TCM II - Pathologies of Blood - Blood Deficiency

Question 1

Blood deficiency

Answer 1

Blood deficiency is not the same as anaemia, but they may overlap

Question 2

Signs and symptoms

Answer 2

• Numbness
• Blurred vision, Floaters
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Grey pale face
• Pale tongue
• Dry skin and hair

Question 3

Tongue

Answer 3

• Pale and thin

Question 4

Pulse

Answer 4

• Choppy and thready

Question 5

Aetiology

Answer 5

• Poor diet
• Excessive menstrual bleeding
• Blood loss

Question 6

Organ Symptoms:
Heart

Answer 6

• Palpitations
• Anxiety
• Propensity to be startled

Question 7

Organ Symptoms:
Liver

Answer 7

• Scanty or no period
• Infertility
• Musculus cramps
• Withered and brittle nails

Question 8

Lifestyle Advice

Answer 8

• Avoid coffee and black tea as they deplete the body of minerals
• Consider supplementing iron (or the tissue salt Ferrum Phos), magnesium, vitamin B12 and vitamin C
• Heavy menstrual bleeding should be stopped as soon as possible
• Long-term emotional issues can deplete the blood and need to be addressed

Question 9

Diet advice

Answer 9

• Nourishing the spleen to make the Blood
• Avoid raw foods, smoothies, cold juices
• Eats slow cooked meats, stews, organic liver
• Eat dark leaves (spinach, sorrel, chard, kale), black radish, broccoli, beetroot, wheatgrass, see vegetables, spirulina
• Raw vegetable juices, nettle or rosehip tea
• Red dates, red grapes, cherries, raspberries, blackcurrents, blueberries
• The darkness of a food is often an indication of its blood nourishing power