Many young people nowadays always complain of exhaustion at such a young age—they get out of breath after climbing just two flights of stairs, their faces look pale and lack color, and even a slight loss of sleep leaves them feeling drained and lifeless the next day. This isn’t a minor issue; it’s likely due to insufficient qi and blood.

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, qi and blood are the driving force behind the body’s vital activities, much like a flowing energy fluid that nourishes every part of the body. People with sufficient qi and blood have rosy, glowing cheeks, speak with confidence, and move with energy. But once qi and blood become insufficient, the whole person becomes like a withered eggplant—not only lacking energy but also frequently experiencing discomforts here and there.

How does our good supply of qi and blood become insufficient? Essentially, there are only two scenarios: either it's being depleted too heavily, or it's being produced too little.

First, let's talk about excessive depletion. Nowadays, who doesn’t have their phone in hand at all times? Lying in bed at night, scrolling through videos or reading novels, we unintentionally stay up well past midnight. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this severely damages qi and blood. Think about it: when our eyes are constantly fixed on screens, liver blood is gradually drained away. After all, prolonged visual strain harms the blood, and since the liver opens into the eyes, overusing the eyes inevitably burdens the liver. Add to that staying up late without sleep—during a time when the body should be resting and replenishing qi and blood—it keeps running nonstop, continuously depleting qi as well. You might not notice it after a day or two, but over time, qi and blood inevitably dwindle.

In such cases, simply supplementing isn't enough; we must first address the habit of staying up late. Additionally, if one's physical condition is too poor, certain Chinese patent medicines can help with supplementation, such as Bazhen Wan (Eight Treasure Pill). This formula contains herbs that both boost qi and nourish blood, essentially providing a dual-action approach to gradually replenish the depleted qi and blood.

Then there's the issue of producing too little qi and blood, which is mostly related to the spleen and stomach, as they are the source of qi and blood generation. The food we eat and the fluids we drink all rely on the spleen and stomach to process into nutrients the body can use. These nutrients are the raw materials for qi and blood. If the spleen and stomach become "lazy" and fail to properly digest what we consume, the raw materials fall short, leading to a natural reduction in qi and blood production.

At such times, not only do people feel weak and lack the energy to do anything, but they also become generally lethargic and unwilling to move. They may also lose their appetite, experience bloating after eating just a little, and have loose stools. In such cases, taking highly tonifying herbs like ginseng and angelica root is futile—the spleen and stomach simply cannot absorb them. Instead, these supplements may even burden the body. It's better to start by regulating the spleen and stomach first, for example, by using Ginseng and Poria Pill to help stimulate the spleen and stomach, gradually restoring their digestive function. Once the spleen and stomach are functioning well, even without deliberate heavy supplementation, qi and blood can slowly replenish themselves.

The content of this article is intended only as general knowledge and should not be used as a basis for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you experience any physical discomfort, please consult a professional healthcare practitioner for proper diagnosis and guidance on medication to avoid mismatched treatment and delayed recovery.