Blood deficiency syndrome is a common condition in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), referring to insufficient blood in the body that fails to nourish the organs, meridians, and body, and cannot maintain normal mental activities. Here is a brief discussion on blood deficiency syndrome:
1. Common causes of blood deficiency:
1. Weak constitution: Chronic deficiency of Qi leads to blood deficiency over time.
2. Spleen and stomach weakness: Poor diet results in insufficient production of Qi and blood, leading to blood deficiency over time.
3. Emotional factors: Excessive worry and overthinking can damage the spleen over time, leading to spleen Qi deficiency and insufficient production of blood.
4. Blood loss: This is the most obvious and rapid cause of blood deficiency. Excessive blood loss can lead to blood deficiency, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, metrorrhagia, trauma, hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal bleeding, various bleeding disorders in leukemia, and thrombocytopenia.
5. Chronic illness: Prolonged illness depletes Qi and blood, and combined with spleen deficiency, leads to poor appetite and insufficient production of Qi and blood, worsening blood deficiency.
2. Symptoms indicating blood deficiency include:
1. Face: Pale or sallow complexion.
2. Head: Headaches, dizziness, and a sensation of emptiness in the head.
3. Hair: Dull, brittle hair, or hair loss.
4. Eyes: Dizziness, blurred vision, dry eyes, and pale eyelids.
5. Ears: Tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
6. Lips and gums: Pale.
7. Heart: Palpitations, chest tightness, fatigue, insomnia, and vivid dreams.
8. Liver: Dull pain in the flanks, dry eyes, and blurred vision.
9. Menstruation: Women may experience scanty menstrual flow, pale red color, amenorrhea, infertility, dull abdominal pain that eases with pressure.
10. Nails: Pale nail beds.
11. Limbs: Numbness in the limbs or extremities, difficulty in movement, or involuntary tremors.
12. Skin: Dry, lackluster skin.
13. Mental state: Mental fatigue, forgetfulness, or irritability.
3. Blood deficiency primarily manifests in the liver and heart, with specific symptoms as follows:
1. Liver blood deficiency:
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Main symptoms: Dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, dull pain in the flanks, numbness in the limbs, difficulty in movement, tremors, scanty menstrual flow in women, pale color, amenorrhea, infertility, pale tongue with thin white coating, and wiry thin pulse.
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Treatment principle: Nourish liver blood.
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Formulas: Modified Bu Gan Tang (Liver Nourishing Decoction).
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Patent medicines: Si Wu Granules (Four Substance Granules), Ba Zhen Granules (Eight Treasure Granules).
2. Heart blood deficiency:
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Main symptoms: Pale complexion, dizziness, pale lips, tongue, and gums, palpitations, chest tightness, fatigue, insomnia, vivid dreams, forgetfulness, pale tongue, thin white coating, and weak pulse.
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Treatment principle: Nourish blood and calm the heart.
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Formulas: Modified Gui Pi Tang (Spleen and Heart Nourishing Decoction).
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Patent medicines: Gui Pi Wan (Spleen Nourishing Pill), Ren Shen Gui Pi Wan (Ginseng Spleen Nourishing Pill).
4. Health maintenance tips for blood deficiency:
1. Maintain a balanced diet with a mix of meat and vegetables to enhance nutrition.
2. Engage in regular physical exercise to promote Yang energy, strengthen spleen Yang, enhance digestive function, and improve Qi and blood production, thereby alleviating or curing blood deficiency.
3. If experiencing symptoms of blood deficiency, seek timely treatment to prevent Qi depletion along with blood loss, leading to both Qi and Yin deficiency.
4. Avoid staying up late, which can deplete liver Yin (blood), leading to liver blood deficiency.
5. If experiencing any bleeding symptoms, seek immediate treatment to stop the bleeding and prevent excessive blood loss, which can lead to blood deficiency.
