What is Xue? 

Xue is the word for Blood in Chinese medicine. However, it has a deeper meaning than our Western idea of blood. It is the liquid life force of the body. It provides nourishment for the body, it is yin in nature, and it is the liquid form of Qi (vital energy). 

Blood is inseparable from Qi. Qi gives life and movement to Blood, but Blood nourishes the organs that produce Qi. 

Blood nourishes the body, moistens the body’s tissues, helps cool the body, and supports our Shen (spirit). 

Blood can be depleted through overwork, excess stress, overexercise, poor digestion, poor diet, significant blood loss, and heavy menstrual flow. 

When Blood is deficient in the body, we can experience dizziness, insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, a pale face, palpitations, dry skin or hair, blurry vision, numbness/tingling, and scanty or pale menstruation. 

If you experience the symptoms above, try adding more of these foods into your diet: bone broth, red meat, sardines, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, dark leafy greens, seaweed, spirulina, kelp, wheatgrass, barley, beets, dates, figs, mulberries, adzuki beans, black beans, kidney beans, black sesame, shiitake mushrooms, and blackstrap molasses.