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What is Blood Deficiency Constitution?
Blood deficiency, also known as xue xu (血虚), is considered by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to be a condition resulting from insufficient blood or a decline in the nourishing ability of blood, leading to dysfunction of the organs. This condition refers to the pathological phenomenon of blood loss within the body. Due to the close relationship between Qi and blood, blood deficiency can easily lead to Qi deficiency, and Qi deficiency, in turn, cannot generate blood, which is another factor contributing to blood deficiency.
Blood is the essential material basis for life activities in the human body, containing various nutrients necessary for the body, and plays a nourishing role for all organs and tissues. If Qi and blood are deficient due to various reasons, a series of pathological conditions may arise. These can primarily be summarized into two aspects: dysfunction of organ nourishment and blood’s inability to carry Qi.
Dysfunction of organ nourishment: This generally manifests as pale complexion, pale lips and nails, dizziness, numbness of limbs, muscle spasms, palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams, dry skin, brittle hair, as well as constipation and difficulty urinating.
Blood’s inability to carry Qi: TCM believes that blood is the mother of Qi, and Qi relies on blood for support, while blood carries Qi for movement.With blood deficiency, Qi cannot be supported, leading to deficiency; thus, blood deficiency is often accompanied by Qi deficiency. Patients not only exhibit symptoms of blood deficiency but also show signs of Qi deficiency such as shortness of breath, low energy, soft speech, fatigue, and spontaneous sweating.
1. Excessive blood loss: This includes blood loss from injuries, chronic bleeding, or excessive menstrual bleeding in women. When blood is lost excessively over time, it can lead to blood stasis and obstruction in the body, causing further bleeding and affecting the generation of new blood, which exacerbates blood deficiency.
2. Dietary habits: For example, picky eating, overeating, or irregular eating can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to malnutrition, which naturally makes one prone to blood deficiency.
3. Chronic consumption: Excessive physical or mental labor, as well as illness, can deplete our vital energy, damaging our Yang Qi and Yin fluids, leading to Qi deficiency and blood loss.
6 Symptoms Indicating Blood Deficiency1. Complexion:The complexion is a reflection of the body’s vitality. Blood deficiency cannot supply the head and face, resulting in a pale complexion and pale lips.2. Dizziness:Blood deficiency leads to insufficient nourishment of the brain, manifesting as dizziness, which comes on slowly and is mild, but can be long-lasting and difficult to treat.
3. Skin Itching: Blood deficiency cannot nourish the skin, leading to symptoms such as dryness, flaking, and itching.
4. Menstruation: Blood deficiency can cause menstrual symptoms such as light flow, abdominal pain after menstruation, or even amenorrhea.
5. Hair Loss: “Hair is the surplus of blood.” Hair relies on blood nourishment. Blood deficiency can lead to excessive hair loss, brittleness, and even baldness.
6. Premature Aging:Insufficient blood nourishment leads to malnourishment of organs and tissues, resulting in symptoms of premature aging, such as wrinkles, muscle atrophy, fatigue, and memory decline.
Dietary Therapy: Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (Angelica Blood Nourishing Decoction)
Documented in the Jin-Yuan era by Li Dongyuan in “Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun”, this is a classic formula for tonifying Qi and nourishing blood, composed of Huang Qi (黄芪, Astragalus) and Dang Gui (当归, Angelica) in a ratio of 5:1.
Huang Qi tonifies Qi, raises Yang, benefits the Wei Qi, promotes water metabolism, and aids in wound healing. Dang Gui nourishes blood, invigorates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, and moistens the intestines. Together, they tonify Qi and nourish blood, commonly used for fatigue due to internal injury, Qi and blood deficiency, etc.
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