Today let's talk about the body's "San Jiao" (three burners) being obstructed and how to regulate it. Did you know that obstructions in the upper, middle, or lower burner can cause quite a few problems?

First, the upper burner obstruction — the upper burner essentially corresponds to our heart and lung region. If the qi and blood circulation in the upper burner are not smooth, it's like the heart and lungs lose nourishment, making one prone to insomnia, chest tightness, and palpitations. At this point, we need to find ways to benefit qi and nourish yin, and to tonify the heart and kidney. There is a proprietary Chinese medicine called Huangqi Shengmai Yin, which acts like a small engine fueling the heart and lungs and can help us address the problems caused by upper burner obstruction.

Next, let’s talk about an obstruction in the middle burner (zhongjiao). The middle burner refers to our spleen and stomach. The spleen and stomach are the source of qi and blood production; if the middle burner is blocked by cold-damp or damp-heat, qi and blood will not circulate smoothly, the scalp will not receive nourishment, and hair will fall out easily. At this time, we need to unblock the middle burner and warm the middle to harmonize the stomach. Xiangsha Yangwei Wan acts like a small shovel, helping to clear the “external pathogenic factors” from the middle burner and allowing qi and blood to flow unobstructed.

Finally, let’s talk about an obstruction in the lower burner (xiaojiao). The lower burner refers to our kidneys. The kidneys are precious; their health is directly reflected in the hair. If qi and blood in the lower burner are not circulating, kidney essence will not be nourished, and white hair will quietly appear. At this time, we need to tonify the liver and kidneys to restore the kidney’s vitality. Guishao Dihuang Wan acts like a little nurse, carefully tending our kidneys and helping them regain vigor.

So, if you encounter issues like upper jiao blockage causing insomnia, middle jiao blockage causing hair loss, or lower jiao blockage causing excessive graying, don’t rush to treat it as excess heat—try using these proprietary Chinese medicines to regulate it first. Of course, everyone’s constitution is different, so it’s best to consult a doctor and get professional advice before using any medications. That way, our bodies can become healthier!