First, let's talk about what blood deficiency is.
Blood deficiency refers to a pathological state and deficiency syndrome in which the body's blood is insufficient, failing to nourish the organs, meridians, and tissues.
There are five main causes of blood deficiency
One is excessive blood loss, such as bleeding caused by ulcers or perforations in the gastrointestinal tract, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, continuous menstrual bleeding or metrorrhagia, internal organ or vascular rupture due to trauma, bleeding from surgery, or childbirth.
Second, insufficient generation, such as spleen and stomach weakness, reduced transportation and transformation functions, or improper diet, leading to inadequate intake of nutrients, or the presence of parasites in the intestines causing insufficient blood production in the human body.
Thirdly, excessive mental stress leads to overthinking, overexertion, irregular daily routines, frequent late nights, and the gradual depletion of yin and blood.
Fourthly, pathological products such as blood stasis in the body block the blood vessels, affecting the organs' functions of governing, circulating, and storing blood, as the saying goes, "Without removing the old blood, new blood cannot be generated."
Fifth, the elderly and physically weak, those with severe or chronic illnesses, suffer from the depletion of essence and qi, which undermines the foundation and leads to a deficiency in blood production.
The main symptoms of blood deficiency includecomplexion, pale or sallow skin, pale lips, eyelids, nails, and tongue, dizziness, blurred vision, palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia with excessive dreaming, difficulty falling asleep, easily waking after sleep, numbness in hands and feet, hair loss, dry eyes, blurred vision, irregular menstruation in women, scanty menstrual flow, pale color, delayed menstruation or amenorrhea, pale tongue, deep and thready weak or thready and weak pulse.
In terms of the viscera, blood deficiency mainly manifests as heart blood deficiency, liver blood deficiency, and dual deficiency of heart-spleen qi and blood. As for whether there is lung blood deficiency, stomach blood deficiency, or kidney blood deficiency, these are rarely mentioned in clinical practice and will not be discussed in this article for the time being.
deficiency of heart blood
Clinical Manifestations: Palpitations and severe palpitations, dizziness and vertigo, insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep, forgetfulness, poor concentration, pale or sallow complexion, pale lips and tongue, thready and weak pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Nourish blood and harmonize blood.
Common Prescriptions: Modified Siwu Decoction (Rehmannia Root, Chinese Angelica, White Peony Root, Szechuan Lovage Rhizome) for treatment.
Liver Blood Deficiency
Clinical Manifestations: dizziness and vertigo, headache, pale complexion without luster, withered nails, blurred vision, dry eyes, photophobia, night blindness, numbness of limbs, joint stiffness and limited movement, trembling hands and feet, muscle weakness or twitching, irritability or low mood, dry skin, yellow and brittle hair, hair loss, scanty and pale menstrual flow in women, headache during menstruation, amenorrhea, pale tongue, and thready pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Nourish blood and soften liver.
Common Prescriptions: Modified Bugan Decoction (Shudi, Danggui, Baishao, Chuanxiong, Suanzaoren, Mugua, Zhigancao) for treatment.
Deficiency of both heart-spleen qi and blood
Clinical manifestations: palpitations and severe palpitations, insomnia and dreaminess, dizziness and forgetfulness, night sweats and deficiency heat, fatigue and poor appetite, sallow complexion, scanty menstrual flow in women, pale tongue, continuous dripping, pale tongue with thin white coating, thready and weak pulse.
Therapeutic Principle: Tonifying Qi and Nourishing Blood, Strengthening the Spleen and Nourishing the Heart.
Common Prescriptions: Modified Guipi Decoction (Atractylodes macrocephala, Ginseng, Astragalus, Angelica sinensis, Poria with hostwood, Polygala, Spina Date Seed, Aucklandia, Longan Aril, Ginger, Jujube, Honey-fried Licorice) for treatment.
