In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, there is a term called Zuo Yue Zi, which translates to “sitting a moon cycle” or “sitting the month”. This tradition can be traced back as far as 960 AD. The idea behind it is that a woman does nothing, and I literally mean nothing, for a month after giving birth. No showering, no cooking, no cleaning, no going outside, no air conditioning in the house, no climbing stairs, no brushing her teeth, no sex, no eating raw or cold foods, no exercise. 

A woman is considered to be “Liver Blood deficient” or “HT Blood Yin  deficient” after giving birth due to the loss of Qi  and Blood. After birth, not only is a woman “Qi  & Blood” deficient, but all five Yin  organs (Heart, Spleen, Kidney, Liver, and Lung) are also weak. 

The idea behind Zuo Yue Zi  is to have women focus on resting, healing their bodies, eating nourishing foods, and bonding with their babies. 

Rest is considered the most vital and fundamental part of postpartum healing. Although the idea of practicing Zuo Yue Zi  (30 days of doing nothing) sounds amazing, the reality for most women is that it is not possible. 

Finding moments to rest during the day can be challenging for mom’s especially new ones, but as a practitioner, I urge women to ask for help from their partners and loved ones so that they can carve out moments during the day to rest. Even if you can’t sleep, just the act of lying down and closing your eyes is very helpful. 

Meditation, sleeping when your baby sleeps, sitting and relaxing in a sitz bath are all great ways to rest and heal the body, which then, in turn, allows the mind to rest and calm. Mini naps or 5 minutes of meditation daily are very helpful and can make a world of difference. 

The other important focus is nourishment for the body. In order to build up the Qi  and Blood, recover quickly, and have a constant supply of milk for breastfeeding, nourishing the body with the proper warming foods can help this process immensely. 

My Recommended Foods For Postpartum

• Eggs

• Salmon

• Dark Green Leafy Veggies (spinach, collard greens, mustard greens, parsley, broccoli, green cabbage, asparagus, green beans, peas) *these should be eaten cooked, not raw

• Chlorophyll-rich foods (chlorella, spirulina, matcha) 

• Beets

• Red cabbage

• Avocados

• Black sesame seeds

• Adzuki beans

• Black soybeans

• Kidney beans

• Dates

• Figs

• Almonds

• Walnuts

• Dark berries

• Purple or orange yams

• Shiitake mushrooms

• Sauerkraut

• Kimchi

• Oats

• Millet

• Rice (brown/black)

• Celery

• Turmeric

• Ginger

• Garlic

• Chia seeds

• Hemp seeds

• Flax seeds

• Cold-pressed olive oil

• Coconut oil

Congee For Postpartum Healing

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown rice

• 2-inch fresh ginger, minced

• 1-inch fresh turmeric, minced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced (optional) (good for helping to increase milk supply, but can trigger colic in some babies)

• 10 cups water (plus more for soaking mushrooms)

• 14 dried shiitake mushrooms

Toppings:

• Black Sesame seeds

Instructions:

• Add the rice along with the ginger, garlic, turmeric, and 10 cups of water to a large pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, and set a timer for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

• In the meantime, bring some additional water to a boil. Put the dried shiitake mushrooms in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. They tend to float, so I usually put another bowl on top of the mushrooms and water to help keep them submerged. Let them soak for 20 minutes or so until tender. Drain and discard the soaking water, then thinly slice the shiitakes.

• Add the sliced shiitakes to the simmering pot of rice. It doesn't matter too much when you add the mushrooms, as long as they are in there with the rice for at least 20 minutes, but I always add them as soon as they are sliced.

• Stir the pot every now and then as it simmers, especially as it gets close to being finished, so that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. When the congee is done, it will be a thick rice porridge. If you prefer a thinner congee, add water until the desired consistency is reached.

Original Recipe by: Sam Turnbull • It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

www.itdoesnttastelikechicken.com

*The author has made a few modifications to fit better for postpartum healing

Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider.  This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease.  That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options.  If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.