Many people know that the spleen and stomach are the source of qi and blood production. However, quite a few folks—whether sisters or brothers—who suffer from qi and blood deficiency focus all their efforts on taking spleen-strengthening pills or comprehensive tonic pills. Why do they still feel utterly exhausted, too tired to move, experience numbness and cramps in their hands and feet, and toss and turn unable to sleep at night? In fact, this is precisely because you've forgotten to nourish the heart. Nourishing the heart is the truly effective way to replenish qi and blood!

In the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, blood originates from the essence of the middle energizer, flows and spreads within it to become essence, and is offered to the heart where it is transformed by its yang into red blood. This might sound a bit convoluted and hard to grasp at first. Let's use an analogy: the spleen and stomach are like chefs in a kitchen, responsible for transforming food into nutrients and essence. However, for this essence to become the genuine qi and blood that nourishes the entire body, it still relies on the help of heart yang. Heart yang is that crucial flame. If the flame isn't strong, no matter how hard the spleen and stomach "cook," the nutrients cannot transform into blood!

If there is insufficient heart yang coupled with poor spleen and stomach function, it's practically a double blow. In such cases, individuals may experience aversion to cold, cold hands and feet, general fatigue, lack of energy, difficulty sleeping at night with constant tossing and turning, and even a sensation of coldness in the back and chest during winter, among other symptoms. At this point, if you only focus on tonifying the spleen and stomach, it’s like pouring water into a leaky bucket—completely futile.

For this situation, it’s also necessary to warm and tonify heart yang. The medical sage Zhang Zhongjing left us a "divine formula" long ago—Zhigancao Decoction (Roasted Licorice Decoction), which can effectively address your troubles.

First, Zhigancao (Roasted Licorice Root), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), and Shengdi (Unprocessed Rehmannia Root): These nourish and energize the heart, tonifying heart yang and enriching heart yin, ensuring abundant heart qi, and effectively improving various heart-related issues.

Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Renshen (Ginseng), Maren (Hemp Seed), and Dazao (Jujube Fruit): These directly "replenish blood" and tonify qi and blood, rapidly restoring the body's vitality.

Ginger and cinnamon: can promote the circulation of yang energy; ginger paired with jujube can also help regulate and strengthen the spleen and stomach

Overall, this formula not only nourishes the spleen but also supports the heart, simultaneously replenishing both Qi and blood. If your condition is more complex, modifications can be made based on this prescription. It’s important to remind everyone not to blindly follow trends when boosting Qi and blood—each person’s constitution differs, so it is best to consult a professional TCM practitioner for diagnosis and tailored treatment.

This content is intended for educational purposes only regarding traditional Chinese medicine. If you experience any physical discomfort, please seek medical attention promptly!