Pattern Empty

Loss of Blood

Shī Xuè 失血

Educational content Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

Diagnostic Signs

Diagnostic Considerations

Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the bleeding from nose, mouth, vagina, anus and etc.

Causes & Pathology

Pathological Mechanism

There are two types of Loss of Blood: Empty or Excess.

The Empty type mainly refers to the Deficient Qi failing to hold Blood in the vessel. Then the Heat in the Blood pushes it out. The color of the blood is pales while the quantity is profuse. The loss of Blood can be prolonged.

Another Empty type is due to Yin Deficiency, which cause Empty Heat in the Blood. Then the agitated Blood get reckless and leaks out of vessels. The Blood is color is bright red but scanty.

The Excess types are caused by Heat in the Blood or Blood Stagnation. The former is more common and the Blood color is fresh red or dark color. The volume is heavy.

As for the second Excess type, when Blood stagnates, it blocks the vessels and accumulate Heat, which then cause bleeding with very dark Blood and often clots. The volume is comparatively scanty as the majority of Blood are stagnated.

Treatment Approach

Treatment Principle

Cools the Bloods, stop bleeding, supply Body Fluids