As the saying goes, “Nine out of ten women suffer from blood stasis.” This “stasis” primarily refers to blood stasis, which can lead to numerous health issues. Many problems faced by women, such as facial spots, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility, amenorrhea, menopausal syndrome, hypertension, coronary heart disease, various hyperplasia, nodules, fibroids, tumors, cysts, dermatitis, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, forgetfulness, and more, are caused by blood stasis.
We often say we should take care of ourselves, so first, we need to understand how to invigorate blood and resolve stasis.
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Blood stasis refers to the obstruction of blood flow, leading to pathological products such as stasis blood. Generally, when blood leaves the meridians and cannot dissipate in time, it will stagnate in a certain area, forming blood stasis. When blood flow is obstructed, it accumulates in the meridians or organs, resulting in a stagnant state, which also leads to blood stasis.
How can we determine if we have blood stasis?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that “where there is no flow, there is pain.” A typical manifestation of blood stasis is pain, which is usually sharp and localized, worsening with pressure, especially at night.
Menstruation is also a good indicator of whether there is stasis blood in the body. When stasis blood obstructs the uterus, the menstrual blood may appear dark purple, with clots, accompanied by dysmenorrhea. Additionally, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and menorrhagia (excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding) are often related to blood stasis.
When blood stagnates, areas that are not nourished will appear dull or bluish-purple. Therefore, when the lips, tongue, nails, and around the eyes appear purple or dark, and the skin is dull with stasis spots or petechiae, the skin may also feel rough, dry, and hyperkeratotic, which are common manifestations of blood stasis.
We can also observe the sublingual veins; if they appear bluish-purple, dark purple, or black, it indicates blood stasis.
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Next, let’s discuss how to invigorate blood and resolve stasis.
There are many causes of blood stasis, as mentioned in the “Correction of Medical Errors”: “Cold blood coagulates into clots, hot blood boils into clots, and qi deficiency cannot propel blood flow, leading to stasis…” If we only focus on invigorating blood and resolving stasis without addressing the underlying causes, blood stasis will continue to recur. Therefore, to better resolve this issue, we must not only dissolve the stasis but also delve into the underlying causes to find solutions.
Generally, TCM categorizes blood stasis into several types: qi stagnation with blood stasis, blood stasis due to wind-dryness, qi deficiency with blood stasis, cold coagulation with blood stasis, and yin deficiency with blood stasis. Among these, qi stagnation with blood stasis, cold coagulation with blood stasis, and qi deficiency with blood stasis are the most common.
1. Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis
Qi stagnation with blood stasis is a condition where both qi stagnation and blood stasis coexist. In most cases, the obstruction of qi flow leads to blood stagnation, but in some cases, blood stasis may occur first due to trauma, which then affects the flow of qi.
Typical manifestations include irritability or depression, chest and rib distension, occasional sharp pain, or the presence of masses that fluctuate in size, with a purple tongue or spots. Women may experience amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea, with dark purple menstrual blood containing clots.
Regulation Methods:
For qi stagnation with blood stasis, the treatment should both soothe the liver and regulate qi, as well as invigorate blood and resolve stasis.
Previously, in the article “What Secrets Do Different Menstrual Colors Reveal? How to Regulate Them?” we mentioned that individuals with qi stagnation and blood stasis can benefit from massaging acupoints such as Xuehai (Blood Sea), Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection), and Xingjian (Moving Between). Moxibustion can also help warm the meridians and promote the flow of qi and blood, aiding in resolving qi stagnation and blood stasis. In addition to the three acupoints mentioned, we also recommend moxibustion on Ge Shu (Diaphragm Shu) and Qi Men (Period Gate) to soothe the liver and regulate qi.
Acupoint Group Image Swipe left and right to see more
Xuehai (Blood Sea) is located 2 inches above the inner side of the knee, at the bulge of the inner thigh muscle.
Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection) is located on the inner side of the lower leg, 3 inches above the tip of the inner ankle, at the posterior edge of the tibia.
Xingjian (Moving Between) is located on the dorsum of the foot, between the first and second toes, at the back of the web margin.
Qi Men (Period Gate) is located 4 inches lateral to the midline, in the 6th intercostal space directly below the nipple.
Rose and Angelica Tea
Ingredients: 1 rose flower, 1 gram of Angelica (Dang Gui), 2 grams of red dates.
Method: Brew with hot water and drink as tea.
In daily diet, it is beneficial to consume foods that soothe the liver, regulate qi, invigorate blood, and resolve stasis, such as dried tangerine peel, citrus fruits, coriander, rose flowers, hawthorn, red wine, onions, leeks, black fungus, jasmine flowers, osmanthus, Sanqi (Notoginseng), and Angelica (Dang Gui).
It is also important to manage your mood, keep a relaxed mindset, cultivate hobbies, avoid dwelling on unhappy thoughts, exercise regularly, and avoid staying up late.
2. Qi Deficiency with Blood Stasis
Qi is responsible for propelling blood flow. When the functions of the organs decline and qi is insufficient, it cannot effectively push blood, leading to stagnation and stasis.
Manifestations include symptoms of blood stasis as well as signs of qi deficiency, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, lack of motivation, spontaneous sweating, pale complexion, and weight loss.
Regulation Methods:
In treatment, both qi should be tonified and blood invigorated to resolve stasis.
Regularly massaging or using moxibustion on acupoints such as Qihai (Qi Sea), Guanyuan (Gate of Origin), Shanzhong (Center of the Chest), and Xuehai (Blood Sea) is recommended.
Acupoint Group Image Swipe left and right to see more
Qihai (Qi Sea) is located 1.5 inches below the navel, on the midline of the abdomen.
Guanyuan (Gate of Origin) is located 3 inches below the navel, on the midline of the abdomen.
Shanzhong (Center of the Chest) is at the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples.
Xuehai (Blood Sea) is located 2 inches above the inner side of the knee, at the bulge of the inner thigh muscle.
Rose and American Ginseng Tea
Ingredients: 1 rose flower, 1 gram of American ginseng, 2 grams of red dates.
Method: Brew with hot water and drink as tea.
In daily diet, it is beneficial to consume foods that tonify qi and invigorate blood, such as yam, white lentils, sweet potatoes, fox nuts, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, cooked lotus root, japonica rice, astragalus, red dates, fresh hawthorn, rapeseed, black beans, and black fungus. It is best to cook using methods such as steaming, boiling, or simmering, and avoid raw, cold, or overly rich foods.
In daily life, avoid activities that excessively deplete mental and physical energy. While exercise is important, avoid overexertion, and engage with high-energy people and activities to maintain a positive emotional state.
3. Cold Coagulation with Blood Stasis
When the body is invaded by external cold or frequently consumes cold foods, cold pathogens can invade the meridians, causing contraction and stagnation of blood flow, leading to blood stasis.
In addition to symptoms of blood stasis, manifestations may include cold limbs, localized cold and pain, relief from warmth, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, cold womb infertility, and excessive clear, thin discharge.
Regulation Methods:
In treatment, in addition to invigorating blood and resolving stasis, it is essential to warm the meridians and dispel cold.
Moxibustion is a powerful tool for warming yang, so it should be used frequently on acupoints such as Shenque (Spirit Gate), Dazhui (Great Vertebra), Zusanli (Leg Three Miles), Guanyuan (Gate of Origin), and Mingmen (Life Gate).
Acupoint Group Image Swipe left and right to see more
Shenque (Spirit Gate) is located in the center of the abdomen, at the navel.
Zusanli (Leg Three Miles) is located on the outer side of the lower leg, 3 inches below the outer knee.
Guanyuan (Gate of Origin) is located 3 inches below the navel, on the midline of the abdomen.
Mingmen (Life Gate) is located between the second and third lumbar vertebrae, directly opposite the navel.
Warm red bean packs can also be used to apply heat to painful areas.
Osmanthus and Dried Ginger Tea
Ingredients: 1 gram of osmanthus, 1.5 grams of dried ginger, 2 grams of red dates.
Method: Brew with hot water and drink as tea.
In daily diet, avoid raw and cold foods, and consume warming foods such as longan, durian, walnuts, and ginger. Pay attention to warmth in your living environment and clothing.
From the above three types of blood stasis, it can be seen that modern women often face issues due to living too cold, being overly fatigued, and experiencing excessive stress.
Living too cold includes wearing too little, often exposing the most vulnerable areas to cold, such as the abdomen, shoulders, and ankles. Consuming too much cold fruit and drinks from childhood to adulthood.
Being overly fatigued and stressed is something that needs no explanation; everyone is aware of it, especially mothers, who often have a lot to deal with! However, we must find ways to care for ourselves amidst the chaos of life, ensuring we get enough sleep, being mindful of our eating habits, maintaining a positive outlook, avoiding overwork, rejecting addictive behaviors, and surrounding ourselves with things that bring joy and peace, as well as high-energy people.
On this basis, if we can identify our bodily issues and find suitable methods for regulation, it would be even better.
We love our children and families, but it is even more important to love ourselves and be our own goddesses. Finally, I wish every mother a happy Goddess Day!
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