Traditional Chinese medicine against edema and obesity: Don’t be afraid of drinking red bean soup

Office workers who sit for long periods of time often suffer from calf edema. If they eat too salty food and consume too much starch, they are more likely to suffer from edema-related obesity. Chinese medicine practitioners point out that to improve edema-related obesity, you can drink red bean soup to promote diuresis and reduce edema, or the medicinal food Poria cocos and coix seed soup, as well as press acupoints such as Sanyinjiao to promote blood circulation and stay away from the nightmare of obesity.

Chen Chaozong, honorary chairman of the Taipei Chinese Medicine Association, pointed out that there are many causes of edema. The biggest cause of lower limb edema is poor local blood circulation, such as varicose veins in the lower limbs. Varicose veins can prevent blood from flowing back to the systemic circulation smoothly, and water accumulates in the lower limbs, causing lower limb edema.

Red bean soup is diuretic and eliminates edema

In addition, conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, kidney disease, and taking medications can cause edema. Groups that are prone to lower limb edema include office workers who sit for long periods of time, stewardesses who stand for long periods of time, people who are accustomed to sitting with legs crossed, people who wear tights for too long, people who wear high heels for too long, and pregnant women.

Methods for dealing with mild edema include: avoid standing for long periods of time, soak feet in hot water before going to bed, and raise feet before going to bed while lying in bed. If the edema still cannot be eliminated, wear elastic socks and drink red bean soup. Red bean soup has diuretic, blood-dispersing and swelling-reducing effects. Traditional Chinese medicine uses red beans to treat edema, athlete's foot, and difficulty urinating.

Dr. Chen Chaozong emphasized that early edema obesity may cause swelling of the eyelids and face, shoes becoming smaller and tighter in the afternoon, a feeling of fullness and heaviness throughout the body, weight gain, or decreased muscle elasticity. For lower limb edema obesity, acupoint massage is as follows:

Promote blood circulation by pressing 2 acupoints

1. Sanyinjiao

Location: 3 inches (about 4 finger widths) above the tip of the medial malleolus, in the depression at the posterior edge of the tibia.

Efficacy: Promote blood circulation, improve lower limb edema, and also can beautify, anti-aging and regulate menstruation.

Massage method: Use the left thumb to rub the right Sanyinjiao point until you feel a sore and swollen feeling. After 1 minute, use the right thumb to rub the left Sanyinjiao point for 1 minute.

2. Taixi Point

Location: The depression at the midpoint of the line connecting the tip of the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon.

Efficacy: Diuretic and detumescent, beautifying the calf curve.

Massage method: Use the tip of your left thumb to rub the right Taixi point until you feel a sore and swollen feeling. After 1 minute, use the tip of your right thumb to rub the left Taixi point for 1 minute.

Lower limb obesity 2 medicinal tea

1. Poria cocos and coix seed soup

Ingredients: 5 qian of Poria cocos, 20 lotus seeds, 1 liang of Coix seeds, and 10 red dates.

Method: Wash the coix seeds and soak them for about 3 hours. Wash the lotus seeds and remove the cores. Wash the red dates and remove the pits. Add appropriate amount of water to the above ingredients and simmer over low heat until the coix seeds are cooked.

2. Qishu Xiaozhong Drink

Ingredients: 2 qian of Astragalus, 2 qian of Atractylodes macrocephala, 1 qian of Licorice, 2 qian of Poria cocos, 1 qian of Tangerine peel

Method: Wash the herbs, wrap them in a filter bag for repeated rinsing, put them in a thermos cup, pour in 800cc of boiling water, and steep for 20 minutes before taking it as tea. Alternatively, you can boil the herbs in cold water and then simmer for 15 minutes before taking it.

Efficacy: Strengthens the spleen and replenishes Qi, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

Applicable to: The lower body or face is prone to edema, easy weight gain, frequent fatigue and weakness, and loose and soft stools.

Contraindications: Pregnant women have different physical conditions, so they should seek professional medical advice and use with caution.

【3 tips】:

1. Don’t wear tight clothes, especially jeans, corsets, waistbands, etc. that are tight on the hips and thighs, as these clothes will increase abdominal pressure.

2. Female friends should avoid wearing high heels for a long time or wearing shoes that are too tight. Do not sit or stand for a long time, because a fixed posture for a long time can easily cause blood return to the lower body and cause swelling of the lower limbs.

3. In terms of diet, it is best to avoid heavy-tasting foods. Salt does not only refer to table salt or things that taste salty. In fact, it refers to all sauces, pickles, or beverages with high sodium content, such as: electrolyzed water, tomato juice, etc.