Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Spleen in Chinese Medicine The Liver in Chinese Medicine The concept of Blood The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 脾肝血虚 Pinyin name: Pí Gān Xuè Xū
Pattern nature: Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Spleen Blood Deficiency Liver Blood Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Qi Deficiency
Common causes: Diet
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Cramps Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Tiredness and nineteen other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale dry body especially on the sides, which, in extreme cases, can assume an orange color
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen Qi and nourish Liver Blood.
Common formulas: Gui Pi Tang Dang Gui Shao Yao San Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Pathology
The Spleen is the origin of Blood because Grain Qi (Gu Qi) produced by the Spleen is Blood's key component. As a result if Spleen Qi is Deficient (an indispensable precondition for Spleen Blood Deficiency), not enough Blood is produced which is what leads to the Blood Deficiency.
Quite a few of the symptoms here such as loose stools, poor appetite and weak limbs, are typical of Spleen Qi Deficiency which again is always a precondition for Spleen Blood Deficiency.
The Liver stores Blood. When Liver Blood is Deficient one gets symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, numbness in the limbs, scanty periods or, in the worst cases, amenorrhea (a total absence of periods).
The slight depression and feeling of aimlessness are also due to the Liver Blood Deficiency. The lack of Blood prevents the Ethereal Soul (Hun) from being properly "rooted" in Blood.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency can derive from Spleen Qi Deficiency
Diet: A diet lacking in nourishment, like a badly-executed vegan diet, or excessive in cold and raw foods is the most common cause for this pattern.
Diagnosing Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale dry body especially on the sides, which, in extreme cases, can assume an orange color
Main symptoms: Cramps Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Tiredness Lassitude Thin body Dizziness Pale lips Weak Limbs Amenorrhea Depression Loose stools Poor appetite Scanty periods Blurred vision Muscle weakness Floaters in eyes Dull-pale complexion Numbness in the limbs Feeling of aimlessness Diminished night vision Withered and brittle nails Slight abdominal distention after eating
Diagnosis commentary: The key characteristic symptoms are the loose stools, scanty periods, blurred vision and the pale sides of the tongue. The first three of those are enough in and of themselves to diagnose Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency.
Treating Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
Treatment principle
Tonify Spleen Qi and nourish Liver Blood.
Herbal formulas used to treat Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Formula summary
Gui Pi Tang is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1529 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi and Blood.
Besides Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency, Gui Pi Tang is also used to treat Qi Deficiency or Blood Deficiency.
Dang Gui Shao Yao San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Liver Blood. Spreads the Liver Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Formula summary
Dang Gui Shao Yao San is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation.
Besides Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency, Dang Gui Shao Yao San is also used to treat Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation.
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Blood and augments the Yin. Moderates painful spasms. Alleviates pain.
Formula summary
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Diet recommendations
Diet is an important cause of this pattern. Pay careful to eat nourishing foods, particularly grains and meats, and to avoid an excessive amount (or regular consumption) of cold and raw foods.
Consequence patterns
If left untreated Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency can lead to Heart Blood Deficiency