Blood-related disorders

What is Blood?

In TCM, Yin and Yang are always prevalent and in our body, there are two main yin and yang, blood and qi. Qi is light, ethereal, and moving. Blood is heavy, physical, and dormant. They are both interdependent and benefit each other. Qi gives the energy to move the blood, and the blood provides materialistic output for qi to interact with the body. This is why there is a quote “Qi is the governor of blood and blood is mother of qi”

In TCM, there are three Blood-related disorders, Blood deficiency, Blood heat and Blood stagnation/stasis.

What is Blood Deficiency?

Blood deficiency occurs when the amount of cells in the blood outnumber the amount of plasma. This can be caused by excessive loss of fluids, coagulation of cells or trauma. Blood nourishes the body so when there is Blood stagnant, cells in the body may not receive sufficient nutrients. When this occurs you may experience sallow complexion, pale lips, dizziness and vertigo, poor memory, numbness in limbs, blurred vision, insomnia, dryness of eyes, cramps, withered and brittle nails, dry hair and skin, or hair loss.

What is Blood Heat?

Heat in the Blood is most caused by Liver-Heat.  Liver stores Blood so when Liver is hot, it will transfer the Heat to Blood.  Many skin diseases are due to Blood Heat and, in women, Blood Heat often causes heavy menstruation.

What is Blood Stagnation?

Blood stagnation occurs when movement stops. This can happen when other issues are allowed to continue over a long period of time including stagnant or deficient Qi failing to move Blood, Heat condensing Blood, Cold congealing Blood, or if Blood itself is deficient which can lead to Qi deficiency and subsequently stagnating Blood.   Blood stasis often causes pain.

Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: a Comprehensive Text. 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2015.