Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
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Diagnostic Signs
Pale dry body especially on the sides, which, in extreme cases, can assume an orange color
Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
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.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
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.
Pathological Mechanism
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.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Tonify Spleen Qi and nourish Liver Blood.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle 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.
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