Many people believe that blood deficiency is the same as anemia, but in reality, there are certain differences. Many individuals with mild blood deficiency may not show anemia in blood tests; however, those with severe blood deficiency often meet the criteria for anemia.
The Eight Major Symptoms of Blood Deficiency
1. Individuals with blood deficiency have a pale complexion and lack a rosy glow;
2. Those with blood deficiency are prone to insomnia, which in TCM is referred to as blood not nourishing the heart, leading to sleep disturbances. This type of insomnia is quite common among modern individuals;
3. People with blood deficiency often experience forgetfulness; they may forget the name of someone they just met a moment ago, which is also due to blood not nourishing the heart;
4. Individuals with blood deficiency have pale mucous membranes, such as the color of their nails, lips, and eyelids, which are often very pale;
5. Those with blood deficiency easily feel fatigued. For example, women who enjoy shopping may feel as if their bones are about to fall apart after a short while. Additionally, during fatigue, they may experience palpitations, a weak and irregular heartbeat, and dizziness;
6. In summer, individuals with blood deficiency may have warm hands and feet, but once winter arrives, their hands and feet become immediately cold. This is because blood deficiency cannot nourish the extremities. Such individuals are sensitive to cold winds and need to wear more clothing in winter;
7. When squatting for two minutes and then standing up suddenly, one may experience a momentary blackout before returning to normal. Such individuals often have insufficient qi and blood. However, TCM theory states that qi and blood mutually generate each other, so supplementing blood often yields good results;
8. Individuals with blood deficiency have a pale tongue, lacking the usual rosy hue.
In life, we all desire to maintain our youth and health, and the key to preserving our appearance and well-being lies in qi and blood. Only when qi is abundant and blood is full can the skin appear rosy and radiant, and one can feel energetic.
However, as we age, our qi and blood begin to decline, leading to a dull complexion, changes in body shape, weight gain, and various qi and blood deficiency-related diseases.
Overall, the hazards of blood deficiency are as follows:
The Hazards of Blood Deficiency
1Hazard to the Heart
Blood deficiency can affect the heart, leading to symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Individuals experiencing these symptoms indicate that their heart is not receiving sufficient blood supply, and medical attention is necessary to avoid delaying treatment and causing unforeseen consequences.
2Hazard to the Brain
Blood deficiency can harm the brain. Dizziness or memory decline is the initial manifestation of insufficient blood supply to the brain.
The brain is the command center of the body; any issues with the brain can lead to significant problems for our body, so we must pay sufficient attention to this.
3Hazard to the Liver
Fatty liver and high blood lipids can be attributed to long-term insufficient blood supply to the liver. To prevent liver issues, it is essential to ensure adequate blood supply.
Of course, there are many ways to protect the liver, and avoiding staying up late is one of the most important practices for modern individuals.
4Hazard to the Kidneys
The kidneys are a detoxification organ in the body. If creatinine levels are elevated, it indicates that toxins are not being expelled from the body. One reason for this is insufficient blood supply to the kidneys, which lack the necessary power to eliminate all toxins.
5Hazard to the Gastrointestinal Tract
Blood deficiency can affect gastrointestinal function because normal gastrointestinal operation requires sufficient blood supply. When qi and blood are insufficient, the gastrointestinal tract becomes ischemic, weakening its function and leading to gastrointestinal disorders.
6Breast Diseases
Women with blood deficiency are more prone to breast diseases, the most common being breast hyperplasia, which is caused by insufficient qi and blood leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis, as well as liver qi stagnation.
Thus, breast diseases are a common hazard resulting from insufficient qi and blood.
7Menstrual Disorders
When there is insufficient qi and blood, the flow of qi and blood in a woman’s body becomes obstructed, leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis, which can affect menstruation. Common symptoms include delayed menstruation, reduced menstrual flow, and even irregular menstruation or amenorrhea.
Causes of Blood Deficiency
According to TCM, the main causes of blood deficiency are threefold:
1. Spleen and Stomach Weakness
TCM believes that the spleen and stomach are the source of postnatal transformation. The spleen and stomach absorb the nutrients from food and convert them into blood.
Modern individuals often overeat, leading to damage to the spleen and stomach. Many people indulge in extravagant meals, but the more they eat, the more they harm their spleen and stomach, resulting in poor nutritional status.
This is akin to a computer that can open one document without issue but will crash when trying to open a thousand; such individuals often suffer from spleen and stomach damage, leading to blood deficiency.
2. Excessive Worry and Thought
Modern life is filled with stress, and excessive worrying about earning money, socializing, and striving can deplete one’s heart and blood, leading to blood deficiency.
Additionally, TCM states that “worry harms the spleen”; if a person worries excessively, the function of their spleen will be suppressed, leading to insufficient blood production and exacerbating blood deficiency.
3. Blood Loss in Women
Women, due to their unique physiological structure and functions, experience blood loss many times throughout their lives. If they do not understand how to nourish themselves, it can lead to blood deficiency.
Such women are common; they may visit hospitals for their issues but find no results, yet they feel unwell without knowing why.
Regulating Blood Deficiency: Moxibustion is Most Effective
TCM often states: Life revolves around “qi and blood”. Using moxa sticks for moxibustion can replenish yang qi, promote the circulation of qi and blood, and help restore a weakened body.
Acupoints for Moxibustion for Blood Deficiency: Zhongwan (中脘), Xuehai (血海), Zusanli (足三里).
Dietary Remedies for Blood Deficiency
To replenish blood deficiency, it is advisable to use methods that nourish, tonify, and generate blood. Blood-nourishing herbs include Dang Gui (当归), E Jiao (阿胶), Shu Di Huang (熟地), and Sang Shen Zi (桑椹子).
Foods that nourish blood include black-boned chicken, black sesame, walnut meat, longan meat, chicken, pig’s blood, pig liver, brown sugar, and red beans, which can be alternated regularly;
Foods to avoid for blood deficiency include water chestnuts and garlic;
Recommended dishes: Dang Gui and Shu Di black-boned chicken; Huai Shan beef brisket stew; Huai Ju and hairtail fish; rose and Huai Ju drink;
Foods to avoid or limit: seaweed, grass cardamom, lotus leaves, white liquor, mint, chrysanthemum, betel nut, and raw radish.
Recommendation: Dang Gui and Huang Qi Tea
Preparation:
Use Huang Qi (黄芪) and Dang Gui in a 5:1 ratio, for example, 30 grams of Huang Qi and 6 grams of Dang Gui;
Simmer Huang Qi and Dang Gui three times, then combine the three batches of water and drink.
Effects:
Huang Qi tonifies qi, and Dang Gui nourishes blood, achieving simultaneous replenishment of blood and qi.
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