Can Blood Deficiency Cause Low Fever?
Blood deficiency can indeed cause low fever. This condition typically manifests as pale complexion, pale lips and nails, dizziness, numbness in limbs, muscle cramps, palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams, dry skin, brittle hair, as well as constipation and difficulty urinating.
Blood does not carry Qi: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), blood is considered the mother of Qi, and Qi relies on blood for support. When blood is deficient, Qi cannot be supported, leading to a state of deficiency. Therefore, 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, quiet speech, fatigue, and spontaneous sweating. The key diagnostic points for this condition include pale complexion, lips, and nails, along with overall weakness.
When the heart is deprived of nourishment due to blood deficiency, it leads to palpitations. When the spirit is not nourished, it results in insomnia. The meridians may become deprived of nourishment, causing numbness in the hands and feet, and the pulse may become thin and weak due to insufficient blood flow. For women, blood is essential; when blood is abundant, menstruation occurs regularly. Insufficient blood leads to reduced menstrual flow, pale menstrual blood, prolonged menstrual periods, and in severe cases, amenorrhea.
What Are the Causes of Blood Deficiency?
Long-term medication: Medications must be metabolized by the liver, and prolonged use can burden the liver, leading to blood stasis. Emotional imbalance: Long-term depression and fixation on problems can harm the liver, preventing it from functioning properly and leading to blood stasis. Acne: Commonly presents as dark purple papules or nodules that are difficult to resolve. Post-acne marks (hyperpigmentation) can be hard to fade. Chronic illness: Prolonged illness can lead to the development of blood stasis in the microcirculation, gradually resulting in a blood-deficient constitution. Severe trauma: After an injury, residual blood stasis can remain in the body, altering the constitution and promoting blood deficiency.
What Are the Symptoms of Blood Deficiency?
1. Palpitations associated with blood deficiency
Symptoms: Palpitations, dizziness, insomnia with vivid dreams, pale complexion, fatigue, pale red tongue, weak pulse. Treatment principle: Nourish blood, support the heart, and calm the spirit. Main formula: Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction). Ingredients: Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), Bai Fu Ling (White Poria), Huang Qi (Astragalus), Yuan Zhi (Polygala), Long Yan Rou (Longan Fruit), Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Mu Xiang (Aucklandia), Gan Cao (Licorice), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Da Zao (Jujube).
2. Deficiency-heat syndrome associated with blood deficiency
Clinical manifestations primarily show symptoms of heart and liver blood deficiency.
(1) Heart blood deficiency symptoms: Palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia with vivid dreams, pale complexion, pale tongue, thin or irregular pulse. Treatment principle: Nourish blood and calm the spirit. Main formula: Yang Xin Tang (Nourish the Heart Decoction). Ingredients: Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang (Raw Rehmannia), Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia), Dang Shen, Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Bai Zi Ren (Biota Seed), Fu Shen (Poria), Deng Xin Cao (Juncus), Lian Zi (Lotus Seed).
(2) Liver blood deficiency symptoms: Dizziness, tinnitus, flank pain, restlessness, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and in severe cases, skin issues and pale complexion, pale tongue, thin and wiry pulse. Treatment principle: Nourish blood and support the liver. Main formula: Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) with modifications. Ingredients: Dang Gui, Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao (White Peony), Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong).
3. Dizziness associated with blood deficiency
Symptoms: Dizziness that worsens with movement, exacerbated by exertion, pale complexion, pale lips and nails, often accompanied by fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, and insomnia. Treatment principle: Nourish blood, support the heart, and calm the spirit. Main formula: Gui Pi Tang. Ingredients: Bai Zhu, Dang Gui, Bai Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Yuan Zhi, Long Yan Rou, Suan Zao Ren, Dang Shen, Mu Xiang, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao.
4. Headache associated with blood deficiency
Symptoms: Headache and dizziness, dull pain that worsens with exertion, pale complexion, palpitations, fatigue, and poor appetite. Treatment principle: Nourish Qi and blood. Main formula: Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction). Ingredients: Shen Ren Shen (Ginseng), Bai Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, Zhi Gan Cao, Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong.
5. Constipation associated with blood deficiency
Symptoms: Dry and hard stools, difficulty in passing, fatigue, pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, pale lips, thin pulse. Treatment principle: Nourish blood and moisten the intestines. Main formula: Run Chang Wan (Moisten the Intestines Pill). Ingredients: Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Huo Ma Ren (Hemp Seed), Zhi Qiao (Bitter Orange).
6. Hemorrhagic diseases associated with blood deficiency
Symptoms: Nosebleeds, possibly accompanied by gum bleeding or skin bleeding, fatigue, pale complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, thin and weak pulse. Treatment principle: Nourish Qi and stabilize blood. Main formula: Ren Shen Gui Pi Tang (Ginseng Restore the Spleen Decoction). Ingredients: Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Dang Gui, Bai Fu Ling, Yuan Zhi, Long Yan Rou, Suan Zao Ren, Shen Ren Shen, Mu Xiang, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao.
7. Fever associated with blood deficiency
Symptoms: Fever that is worse at night and milder during the day, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion, pale tongue, thin and rapid pulse. Treatment principle: Clear heat and nourish blood. Main formula: Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (Angelica Blood Nourishing Decoction). Ingredients: Dang Gui, Huang Qi.
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