Which woman hasn't experienced menstruation in her lifetime? Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon for women. Yet some find it unpleasant, even repulsive. What's the reason? It all stems from menstrual cramps. Traditional Chinese Medicine identifies causes of menstrual pain as liver-kidney deficiency, cold stagnation, qi and blood deficiency, and qi stagnation with blood stasis. So how can women avoid menstrual cramps? Medicinal cuisine offers an effective approach.Below, we introduce 8 medicinal recipes that boost qi, nourish blood, invigorate blood circulation, and dispel cold:
Goji Berry, Yam, and Cloud Bean Chicken
10g goji berries, 150g fresh yam. 50g cloud beans, 1 young hen, seasonings to taste. Soak cloud beans until soft; peel yam.Wash and cut into chunks; pluck and clean the chicken, blanch, then cut into pieces. Place all ingredients in a bowl with goji berries, scallions, peppers, ginger, salt, cooking wine, and clear broth. Cover and steam until cooked. Consume weekly, 1-2 servings.
Benefits: Nourishes the liver and enriches essence, strengthens the spleen and nourishes blood. Suitable for liver-kidney deficiency with insufficient essence and blood, presenting as menstrual cramps, heavy sensation in waist and knees, weakness, scanty pale menstrual flow, or accompanied by hot flashes and tinnitus.Add an appropriate amount of water to an earthenware pot. After bringing to a boil over low heat, stir in a suitable amount of rice wine. Simmer until the river crab is cooked. Consume while hot, once daily. Continue for 5-7 consecutive days.
Efficacy: Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, unblocks the menstrual flow, and alleviates pain. Suitable for premenstrual or menstrual lower abdominal distension and pain, with tenderness on pressure, or accompanied by chest, rib, and breast distension.
Corydalis and Motherwort with Jujube and Egg
10g Corydalis, 30g Motherwort, 10 jujubes, 3 eggs. Simmer Corydalis, jujubes, motherwort, and eggs in sufficient water until eggs are cooked. Peel eggs, simmer briefly, strain liquid. Drink broth and eat one egg per serving, three times daily.
Efficacy: Promotes blood circulation, regulates qi, dissipates stasis, and alleviates pain. Suitable for scanty menstrual flow with stasis-induced pain, dark purple tongue with stasis spots or ecchymoses.
Ginger, Jujube, and Brown Sugar Decoction
5g dried ginger, 10 jujubes, 30g brown sugar. Simmer all ingredients in water and drink.Take twice daily while warm for 5-7 consecutive days.
Efficacy: Warms the uterus and dispels cold. Suitable for cold-induced dysmenorrhea.
Cinnamon Twig and Jujube Decoction
10g cinnamon twig, 10 jujubes, 15g hawthorn, 30g brown sugar.Decoct Cinnamon Twig, Jujubes, and Hawthorn to extract liquid. Add brown sugar, bring to boil, and drink while hot. Take twice daily.
Efficacy: Warms meridians and dispels cold. Promotes blood circulation and relieves pain. Suitable for premenstrual or menstrual lower abdominal pain that eases with warmth, and scanty menstrual flow.
Ginger-Jujube-Prickly Ash Decoction
30g Ginger,10 jujubes, 20g Sichuan pepper, brown sugar to taste. Decoct ginger, jujubes, and Sichuan pepper in water to extract the liquid. Add brown sugar, dissolve, and drink. Take twice daily.
Efficacy: Warms the meridians, dispels cold, and relieves pain. Suitable for cold stagnation and qi stagnation causing irregular menstruation, dark-colored blood with clots, and cold limbs with aversion to cold.
Angelica and Motherwort Egg Decoction
Angelica sinensis 10g, Leonurus japonicus 30g, eggs 3. Simmer angelica, motherwort, and eggs in water until eggs are cooked. Peel eggs, simmer briefly, then strain. Drink the broth and eat one egg per serving, three times daily for 5-7 consecutive days.
Efficacy: Promotes blood circulation, regulates qi, dissipates stasis, and alleviates pain. Suitable for dysmenorrhea with blood stasis, dark purple menstrual blood with clots, and pain relief after blood discharge.
Astragalus and Silkie Chicken Soup
Astragalus 30g, Silkie chicken 1 whole. Seasonings to taste. Remove feathers and impurities from chicken, wash thoroughly, cut into pieces. Place chicken and astragalus in a pot.Add sufficient water and stew until tender. Season with MSG and salt. Consume 1-2 servings weekly.
Benefits: Tonifies qi and nourishes blood, regulates menstruation and alleviates pain. Suitable for premenstrual, menstrual, or postmenstrual symptoms of qi and blood deficiency, including mild lower abdominal pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, and soreness in the lower back and knees.