Spleen and Heart Blood Deficiency
Spleen and Heart Blood Deficiency
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Pale and Thin
Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
The key characteristic symptoms here are the palpitations, the insomnia, the fatigue, the loose stools and the scanty periods.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
A diet lacking in Blood-producing foods such as meat and grains leads to Blood Deficiency in general and Spleen Blood Deficiency specifically.
Sadness, grief, anxiety and worry over a long period of time can disturb the Mind which affects the Heart since this is where it resides. Since the Heart governs Blood, this eventually may lead to Heart Blood Deficiency.
Excessive physical activity may injure the muscles and therefore the Spleen, since it "controls the muscles". When the Spleen is impaired for a long time, Spleen Blood Deficiency may develop as Food-Qi produced by the Spleen is the essential ingredient of Blood.
A severe blood loss, for instance during childbirth, can induce general Blood Deficiency. This, in time, can lead to Heart Blood Deficiency. As Spleen-Qi holds Blood, blood loss also weakens Spleen-Qi and eventually impair the Spleen's role in producing Blood.
Pathological Mechanism
The symptoms described here are of course a mix of symptoms from Spleen Blood Deficiency and Heart Blood Deficiency.
The Spleen rules transformation and transportation of food, Qi, and Body Fluids and their distribution to other Zang Organs. It is the origin of Blood production and keeps it running inside the vessels. The typical manifestations are general fatigue, muscle weakness as well as pale lips and face.
The Heart's main function in Chinese Medicine is to govern the flow of Blood, the Blood vessels and to house the Spirit / Mind (Shen - 神). Its symptoms include the so-called "psychological" symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness or easily scared.
Spleen Blood Deficiency here is not really a pattern per se, more of a consequence of Spleen Qi Deficiency. It describes what happens when a Deficient Spleen cannot generate enough Food-Qi (Gu Qi) which in turn induces a depressed production of Blood.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Nourish Blood, tonify the Heart and the Spleen, calm the Mind.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
To counter Spleen Blood Deficiency, it's important to eat a diet rich in Blood-nourishing foods like meats and grains.
It's also important to steer away from excessive physical activity, at work or sport. It injures the muscles and therefore the Spleen. Favor mild activities: if sport, Qigong is ideal.
Emotional stress is also very damaging for this pattern, particularly emotions like sadness, grief, anxiety and worry.
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