tonify and nourish the blood.

Now let’s talk about “nourishing.” The spleen and stomach are the source of qi and blood generation; when the spleen and stomach are weak, production of qi and blood is insufficient. Nowadays many people have irregular diets—skipping meals or overeating, or frequently consuming cold and greasy foods—which damage the spleen and stomach. Once spleen and stomach function is impaired, they cannot transform food into adequate qi and blood. At this point, we can consider formulas like Ba Zhen Tang to tonify qi, strengthen the spleen, and generate blood, allowing qi and blood to gradually fill out.

Finally, the "consolidation" step. This "consolidation" means preventing the loss of qi and blood, firmly locking in the replenished qi and blood. It's like a container—if it isn't sealed well, its contents will gradually leak out. Depending on the situation we can add astringent herbs such as Rosa laevigata (jin ying zi) or Schisandra chinensis (wu wei zi) to secure the qi and blood.

However, the use of any formula must be based on syndrome differentiation by a professional physician. If there are any health problems, seek timely, standardized medical care and do not self-medicate blindly.