Blood Deficiency Symptoms & Treatment
Blood is one of the vital substances of traditional Chinese medicine. Spelled with a capital “B,” it is distinct from blood in a biomedical sense, as it is far more than a transportation system and nourishes, warms, and moistens the entire body. Blood also anchors the shen, the mind-spirit that resides within the Heart and, therefore, plays a crucial role in mental and emotional wellbeing.
Healthy Blood relies on the effective extraction of food essences by the Stomach and Spleen, and if these key digestive organs are out of balance, Blood deficiency may quickly follow. Blood deficiency can also be the result of heavy bleeding, either due to an injury, childbirth, or menstruation. Therefore, it is a very common pattern during the menopausal transition, following several decades of regular menstrual cycles.
In general, the symptoms of Blood deficiency include:
Pale, dull complexion
Pale lips and tongue
Tiredness
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Floaters
Light or absent menstruation
Anxiety
Difficulty getting to sleep
Poor memory
Alongside the Stomach and Spleen, the Heart and Liver also play essential roles in Blood health. Therefore, these organs are most likely to be affected by Blood deficiency.
Heart Blood Deficiency
The Heart governs Blood and is responsible for its circulation. It also houses the shen and is seen as the seat of the emotions in Chinese medicine. Therefore, Heart Blood deficiency can affect both physical and mental health.
In addition to the general symptoms of Blood deficiency listed above, Heart Blood deficiency can cause:
Palpitations
Insomnia
Dream-disturbed sleep
Tendency to be easily startled
As in all cases of Blood deficiency, it is important to tend to the diet and improve the health of the digestive organs to ensure that Blood can be generated effectively. Heart Blood can also be affected by long-term anxiety and worry, and so finding effective ways to manage stress is also essential here.
Liver Blood Deficiency
The Liver stores Blood and is responsible for regulating its flow to the muscles during exercise and the uterus during menstruation. Therefore, menstrual irregularities are a key symptom of Liver Blood deficiency. The Liver also opens into the eyes, and therefore, visual disturbances are another common issue.
Some other possible Liver Blood deficiency symptoms include:
Numbness of the limbs
Muscle weakness
Muscle spasms
Cramps
Dry, brittle nails
Dry hair and skin
As above, a nourishing diet and the health of the digestive organs are critical for Liver Blood and Blood in general.
Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
Liver Blood deficiency may arise in combination with Spleen Blood deficiency, since the Spleen is heavily involved in the formation of Blood.
In addition to the general Blood deficiency symptoms listed above, this pattern can cause:
Loose stools
Poor appetite
Numbness or tingling of the limbs
Once again, paying attention to the diet and health of the digestive organs is the most effective way to remedy this pattern.
Blood Deficiency Treatment
It is crucial to treat Blood deficiency as soon as possible when it arises. Not only does Blood have a range of essential functions in the body, but it is also responsible for nourishing qi. Therefore, if Blood deficiency is allowed to linger, qi deficiency will surely follow.
Eating a nutritious and varied diet that is rich in Blood-nourishing foods is key, as is practising good eating habits to ensure the health of the Stomach and Spleen. This means eating regularly, not overeating, sitting down to eat, chewing food well, and avoiding excessive consumption of cold, raw, rich, or fatty foods. This is especially important during and after menstruation and following childbirth.
Herbal medicine and acupuncture may also be beneficial, particularly the use of moxa, a product made from the mugwort plant, which can be used to warm specific acupuncture points and effectively nourish Blood. For more guidance on healthy eating and Blood-nourishing foods, check out the Chinese Dietary Therapy section of this website.
References:
Maciocia G (1989) The Foundations of Chinese Medicine (first edition) - Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, London
Wiseman N, Feng Y (2014) A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine - Paradigm Publications, Taos, NM