Blood Deficiency-Stagnation

Blood Deficiency and Stagnation

Blood Concept in Traditional Chinese Medical Theoryessential oil for acupuncture points

Blood is a fundamental substance in the body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Blood nourishes and moistens the whole body, particularly the eyes and tendons. Many aging issues are due to Blood Deficiency such as hair loss because hair growth is dependent on the quality and abundance nourishing Blood. The Liver, Heart and Spleen organ systems are the most relevant systems related to Blood, but all of the organ systems according to Chinese medicine play a role in Blood production and distribution. Blood is a Yin substance that must constantly circulate in order for fresh, new, nourishing Blood to be produced on a regular basis.

herb leaves

 

Acupressure for Blood Stagnation and Deficiency

Learn How to Use Acupressure Linked Here!

 

herb leaves

Symptoms of Blood Deficiency

Signs of Blood Deficiency include dry skin, dizziness, withered skin, lusterless complexion, pale lips, a weak pulse, insomnia, tight muscles, inflexible joints, and thinning brittle hair. While anemia would be an indication of Blood Deficiency, a diagnosis of anemia is not necessary for Blood Deficiency to be present; in TCM, Blood Deficiency is an indication the nourishment from Blood is not abundant enough to nourish Organs so that they are able to function optimally. 

Causes of Blood Deficiency

Causes of Blood Deficiency include blood loss due to trauma, surgery, or menstrual hemorrhaging, or a diminished blood production or decreased nourishing quality of the blood; this is often as a result of nutritional deficiencies. Blood Deficiency is typically due toblood circulation stimulation essential oils a chronic nutritional deficiencies. Once Blood Deficiency develops in the body, it takes at least 6-8 months to reverse with tonic herbs and whole foods; it is a lengthy process.

Blood Stagnation

Blood stagnation is another common condition of disharmony in the body and can lead to pain and Blood Deficiency, as Blood will not be produced in abundance when it is not moving. The Qi and Blood have an interdependent relationship because Qi moves the Blood, and Blood nourishes Qi production. Blood Stagnation is commonly associated with sharp or stabbing pain; a purplish complexion and tongue; poor circulation and numbness in extremities

002rightline.png

Heart Blood Deficiency

In addition to the general Blood Deficient symptoms, Heart Blood Deficiency may be marked with palpitations, dream disturbed sleep, easy fright, lack of mental focus, and poor memory.

Heart Blood Stagnation

Prolonged Heart Blood Deficiency and Qi Stagnation can result in serious, sometimes fatal disease patterns. This is a common pattern associated with heart disease or a heart attack.

Symptoms may include stabbing pain over heart, left arm pain, sensation of suffocation, and shortness of breath.

***If you have any of these symptoms you should immediately call 911.

002rightline.png

Liver Blood Deficiency

In addition to the general Blood Deficient symptoms, Liver Blood Deficient patterns might include ridged, brittle nails; dry eyes, eye floaters, blurred vision, or night blindness; irregular or scanty menstrual flow; irritability and frustration

Liver Blood Stagnation

Liver Blood Stagnation will often present with one or more of the following indications: sharp pain on sides and around ribs; headaches with fixed stabbing pain; painful, irregular periods with purple or brown blood; abdominal masses; enlarged Liver or Spleen. 

The Liver controls the menstrual Blood; stagnation of the Lower Jiao would be indicated with menstrual Blood that had clots, or is dark in color (brown-purple). Heavy menstrual bleeding and prolonged menstrual cycles can also be indications of Blood Stagnation. 

002rightline.png

Stomach Blood Stagnation

Indications: Severe, stabbing abdominal pain; stomach pain that is aggravated with pressure or heat; severe abdominal pain after eating.

***This condition will require professional medical attention, and you will want to consult a local licensed acupuncturist

Spleen Failing to Control Blood

The Spleen is partially responsible for containing the Blood in the vessels. Symptoms of Spleen Qi Deficiency leading to the ‘Spleen not Governing Blood ‘ would include varicose veins, hemorrhoids, blood spots under skin, and excessive uterine bleeding

002rightline.png

Blood Deficiency and Emotional Balance

The Essential Questions states, “The Liver receives the blood so there is sight; the legs receive blood and then have the ability to walk; the hands receive the blood and so have the ability to grip; the fingers receive blood and are then able to grasp." Blood also grounds the Shen, and Blood Deficiency can be a root cause of emotional disorders. 

Reckless Blood Causing Bleeding

Heat in the Blood can develops due to virulent pathogens, infections, prolonged exposure to heat, chemotherapy or radiation, Liver-Fire, or prolonged Yin Deficiency. This type of bleeding would not be due to trauma; rather would include symptoms such as coughing up blood during a flu, nose bleeds, vomiting blood, or blood in the stool or urine. Most of these conditions would require emergency care or guidance from a local health care professional.

In a healthy body, white blood cells only survive a few weeks to months. Red blood cells survive about four months; they are then removed from the blood. Because these cells are central in the delivery of nutrients and the proper function of our immune response, it is vital to provide the body with the proper nourishment to reproduce blood cells. One way acupuncturists relieve Blood Stagnation is through Fire Cupping.

002rightline.png

Blood Silt or how in Chinese medicine there is no such thing as "Blood Stagnation" 

Much is lost in translation in Chinese medicine; this is because westerners generally do not have the cultural knowledge of a foreign land or language understandably. The term Blood Stasis was taken from the term xue yu which is more accurately translated as "Blood Silt Disease". Silt is defined as fine sand, clay, or other sediment carried by running water and deposited as sediment, especially in a channel or river. You can imagine a patients' confusion when the acupuncturist explains that they have Blood Silt; they may ask how silt got into the Blood. Instead, it is meant to portray Blood that is less than optimal and therefore sluggish or impeded. Rather than trying to explain all of this to patients, the term of Blood Stagnation placates patients more easily and has taken hold.

herb leaves

References

Chen, Z., Cao, Y., He, S., & Qiao, Y. (2018). Development of models for classification of action between heat-clearing herbs and blood-activating stasis-resolving herbs based on theory of traditional Chinese medicineChinese medicine13, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-018-0169-x

Peng, W., Lauche, R., Ferguson, C., Frawley, J., Adams, J., & Sibbritt, D. (2017). Efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for stroke modifiable risk factors: a systematic review. Chinese medicine12, 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-017-0146-9

Si, Y. C., Li, Q., Xie, C. E., Niu, X., Xia, X. H., & Yu, C. Y. (2014). Chinese herbs and their active ingredients for activating xue (blood) promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cellsChinese medicine9(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8546-9-13

Yang, X., Chongsuvivatwong, V., Lerkiatbundit, S., Ye, J., Ouyang, X., Yang, E., & Sriplung, H. (2014). Identifying the Zheng in psoriatic patients based on latent class analysis of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and signsChinese medicine9(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8546-9-1

Li, Z. X., Zhao, G. D., Xiong, W., Linghu, K. G., Ma, Q. S., Cheang, W. S., Yu, H., & Wang, Y. (2019). Immunomodulatory effects of a new whole ingredients extract from Astragalus: a combined evaluation on chemistry and pharmacology. Chinese medicine14, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-019-0234-0

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.