In daily life, doctors often diagnose conditions as 血虚 (xuè xū) (Blood Deficiency), 血瘀 (xuè yū) (Blood Stasis), 血寒 (xuè hán) (Blood Cold), and 血热 (xuè rè) (Blood Heat). What are the differences between these conditions, and which one do you or your family members have? After confirming symptoms and constitution with a doctor, what else can you do besides daily treatment? In this issue, I will guide you through each condition.
1. 血虚 (Blood Deficiency)
(1) What is 血虚 (Blood Deficiency)
血虚 (xuè xū) refers to a deficiency of blood, leading to insufficient nourishment of the organs, meridians, and body. All tissues in the body require blood for nourishment and fullness; when there is insufficient blood, it cannot moisten and nourish the tissues, resulting in blood deficiency.
(2) Symptoms of 血虚 (Blood Deficiency)
Individuals with 血虚 (xuè xū) often have a poor complexion, pale and sallow skin, and lack of color in the lips, tongue, and nails. Symptoms may include dizziness, palpitations, vivid dreams, and in severe cases, dizziness, numbness in the hands and feet, and even night blindness. Women may experience scanty menstrual flow, pale color, or even amenorrhea. Some patients may also experience significant hair loss in a short period.
(3) Causes of 血虚 (Blood Deficiency)
Common causes include dietary imbalance, excessive labor, emotional distress, and significant blood loss. Long-term illness or extreme physical weakness can also lead to blood deficiency.
(4) Dietary Regulation for 血虚 (Blood Deficiency)
To nourish blood, it is essential to strengthen the spleen. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the spleen and stomach are the source of blood production. With a balanced diet and normal spleen and stomach function, blood will be continuously generated. Therefore, to nourish blood, one must first strengthen the spleen and stomach. Friends diagnosed with 血虚 (xuè xū) can consider the following in addition to the doctor’s prescriptions:
【黄豆炖猪肝 (Soybean Stewed with Pig Liver)】 In TCM, yellow soybeans are sweet and neutral, not warming or drying, and can strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, and nourish blood. Pig liver can nourish the liver, improve vision, and enrich blood, making it suitable for those with blood deficiency and sallow complexion, as well as those with qi and blood deficiency or iron-deficiency anemia. The combination is very effective.
Prepare 100 grams each of yellow soybeans and pig liver. First, cook the soybeans until they are 80% done, then add the pig liver and continue cooking until fully cooked. Consume twice daily for three weeks for optimal results.
2. 血瘀 (Blood Stasis)
(1) What is 血瘀 (Blood Stasis)
血瘀 (xuè yū) refers to a pathological state where blood circulation is slow and unimpeded, leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis.
(2) Symptoms of 血瘀 (Blood Stasis)
Individuals with 血瘀 (xuè yū) often have a dark complexion, deep purple lips, and localized pain in the body. In severe cases, the pain can feel like being cut by a knife, and it may worsen at night. Surface lumps may appear dark purple, while internal ones may be hard and immobile upon pressure. There may be recurrent bleeding with dark purple color, or black stools. Women may commonly experience amenorrhea.
(3) Causes of 血瘀 (Blood Stasis)
血瘀 (xuè yū) is caused by obstruction of blood circulation. Blood should flow freely, but various pathogenic factors can lead to blood accumulation or leakage outside the vessels, resulting in blood stasis.
(4) Dietary Regulation for 血瘀 (Blood Stasis)
Individuals with qi stagnation and blood stasis should choose foods that promote qi movement and invigorate blood, while minimizing salt and MSG to avoid increasing blood viscosity and worsening blood stasis. Friends diagnosed with 血瘀 (xuè yū) need not worry; in addition to following the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment, you can also choose:
【黑豆粥 (Black Bean Porridge)】 Black beans are sweet and neutral, capable of dispelling wind and heat, regulating the middle and lower qi, detoxifying, diuretic, and nourishing the kidneys and blood. Glutinous rice has the effects of nourishing yin, generating fluids, alleviating thirst, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and consolidating the intestines to stop diarrhea. Together, they can be cooked into porridge with added brown sugar, which is beneficial for those with blood stasis.
Prepare 50 grams of black beans, 100 grams of glutinous rice, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Wash the black beans and soak them until soft, then add the glutinous rice and water to cook the porridge, adding brown sugar before serving.
3. 血寒 (Blood Cold)
(1) What is 血寒 (Blood Cold)
血寒 (xuè hán) refers to the invasion of cold pathogens into the blood, causing cold to congeal and qi stagnation, leading to poor blood flow.
(2) Symptoms of 血寒 (Blood Cold)
Individuals with 血寒 (xuè hán) often feel cold and prefer warmth. They tend to enjoy hot foods, have cold hands and feet, and may have purple skin. Sometimes they may experience abdominal pain, which alleviates when warmed. Women may experience delayed menstruation with dark purple blood and clots.
(3) Causes of 血寒 (Blood Cold)
血寒 (xuè hán) is caused by exposure to cold pathogens, insufficient qi and blood, prolonged exposure to cold, or women experiencing cold during menstruation or consuming excessive cold foods.
(4) Dietary Regulation for 血寒 (Blood Cold)
Individuals with 血寒 (xuè hán) should consume more warming foods and avoid cold foods. Friends diagnosed with 血寒 (xuè hán) need not panic; under medical guidance, you can also consider:
【生姜红枣茶 (Ginger and Red Date Tea)】 Ginger is spicy and can invigorate blood and dispel cold. Red dates can tonify the middle, benefit qi, nourish blood, and calm the mind. Together, they can be brewed into tea that warms the middle, disperses cold, stops vomiting, restores yang, opens the meridians, nourishes blood, and corrects qi, while also dispelling dampness and inflammation.
Use 150 grams of ginger and 5-6 red dates. Wash and slice the ginger, then boil it with the red dates in about 500ml of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Before serving, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar, and try to consume it in the morning.
4. 血热 (Blood Heat)
(1) What is 血热 (Blood Heat)
血热 (xuè rè) refers to the invasion of heat pathogens into the blood, causing abnormal acceleration of blood flow.
(2) Symptoms of 血热 (Blood Heat)
Individuals with 血热 (xuè rè) often have red, oily skin and are prone to acne. They may exhibit irritability, mood swings, and hot palms and soles. Symptoms may include bleeding, such as nosebleeds, gum bleeding, hematuria, and coughing up blood. Some patients may also suffer from psoriasis.
(3) Causes of 血热 (Blood Heat)
TCM believes that excessive yang energy in the body, high fire energy, and overheating of the blood can accelerate blood flow, leading to a rapid pulse. Emotional instability and excessive consumption of seafood and spicy foods can also contribute to blood heat.
(4) Dietary Regulation for 血热 (Blood Heat)
Individuals with 血热 (xuè rè) should consume more cooling and moistening foods and avoid warming and drying foods. Those diagnosed with 血热 (xuè rè) need not be anxious; according to the doctor’s recommendations, medication can be used for regulation, and you can also consider:
【菊花茶 (Chrysanthemum Tea)】 Chrysanthemum is sweet and bitter, cold in nature, and can disperse wind and clear heat, clear the liver and brighten the eyes, and detoxify and reduce inflammation. It is effective for acne, throat inflammation, wind-heat invasion, headaches, and oral ulcers caused by excessive dryness and heat.
The above is for reference only; please regulate under the guidance of a physician.
Reviewed by: Pharmacist Lu
Edited by: Sanqi Xiaomei
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