Guarding the blood

In Chinese Medicine, blood provides nourishment for Qi.

It cools Qi - which is warm by nature - and keeps it from overheating.

It gently holds Qi - which is active by nature - and keeps it from moving recklessly.

Qi is a bit of a volatile creature, as many gifted ones are. Blood keeps it in check, living its best self, contributing to the common (physiological) good. It’s a beneficial marriage.

When it comes to defense of the body, Qi is often described as the "Guard" and blood the "Camp". Qi stands post and fights invaders while blood provides a place for a soldier to rest and find provisions, purpose, and strength.

There are many threats against our blood in the industrialized world:

• Poor food quality

• Premature cutting of the umbilical cord at birth

• Stress and worry

• Overwork

• Overthinking

• Overuse of the eyes (devices)

• Too little physical activity

• Sporadic, extreme physical activity to compensate for regular sedentarism

And, naturally, the blood sins of parents do transfer to their children. Many of us begin life with a blood-quality deficit.

All of this contributes to the prevalence of autoimmune diseases, allergies, fertility difficulties, and more.

And it is within our power to fix it.

On an individual level, it starts by guarding the blood against the threats we can control.