If you are not clear about your constitution type, please test your constitution first.
Blood is a tangible substance in the body. Blood deficiency means there is not enough blood.
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Symptoms of Blood Deficiency
1. Pale complexion and lips that are whitish.
2. Dizziness and lightheadedness upon standing up after squatting.
3. Frequent dreaming.
4. Women with scanty menstrual flow and thin menstrual blood, some may experience late menstruation.
5. The pulse may feel weak.
What is a weak pulse? It is when you feel the pulse at the cun, guan, and chi positions, and when you press down harder, the pulse stops. This type of pulse indicates insufficient blood in the body.
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Methods to Regulate Blood Deficiency
To nourish blood, the first choice is to use dietary therapy and decoctions. Let me recommend a five-red dietary therapy formula.
Method 1: Five Red Soup
Traditional Five Red Soup: red goji berries, red-skinned peanuts, red dates, red beans, and brown sugar. Based on the modern constitution, I have modified the traditional Five Red Soup.
New Five Red Soup:red goji berries, red-skinned peanuts, red dates, red beans, brown sugar, red rose, saffron, red hawthorn, and red yeast rice.
This formula was newly developed by our team, and the proportions have not yet been finalized. I will share it with everyone once the proportions are confirmed.
Method 2: For those with anemia, Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) is the best choice for supplementation.
Anemia, according to Western medicine, refers to a low number of red blood cells in the blood. To supplement red blood cells, TCM has the most suitable remedy, which is Ejiao.
Why can Ejiao supplement red blood cells? Ejiao is made from the hide of black donkeys, using animal skin to symbolize human skin. Ejiao made from Dong’e well water is rich in various minerals, which can replenish trace elements in the blood. Since ancient times, Ejiao has been a great tonic for blood, effectively improving anemia.
However, Ejiao also has its drawbacks. Ejiao is a rich substance that is not easily digestible and can increase the burden on the spleen and stomach. Those with poor spleen and stomach function should use it cautiously. If you want to take Ejiao, it is recommended to pair it with yellow wine.
Method 3: For those with low blood volume, Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) is the most suitable; for blood deficiency with blood stasis, use Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (Peach Blossom Four Substance Decoction).
The general formula for nourishing blood is Si Wu Tang. Si Wu Tang is well-known, and most modern blood tonics are based on Si Wu Tang. Si Wu Tang: Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), and Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root).
If there is blood deficiency with blood stasis, then add Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) and Hong Hua (Safflower) to Si Wu Tang to make Tao Hong Si Wu Tang.
Method 4: For low platelet count, Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (Angelica Blood Supplement Decoction) is the most suitable.
Platelets produce blood coagulation factors, which help blood clot and slow blood flow. People with low platelet counts are prone to bleeding, such as gum bleeding, prolonged menstruation, and skin bleeding that is hard to stop.
Low platelet count is essentially due to insufficient Qi and blood, and should be addressed from the perspective of Qi supplementation. The most recommended method is: Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang. Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang: Huang Qi (Astragalus) 30g, Dang Gui 6g.
Method 5: For both Qi and blood deficiency, Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) is the most suitable.
Ba Zhen Tang: Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong, Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Fu Ling (Poria), and Gan Cao (Licorice).
This formula is essentially Si Wu Tang for blood nourishment, combined with Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) for Qi supplementation, making it a formula for both Qi and blood replenishment.
Method 6: For liver blood deficiency and dual deficiency of liver and kidney, use Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan (Black-Bone Chicken and White Phoenix Pill).
To regulate insufficient Qi and blood, Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan is a good choice. Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan is formulated from the perspective of nourishing the liver and kidney, and can not only replenish Qi and blood but also nourish the liver and kidney. Women with insufficient Qi and blood and irregular menstruation should first consider Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan.
Method 7: For insomnia and frequent dreaming caused by blood deficiency, Gui Pi Tang (Return the Spleen Decoction) is the most suitable.
Gui Pi Tang: Bai Zhu 30g, Fu Shen 30g, Huang Qi 30g, Longan Meat 30g, Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed) 30g, Ren Shen 15g, Mu Xiang 15g, Zhi Gan Cao 8g, Dang Gui 3g, Yuan Zhi 3g.
This formula has a ready-made Chinese patent medicine called Gui Pi Wan, which can improve various issues caused by insufficient Qi and blood. For example: it can improve blood deficiency insomnia, neurasthenia; it can improve heart function weakness leading to palpitations; it can improve uterine bleeding and prolonged menstruation; it can improve skin purpura caused by low platelet counts.
In summary, Gui Pi Wan is primarily a tonic for deficiency, suitable for anyone with insufficient Qi and blood. Most importantly, Gui Pi Wan is a pill, making it very convenient to take.
Method 8: For poor spleen and stomach function, and weak ability to generate Qi and blood, use Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang (Angelica Jian Zhong Decoction).
In TCM, the spleen and stomach are considered the source of Qi and blood generation. The source of blood is in the spleen and stomach; if the spleen and stomach have strong absorption and transformation abilities, the blood will naturally be sufficient.
However, in reality, people with insufficient Qi and blood often have poor spleen and stomach function. For those with poor spleen and stomach function, taking any blood tonics will not be very effective. So what should be done? Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang is prepared for this type of person.
Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang: Bai Shao 18g, Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) 9g, Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) 10g, Da Zao (Jujube) 6 pieces, Zhi Gan Cao 6g, Mai Ya (Barley Sprout) 30g, Dang Gui 12g.
Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang is based on Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Jian Zhong Decoction) with the addition of Dang Gui. Xiao Jian Zhong Tang is used to restore the function of the middle jiao spleen and stomach, and adding Dang Gui promotes blood metabolism. This formula is a classic prescription by the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing, and I personally believe it is the most classic formula for nourishing blood, as it can both nourish blood and regulate the spleen and stomach, making it the most suitable formula for modern blood nourishment.
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When is the best time to nourish blood? For women with menstruation, the best time to nourish blood is one week after menstruation. This is because after losing Qi and blood through menstruation, the body is in a state of Qi and blood deficiency, making it the easiest time for the body to accept nourishment.
The least suitable time to nourish blood is during menstruation, as this is the time for expelling stagnant blood, not for nourishing blood.
Regarding blood nourishment, I would like to share with you eight words: Eat well, sleep well. These eight words are the fundamental method for treatment. To replenish blood, one must first eat well. A person is iron, and food is steel; those who do not eat staple foods will find that no matter how many blood tonics they take, it will be of no use.
Sleeping is also a way to nourish blood; those who do not sleep well will find that no matter how many blood-nourishing products they take, it will be of no use. Sleep is the primary nourishment; do not seek the end while neglecting the root.
Recommended Learning
1. Introduction to Basic TCM
2. 9 Major Constitution Regulation Plans
3. 100 Common Chinese Herbs Explained
4. 100 Classic Common Formulas
5. 365 Common Disease Regulation
A barefoot person, a moderate individual, knows neither astronomy nor geography. This account aims to promote TCM culture, not as a platform for seeking medical advice. The formulas shared here are for learning and exchange, and should not be used blindly.
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