Qi and Blood Deficiency and Office Chairs

The connection between qi and blood deficiency and office chairs primarily stems from the negative impact of prolonged sitting on qi and blood circulation, which can be improved through adjustments in habits, exercise, and diet.

Prolonged sitting directly obstructs the flow of qi and blood. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that 'prolonged sitting damages the muscles,' and since the spleen governs the muscles, maintaining a seated position for extended periods weakens the spleen's transforming and transporting functions, thereby affecting the generation and circulation of qi and blood. Additionally, prolonged sitting can lead to spinal deformities, compressing the autonomic nerves that control the internal organs and directly impacting the digestive function of the spleen and stomach, further exacerbating qi and blood deficiency.

To address qi and blood deficiency caused by prolonged sitting, the following measures can be taken:

• Adjust work posture: Maintain a correct sitting posture, avoiding bending forward or slouching. Place a cushion on the chair to support the lower back, reducing physical strain and minimizing interference with qi and blood circulation.
• Take regular breaks: Stand up and move around for 5-10 minutes every hour, performing simple stretching exercises such as turning the head, expanding the chest, and twisting the waist to promote blood circulation throughout the body and alleviate qi and blood stagnation caused by prolonged sitting.
• Engage in workstation exercises: Choose a 'micro-exercise' regimen based on your constitution. Those with qi deficiency can perform the 'Sitting Eight-Section Brocade' three times an hour, focusing on the 'Two Hands Hold the Sky to Regulate the Triple Burner' movement. Those with blood stasis can use a filing cabinet for back kicks, doing 15 repetitions each time to promote pelvic blood circulation. Those with yang deficiency can prepare a heated mugwort seat cushion and pair it with ankle rotation exercises. A 3-minute workstation exercise package is also available, including chair squats, cervical spine 'rice-writing' exercises, and toe-tapping teeth-clenching movements.
• Try kneeling sitting: Kneeling sitting is a health-preserving guiding exercise that helps prevent dryness, nourish the liver and kidneys, protect the stomach, and guide blood downward. Kneeling sitting allows the lung and stomach qi to descend, ensuring smooth bowel movements while stretching the legs, enhancing lower limb flexibility, and dredging the meridians and qi and blood in the waist, legs, and ankles. When kneeling, those with stiff ankles or prone to toe cramps should first move their ankle joints, place a soft cushion on the ground, and keep their knees together.
• Strengthen exercise: Engage in moderate exercise such as walking, jogging, or yoga outside of work hours to enhance physical fitness and improve qi and blood circulation.
• Pay attention to dietary adjustments: Eat more foods rich in iron and vitamin B12, such as red meat, green leafy vegetables, and legumes, to help replenish qi and blood. At the same time, avoid excessive consumption of cold foods to prevent affecting spleen and stomach function.
• Maintain good sleep habits: Ensure adequate sleep, trying to go to bed before 11 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m. Regular sleep patterns aid in the recovery and regulation of bodily functions.
• Seek traditional Chinese medicine treatment: If symptoms of qi and blood deficiency are severe, seek help from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and improve qi and blood circulation through acupuncture, tuina, or herbal remedies.