The other day my car felt a little strange while driving, so when I got home I opened the hood. The engine was far too hot, so I checked the oil and of course it was low. And dirty. If she didn’t get an oil change soon, the whole system would shut down. Then I thought, cars really are like people, especially women, both get cranky when fluids levels decrease.
Gas and oil, water and blood…without the stabilizing nature of fluids to stay nourished and cool, people will tend to experience what acupuncturists refer to as, “deficiency heat”. Just like a car, a deficient amount of oil causes an engine to become hot. For people, the outward symptoms can range from dryness, constipation, headaches, cramping, emotional instability, alternating depression with irritability, easily frustrated or confused; and if the condition continues unchecked, rage and harmful behaviors may arise. In other words, without nourishing fluids, the whole system can get hotter and hotter to the point where the system will eventually seize up.
For people, the fluids typically lost that must be replenished include:
Water: excessive loss through sweating, dry windy weather, drug and alcohol use
Blood: poor absorption of food, too much blood loss during or after childbirth, and/or heavy menstruation (like having a small leak in the oil pan)
Obviously, we need to drink plenty of clean water, and sometimes hydrating drinks to replenish electrolytes. However, in order to help replenish blood loss, the following encourage red blood cell production:
- Chinese herbal formulas
- chlorella
- liquid Vitamin B12, or B12 (methylcobalamin) injections
- dark green foods and meat from animals
However, continuous blood loss through heavy menstruation needs more attention. Chinese medicine uses the term “blood deficiency” but this does not necessarily translate to anemia. Acupuncture can help regulate the endocrine system, and specific foods and Chinese herbal medicine assists in nourishing deficiencies.
Download PDF file for Fluids Courtesy of Daisy Lear