Many people experience weakness and fatigue after receiving COVID-19 vaccines, with symptoms such as low-grade fever and easy tiredness. Some even suffer from gastrointestinal sensitivities like diarrhea or constipation. Besides being related to summer dampness, these issues may also stem from a spleen-deficient constitution. It is crucial to be mindful of dietary restrictions and supplement the spleen with beneficial soups. This way, discomfort in the intestines caused by summer dampness or post-vaccination reactions can be easily resolved.
Gastrointestinal Sensitivity, Spleen-Nourishing Soups
Dr. Cheung noted that many Hongkongers have a qi and yin deficient constitution due to their environment and frequent consumption of raw and cold foods. They often experience physical weakness, cold intolerance, and easy fatigue due to a weaker immune system. Some individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are even more prone to low-grade fever, sweating, and even gastrointestinal issues. Dr. Cheung explained that patients with poor bowel function after vaccination often have a puffy complexion and low spirits. Some even experience frequent bowel movements, sometimes going to the toilet five or six times a day. Although each bowel movement feels normal and smooth, this frequency is considered excessive.
Dr. Cheung said, "A healthy person should only have one bowel movement per day. If it's multiple times a day, food is expelled before it can be absorbed, and nutrients cannot be properly converted. Therefore, frequent bowel movements are abnormal." Dr. Cheung indicated that this situation is very common in Hong Kong; even those who haven't been vaccinated have many similar issues. Even slight stress can trigger a bowel movement. Consuming slightly oily foods or seafood like shrimp and crab can also frequently lead to diarrhea. These patients often suffer from gastrointestinal sensitivity.
"Many individuals with gastrointestinal sensitivity often have an allergic constitution, thus frequently suffering from allergic rhinitis, skin allergies, and eczema. After vaccination, these gastrointestinal sensitivity symptoms can be more easily triggered, and even excessive bowel movements can lead to hemorrhoids, causing injury and bleeding." If hemorrhoids are present, Dr. Cheung advises patients to not only use wet wipes for cleaning but also to seek traditional Chinese medicine treatment. This involves using heat-clearing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and swelling-reducing dietary therapies to eliminate toxins. Individuals with excessive bowel movements, due to spleen deficiency, should further nourish their spleen by consuming soups made with Chinese yam, lotus seeds, and Euryale ferox seeds. This can improve spleen and stomach function, offering significant benefits despite its simplicity.
Preventing Diarrhea Caused by Summer Dampness
There are many causes of diarrhea, and besides vaccine reactions, Dr. Cheung emphasizes paying attention to summer dampness during the hot season. Patients suffering from summer dampness often feel heavy-headed and easily tired, lack appetite, dislike greasy foods, and frequently experience diarrhea and incomplete bowel movements. Dr. Cheung explains, "Summer dampness is a common summer problem, usually caused by consuming raw and cold foods, allowing viruses to enter the gastrointestinal tract. It is not difficult to cure with a pulse diagnosis from a TCM practitioner. The first choice of Chinese medicine is Huoxiang Zhengqi Wan, which specifically targets this condition. Patients should also avoid raw and cold foods and drink qi-invigorating and spleen-strengthening soups containing ingredients such as Chinese yam, lotus seeds, Euryale ferox seeds, black beans, Adenophora root, Solomon's Seal, white hyacinth beans, stir-fried malt, and sweet and bitter apricots. This soup is particularly effective."
Besides post-vaccination gastrointestinal discomfort like diarrhea, Dr. Cheung noted that some people experience the opposite problem: chronic constipation. Dr. Cheung said, "Some patients have bowel movements only once every four or five days. This is considered too infrequent. Constipation can also easily lead to hemorrhoids and bleeding. These individuals can consult a TCM practitioner for diagnosis and body conditioning, to moisten the intestines, nourish yin, and replenish insufficient body fluids."
Weak Constitution: Dietary Restrictions Are Key
Many people become weak after vaccination, experiencing cold intolerance and persistent low-grade fever. Dr. Cheung indicates that these are symptoms of deficiency, and patients often have a weak constitution. For these patients, the primary focus should be on dietary restrictions. Cold-natured foods such as watermelon, mung beans, and herbal teas should be strictly avoided, as should green tea. Additionally, it is important to stay warm. The best approach is, of course, to consult a TCM practitioner for body conditioning. When the spleen and stomach are healthy and the immune system improves, resistance will naturally increase.
Article reprinted from - Sing Tao Daily
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