Heart Blood Deficiency
Heart Blood Deficiency
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Pale thin and slightly dry tongue
Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Other Associated Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the palpitations, insomnia, poor memory and pale tongue.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
A diet that is not rich in nourishment or in Blood-producing foods such as red meat, can give rise to Spleen Qi Deficiency and it causes Heart Blood Deficiency eventually. It is because the Food Qi (Gu Qi) produced by the Spleen is the origin of Blood, a poor diet over a long period of time can cause general body Blood Deficiency, especially in the Heart.
Long-term anxiety, sadness, grief and worry disturb the Mind and suppress the Heart function of governing Blood.
A serious loss of blood such as hemorrhaging during childbirth can give rise to general Blood Deficiency. It develops to Heart Blood Deficiency eventually as the Heart governs Blood.
Pathological Mechanism
This pattern is manifested by a pale face, pale lips and a pale tongue due to lack of Blood supply. Heart Blood Deficiency may eventually cause Heart Yin Deficiency because Blood is a Yin element. Dizziness is also a symptom because not sufficient Blood is able to nourish the Brain.
Heart Blood Deficiency hurts the Mind (神 Shen) which resides in the Heart. Therefore, it causes symptoms such as insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety, poor memory and tendency to be scared.
Another typical symptom is palpitation due to Heart Qi Deficiency which is a result of Heart Blood Deficiency. Blood is the mother of Qi. It often happens in the evening and at rest, often with a feeling of anxiety or uneasiness in the chest.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Nourish Blood, tonify the Heart, calm the Mind.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat a balanced diet including lamb, Dang Gui and ginger soup, bone marrow soup, milk, black and adzuki beans, congee. Eat only cooked foods; do not skip meals.
As for sports, do light aerobic or stretching exercises such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
As for other therapies, try moxibustion over the lower abdomen, meditation and breathing exercises.
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Pattern Relationships
Derives From
Blood DeficiencyRelated Conditions
This pattern can manifest as: