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【Author Introduction】
Lu Weixing, male, chief physician, professor, doctoral supervisor, currently serves as the deputy director of the Cardiology Department at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and chairman of the Cardiovascular Disease Professional Committee of the Beijing Association of Integrative Medicine. He specializes in interventional treatment of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular pharmacology, and the integrative treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
The Root of All Illness: Blood Stasis Syndrome
In life, it is inevitable to have bumps and bruises, such as hitting a chair or being struck by an object. The same incident can result in different symptoms for different people; some may develop bruises while others do not. Is a tendency to bruise easily indicative of a scar constitution?
Having a tendency to bruise is not necessarily a scar constitution. A scar constitution refers to a condition where wounds do not heal easily or leave scars after healing. Bruising, which seems like a minor symptom, should not be taken lightly.
This is an early manifestation of blood stasis in our body. For example, the most common conditions associated with blood stasis include cerebral infarction, coronary heart disease, pulmonary embolism, and lower limb arterial embolism. Additionally, conditions such as liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, gastric cancer, and breast cancer in women are also related to blood stasis!
Blood stasis can lead to many serious diseases. How can we determine if there is blood stasis in our body?
The simplest method is to observe the sublingual veins. If the color of the sublingual veins is dark and there are purplish spots, it indicates the presence of blood stasis in the body.
Symptoms and Manifestations of Blood Stasis
In addition, there are other symptoms that also indicate blood stasis.
Pain caused by blood stasis is often characterized by stabbing, cramping, or dull pain, especially pain that feels like being pricked by needles. The pain is usually fixed in one or several locations, such as headaches, chest pain, stomach pain, abdominal pain, pain in the precordial area, and pain in the hypochondriac region. Pain may worsen on rainy days, in cold seasons, or at night, and in severe cases, one may feel a large lump in the hypochondriac area.
Cyanosis refers to a bluish or dark color. This is a typical symptom of blood stasis, such as dark-colored lips, face, nails, and tongue, or the appearance of purplish-blue discoloration. “Panda eyes” or prominent veins are common, with large, twisted veins resembling earthworms on the abdomen, lower limbs, or scrotum. In severe cases, they may appear as sac-like expansions. Additionally, without any external injury, the complexion may appear dark or even black, with black spots appearing on a previously fair face. For example, the butterfly spots in women and age spots in the elderly are manifestations of blood stasis in the body.
Other areas of the skin may no longer be smooth and moist but instead become rough, dry, itchy, or even resemble snake skin, which is also a manifestation of blood stasis.
There are many causes of blood stasis, including emotional factors, dysfunction of internal organs, and various external pathogens. However, from a pathological perspective, it can be divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome. Clinically, qi deficiency with blood stasis is the most common.
What are the manifestations of Qi Deficiency with Blood Stasis?
When you experience symptoms of qi deficiency with blood stasis, it is important to invigorate the blood while also tonifying qi. Which herbs can achieve both effects?
Blood stasis is the root of all diseases and is ubiquitous, while qi stagnation with blood stasis is a relatively common type of blood stasis syndrome. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that qi is the commander of blood; when qi stagnates, blood coagulates. This means that when our qi encounters obstacles, blood circulation becomes impaired, leading to blood stasis.
Qi stagnation type blood stasis can lead to some very serious diseases, such as tumors (cancer), myocardial infarction, and breast hyperplasia. So, how can we determine if our blood stasis is of the qi stagnation type?
The most common cause is emotional distress, which disrupts the liver’s ability to regulate qi, leading to impaired qi flow and resulting in qi stagnation with blood stasis. Therefore, patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis often exhibit symptoms of emotional distress, such as irritability, depression, and sighing. Additionally, those with qi stagnation and blood stasis often experience pain in the liver and spleen areas, primarily characterized by distending pain, which may sometimes radiate.
Lumps are also a common feature in patients with blood stasis. Experts particularly remind us that lumps can be classified into true masses and false masses. True and false masses each have their characteristics and are related to different diseases, so we need to be vigilant when false masses appear.
For qi stagnation with blood stasis, dietary therapy can be employed—Peach Blossom and Dan Shen Egg. When consuming Peach Blossom and Dan Shen Egg, vinegar can be added for better qi-moving and blood-invigorating effects.
Dietary Recipe: Peach Blossom and Dan Shen Egg Preparation Method
Ingredients: 3 eggs, 15 grams of Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), 15 grams of Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius), 10 grams of Tao Ren (Peach kernel)
Method: Boil Dan Shen, Hong Hua, and Tao Ren for 30 minutes, then remove from heat and cool. After cooling, put the eggs in and cook until the eggs are done, breaking the egg shells to reveal a purplish-red color before consumption.
Effects: Invigorates qi, promotes blood circulation, and resolves blood stasis.
The Occurrence of Tendon Diseases
The “Lingshu” (Spiritual Pivot) states that tendon diseases are caused by:
1. Cold causes the tendons to contract and become tense, while heat causes the tendons to relax and become loose.
2. Caused by liver disease.
3. The primary cause is external injury.
The Formation of Tendon Diseases
(This discussion focuses on external injuries that cause this disease): Once the tendons are injured, the damaged area becomes thin and torn, commonly referred to as muscle strain. At this time, qi and blood stagnate, and if the injured tendons do not heal, they will contract and form knots, which clinical research refers to as tendon knots. The formation of tendon knots marks the beginning of chronic disease, and non-injury-related tendon diseases also exhibit similar signs.
The Explanation of Tendon Knots:
Tendon knots are generated from injured tendons and consist of two layers: the inner layer is the injured part, and the outer layer is the normal fascia. Tendon knots are a product of the body’s self-protection against pain. After tendon injury, it is like a rope or rubber band that is about to break; it can no longer withstand the required force. To prevent the rope from breaking, a knot is tied at the breaking point, allowing it to be reused, albeit at a shorter length. For tendons, while we cannot tie them, they form knots to protect the injured area and accommodate bodily movements. Just as tying a rope shortens it, tendon knots also shorten the tendons, and these knots can grow larger over time. Although a person’s height remains unchanged, the tendons become shorter, leading to an internal retraction force of the tendons, making conditions like lower back and leg pain difficult to treat, primarily due to the treatment of tendon knots. Patients do not feel pain when the knots are untreated.
“Prominent Veins” refer to visible subcutaneous veins in the body. Experts believe that regardless of the body part, abnormal bulging of prominent veins reflects the accumulation of phlegm, dampness, rashes, toxins, etc. in the body. Everyone should learn to observe and understand their discomforts and seek medical attention early.
Generally, the prominent veins are mainly distributed in the face, head, and feet. Prominent veins are veins that return blood to the heart. When the return of venous blood is obstructed and pressure increases, prominent veins often appear on the surface of the body, bulging, twisting, and changing color.
Why is the return of blood obstructed?
In fact, it is caused by internal accumulation. Various forms of blood stasis, phlegm-dampness, heat toxins, and accumulation of physiological waste cannot be expelled from the body, leading to dysfunction in various systems. At this time, prominent veins on the face, abdomen, feet, especially on the palms and backs of the hands, become very noticeable. Therefore, prominent veins indicate internal accumulation.
If there is excessive accumulation of cholesterol, blood lipids, and stagnation, and blood viscosity is too high, it can lead to circulatory disorders, easily causing high blood lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure, which are cardiovascular diseases. If the meridians are blocked by phlegm, dampness, stasis, heat, toxins, and accumulation, it will exacerbate inflammatory responses, leading to pain and worsening symptoms.
If there are waste, toxins, bacteria, mucus, and fecal matter accumulating in the gastrointestinal tract, it can lead to toxicity, resulting in various black spots, white spots, blood spots, and in severe cases, tumors and cancer.
Accumulation of Waste is the Root of All Illness
Scientists have found through dissection studies that cancer and aging are both caused by blood stasis and accumulation of waste, thus accumulation is the root of all diseases. Therefore, the “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) states: “The meridians are the pathways of life and death, regulating deficiency and excess; they must not be obstructed.”
Based on clinical experience, the following symptoms may indicate the presence of accumulation:
(1) Difficulty in defecation, with black, sticky stools that take a long time, requiring excessive use of toilet paper.
(2) Poor appetite, food not tasting good, dry mouth, and thick tongue coating.
(3) Easily fatigued, prone to colds, and recurrent colds.
(4) Shortness of breath, fatigue, poor mental state, and insomnia with vivid dreams.
(5) Bruising or spots appearing easily after massage, cupping, tapping, or gua sha.
(6) Prone to skin allergies, skin pigmentation, and the appearance of age spots, freckles, melasma, white spots, and blood spots.
(7) Feeling cold when eating cold foods and feeling hot when eating hot foods, and being unable to tolerate tonics.
(8) Long-term mental and physical strain, work stress, and emotional depression.
(9) Frequently feeling low-grade fever.
Individuals exhibiting several of the above symptoms are often in a sub-healthy state. The more symptoms present, the deeper the level of accumulation in the body, often indicating a diseased state. In severe cases, tumors may develop, and serious illnesses may arise.
Therefore, the appearance of prominent veins on the body indicates excessive accumulation of waste, reflecting the accumulation of phlegm, dampness, heat, and toxins in the body. As the saying goes: “When prominent veins appear on the bridge of the nose, it indicates that one has cried three times for no reason.” The more waste accumulates in the body, the more prominent the veins become. Generally, if one does not have a bowel movement for several days, the prominent veins become particularly noticeable, and the state of internal accumulation can be observed through the shape of the prominent veins.
Typically, changes in the shape and color of the prominent veins indicate the severity of internal accumulation. If the prominent veins become bulging, twisted, and purplish-black, it often indicates that the internal waste is more toxic, and may even signal the onset of serious illness. Therefore, the appearance of prominent veins in any part of the body indicates corresponding issues in that area.
Distribution of Prominent Veins:
(1) Prominent Veins on the Hands
Children with accumulation often show prominent veins on the bridge of the nose, but after the age of three, they often appear on the hands. Therefore, the more metabolic waste in an adult’s body, the more prominent veins appear on the hands. The appearance of prominent veins in a specific area indicates corresponding internal organ or tissue accumulation.
1. Prominent Veins on the Back of the Hand
Prominent veins on the back of the hand often indicate accumulation in the lower back, which can lead to lower back strain, fatigue, and common symptoms of lower back pain, and may even result in muscle tension and nodules.
2. Prominent Veins on the Fingers
Prominent veins on children’s fingers often indicate gastrointestinal accumulation and digestive issues. In adults, prominent veins on the fingers not only indicate digestive system problems but also reflect microcirculation disorders in the head, insufficient blood supply to the brain, discomfort in the head, and in severe cases, dizziness, headaches, and stroke.
3. Prominent Veins on the Palm
(1) Prominent veins on the thenar eminence often indicate lower back and leg pain and rheumatic joint pain.
(2) Prominent veins on the wrist crease often indicate gynecological diseases, such as menstrual irregularities and leukorrhea.
(3) Prominent veins on the Neiguan point often indicate heart-related diseases, such as myocardial strain, palpitations, and insomnia with vivid dreams.
(4) The closer the prominent veins on the Neiguan point are to the Neiguan acupoint, the earlier heart symptoms may occur; the more bulging, twisted, and purplish-black the prominent veins are, the more severe the heart disease may be, even indicating a serious heart condition.
(5) Prominent veins near the lifeline often indicate issues with liver and gallbladder metabolism, leading to symptoms such as bitter mouth, dry mouth, irritability, and chest tightness.
(6) Prominent veins at the base of the thumb are often seen in women before and after menstruation, indicating breast tenderness.
(7) Prominent veins on the horizontal lines of the index finger often indicate susceptibility to left shoulder periarthritis. Prominent veins on the horizontal lines of the little finger often indicate susceptibility to right shoulder periarthritis.
(8) Prominent veins on the horizontal lines of the thumb joint indicate bulging, twisting, and may suggest coronary artery sclerosis. If purplish-black, it may indicate coronary heart disease.
(9) Prominent veins on the horizontal lines of the middle finger joint indicate bulging, twisting, and purplish-black, suggesting cerebral artery sclerosis.
(10) Prominent veins on the fingers, even visible between the finger joints, indicate gastrointestinal accumulation and constipation, with individuals often suffering from habitual constipation or tumors, hemorrhoids, etc. Changing bowel habits can gradually lighten and eliminate the prominent veins.
(11) Prominent veins all over the palm indicate gastrointestinal accumulation, high blood lipids, high blood viscosity, high blood pressure, high blood acidity, low oxygen content, and easy blood coagulation and stagnation, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and physical weakness.
(12) Prominent veins on the shoulders are prone to shoulder periarthritis, which is particularly difficult to treat.
(2) Prominent Veins on the Head
1. When prominent veins appear on the temples, it often indicates dizziness and headaches; when prominent veins on the temples are bulging and twisted, it indicates cerebral artery sclerosis; if purplish-black, it may indicate a stroke.
2. Prominent veins on the forehead indicate long-term mental strain, tension, work pressure, or emotional stress.
3. Prominent veins on the bridge of the nose indicate gastrointestinal accumulation, leading to symptoms such as stomach pain, abdominal distension, digestive issues, and difficulty in defecation; if purplish, the situation is more serious.
4. Prominent veins under the eyes often indicate spleen deficiency and dark circles, kidney deficiency and black circles. Prominent veins under the eyes often indicate gynecological diseases, menstrual irregularities, and leukorrhea.
5. Prominent veins at the corners of the mouth often indicate gynecological diseases, heavy leukorrhea, fatigue, and lower back soreness.
6. Prominent veins under the chin correspond to the coronary arteries of the heart, easily leading to heart disease and myocardial strain. If the prominent veins are bulging, twisted, and dark, it may indicate coronary heart disease.
(3) Prominent Veins in the Chest and Abdomen
1. Prominent veins in the chest and abdomen often indicate breast hyperplasia, breast tenderness, and emotional depression.
2. Prominent veins in the abdomen, as the saying goes, “prominent veins over the belly” indicate more serious accumulation; in adults, it may indicate liver cirrhosis with ascites or late-stage tumors. Prominent veins in the abdomen are often associated with difficult-to-treat diseases.
(4) Prominent Veins in the Lower Limbs
1. Prominent veins in the knee area indicate joint swelling and rheumatic arthritis.
2. Prominent veins in the calves, especially in severe cases of varicose veins, often lead to lower back and leg diseases, and rheumatic joint pain. This is particularly common among teachers who stand for long periods, farmers who walk a lot, or individuals who like to take hot showers after exercise. Cold can penetrate the bones and injure the tendons, which is a common issue that many people overlook in daily life, ultimately leading to chronic diseases and making it difficult to lower high blood pressure.
In summary, the appearance of prominent veins anywhere on the body not only affects aesthetic appearance but more importantly indicates the accumulation of waste in the body. The key to eliminating prominent veins is to learn to detoxify the intestines. Detoxifying the intestines is different from simply having regular bowel movements; many people mistakenly believe that having daily bowel movements is sufficient and neglect the need for detoxification. This is akin to regularly cleaning toilets, descaling kettles, or removing carbon buildup from cars. Detoxifying the intestines and eliminating prominent veins is best achieved through regular use of tapping and gua sha therapy.
Prominent veins on the temples indicate signs of cerebral artery sclerosis, headaches, and stroke;
Prominent veins on the forehead may indicate hyperthyroidism or diabetes;
Prominent veins on the bridge of the nose indicate gastrointestinal accumulation and digestive issues;
Prominent veins under the jaw may indicate rheumatism or lower limb diseases;
Prominent veins on the back of the fingers may indicate cervical spondylosis or lumbar disease;
Prominent veins at the finger joints may indicate poor gastrointestinal function, abdominal pain, and bad breath;
Prominent veins at the base of the thumb may indicate coronary artery sclerosis or myocardial strain.
Observing veins to understand diseases should also be based on individual circumstances; some men naturally have larger blood vessels; some individuals engaged in heavy physical labor may have more prominent veins than average; some may have veins that bulge to varying degrees after drinking alcohol or exercising. Therefore, it is unnecessary to panic upon seeing prominent veins; rather, one should pay attention to the condition of their veins regularly, and if any changes occur, they should take note.
This article is excerpted from Beijing TV’s “Health Hall”
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