From The Straits Times    |
tcm_1

PHOTOGRAPH: heinteh, 123rf.com

Childbirth takes a toll on a woman’s body. Not only do you expend a lot of energy during delivery, you also lose a great deal of blood, so it is easy for you to fall sick in the days that follow. On top of that, many women experience postpartum blues that cause anxiety, fatigue and depression.

After delivery, your body also has to work to return your uterus to its normal size while purging lochia (post-delivery discharge) and healing the caesarean wound, if you’ve had a C-section. To facilitate this process, you need to increase your intake of nutrients and calories. 

 

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We spoke to Zhong Xi Ming, a senior TCM physician at Eu Yan Sang, to find out what women can do to get back into top physical and mental form. The following ingredients, touted for their healing properties, should be added to meals to expedite the body’s healing. 

 

1 Ginger
Different forms of ginger serve different purposes. Old ginger helps to expel wind, which in traditional Chinese medicine theory, can cause chills and aches. Dried ginger warms the stomach to combat gastric pain that is a result of yang deficiency or lack of heat in the body after an exhausting labour. Baked ginger can provide pain relief and reduce bleeding. Ginger peel reduces swelling and water retention.

 

2 Vinegar
This miracle liquid holds many benefits to your health, says Xi Ming. It expels wind, combats a cold constitution caused by yang deficiency and improves blood circulation by increasing the elasticity of your blood vessels. This aids digestion and also gives you a rosy complexion. Furthermore, vinegar nourishes the blood and reduces excessive bleeding while helping the uterus to contract to its original state.

 

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3 Rice wine
Qi or one’s life force and blood are depleted during labour. This can result in dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, excessive perspiration, lochiostasis or the lack of vaginal discharge after birth. Rice wine improves the flow of qi and nourishes the blood. According to Xi Ming, it has been proven to reduce arthritic pain by eliminating wind and dampness. Best of all, it increases production of breast milk. Do not worry about the alcohol in rice wine affecting the quality of your breast milk, as the alcohol content is low and evaporates when cooked.

 

4 Sesame oil
Xi Ming strongly recommends that every woman use this ingredient during confinement. Sesame oil helps your body to pass out lochia. Additionally, it aids the contraction of uterus and promotes wound healing.

 

5 Red dates
Rich in nutrients, red dates (both with seeds and without) are the perfect snack since they are deliciously sweet and can be eaten on their own or be included in confinement dishes. They nourish and strengthen the body, revitalise the nervous system and invigorate the spleen, which is responsible for producing qi to enhance your life force. 

Include these ingredients in your cooking during your confinement period. Xi Ming suggests dishes like chicken soup, pig trotters in black vinegar, fish soup and eggs. They will enhance the flavour of food and also help to replenish energy as well as restore balance to your internal organs. 

 

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Don’t ignore your mental wellbeing
Other than nourishing the body, new mothers should also be aware that they may experience postpartum blues after giving birth. Xi Ming says that these are the three main causes of postpartum depression: excessive blood loss during delivery, poor blood flow after childbirth or an inclination to be more susceptible to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The causes of every woman’s depression may vary, and it is best to consult a TCM physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.