What to do if you catch a cold during your period?

I catch a cold as soon as my period starts; it turns out it's caused by insufficient Qi and blood.

Some women catch a cold every time they have their period. What could be the reason for this? Catching a cold during menstruation may be related to a constitution with weak Qi and blood.

During menstruation, a woman's resistance decreases due to hormonal changes. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, during menstruation, menstrual blood flows downward, resulting in a relative deficiency of qi and blood throughout the body. When qi and blood are deficient, the body's defenses are weakened, making it easier for external pathogens to invade. If one does not pay attention to keeping warm, it is easy to catch a cold.

Treatment methods for colds during menstruation caused by insufficient Qi and blood

1. Pay attention to keeping warm

In daily life, it is important to keep warm, especially the lower body. Pay attention to keeping the lower abdomen, waist and feet warm. In the transition from spring to summer, avoid exposing your legs too early and try to wear less short skirts and low-waisted pants.

II. Appropriate exercise

Generally speaking, people with insufficient Qi and blood tend to be quiet and inactive. Excessive exercise can easily make them feel tired, have chest tightness, and shortness of breath, so some people simply choose not to move at all. In fact, movement generates Yang energy, and appropriate physical exercise can improve blood circulation and physical condition.

3. Regularly massage acupoints on the feet.

The feet have many acupoints and meridians. Regular massage can unblock the body's meridians, improve blood circulation, and regulate qi and blood. The toes are the junction of the qi of the "three yin meridians" and the "three yang meridians" of the foot. Regularly massaging the ten toes helps the qi to flow smoothly. When massaging, you can use your thumb and forefinger to pinch one toe, knead it on all sides, and then gently pull it upwards.

In addition, the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot is also a very important acupoint. "The kidney originates from Yongquan, and Yongquan is the center of the foot." Therefore, massaging this acupoint regularly is very beneficial for protecting Yang energy. Simply curl the sole of your foot slightly, and you can feel a depression in the front of the sole. This depression is the Yongquan acupoint.

IV. Mental well-being

When a person is overworked, depressed, or experiences excessive negative emotional stimulation, it can also affect the flow of Yang energy. Therefore, in daily life, it is important to maintain a regular schedule, avoid staying up late, and try to maintain an optimistic and cheerful mood to avoid excessive emotional fluctuations.

V. Dietary Therapy

When Qi and blood are sufficient, a person's hands and feet are warm all year round. However, some women are particularly sensitive to low temperatures and easily experience cold hands and feet, which is a manifestation of insufficient Qi and blood. When Qi and blood are insufficient, one can eat foods that warm and nourish Qi and blood, such as longan, walnuts, dates, and goji berries. It's best to minimize consumption of raw, cold, and cooling foods, such as white radish, mung beans, winter melon, various cold drinks, iced foods, and raw or cold dishes. Additionally, one can consume angelica, red dates, and polygonatum boiled with eggs or donkey-hide gelatin and lean meat soup before menstruation, and drink brown sugar ginger tea after menstruation.

1. Angelica sinensis stewed pig's trotters

Ingredients: Two pig trotters, 50 grams of angelica root, appropriate amounts of scallions, ginger, cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorns, salt, etc.

Instructions: Wash the pig's trotters and cut them into large pieces. Boil them in boiling water for two minutes to remove the fishy smell, then remove them. Next, add water to a pot and bring it to a boil. Add the pig's trotters, angelica root, and appropriate amounts of seasonings. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the pig's trotters are tender.

2. Angelica sinensis, ginseng, yam, and pork kidney

Ingredients: 10g Angelica sinensis, 10g Codonopsis pilosula, 10g Dioscorea opposita, 500g pork kidney, appropriate amounts of soy sauce, vinegar, shredded ginger, minced garlic, and sesame oil.

Instructions: Cut the pork kidneys open, remove the fascia and glands, wash them, and place them in an aluminum pot; put the angelica, codonopsis, and yam into a gauze bag, tie the opening tightly, and put it into the aluminum pot; add an appropriate amount of water to the aluminum pot, simmer until the pork kidneys are thoroughly cooked, remove the pork kidneys, let them cool, and then slice them thinly and place them on a plate; mix the pork kidney slices with soy sauce, vinegar, shredded ginger, minced garlic, sesame oil, etc. and it's ready to serve.

3. Black Rice Porridge for Nourishing Skin and Replenishing Blood

Ingredients: black rice, longan, red dates, yam, brown sugar.

Instructions: Put black rice into a pot with an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and cook until the rice is 80% cooked. Add longan, red dates, and yam and cook into a thick porridge. Add brown sugar to taste.