Blood Deficiency and Stagnation
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?
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Insomnia Dizziness Amenorrhea Palpitations Blurred vision and six other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Pale
Treatment
Common formulas: Si Wu Tang Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Pathology
Blood Deficiency and Stagnation is a pattern of disharmony in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine views the human body as a complex system that tends toward harmony. A pattern of disharmony is a disorder that prevents that harmony from occurring.
Patterns give rise to symptoms that may at first glance seem unrelated from a Western standpoint but that actually make a lot of sense when one understands Chinese Medicine theory. For instance here Blood Deficiency and Stagnation gives rise to such diverse symptoms as dizziness, blurred vision, lusterless complexion and nails and muscle tension (as well as seven others).
To diagnose a pattern, analyzing a patient's pulse as well as their tongue is common practice. In the case of Blood Deficiency and Stagnation patients tend to exhibit choppy (Se), fine (Xi) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
Patterns aren't exactly the Chinese Medicine equivalent to Western diseases, they're rather the underlying causes behind diseases or health conditions. Here Blood Deficiency and Stagnation is thought to sometimes induce conditions such as postpartum weakness, dysmenorrhea or painful menstruations.
Diagnosing Blood Deficiency and Stagnation
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), fine (Xi) or wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Pale
Main symptoms: Insomnia Dizziness Amenorrhea Palpitations Blurred vision Muscle tension Lower abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Thin body lacking strength Generalized muscle tension Lusterless complexion and nails
Treating Blood Deficiency and Stagnation
Herbal formulas used to treat Blood Deficiency and Stagnation
Si Wu Tang
Source date: 846 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Restores and nourishes Blood. Stimulates Blood circulation.
Formula summary
Si Wu Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 846 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Besides Blood Deficiency and Stagnation, Si Wu Tang is also used to treat Blood Deficiency or Blood Stagnation.
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Source date: 1291 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Blood and regulates the Liver. Moves Qi and Blood in the lower abdomen. Stops pain.
Formula summary
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1291 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Besides Blood Deficiency and Stagnation, Tao Hong Si Wu Tang is also used to treat Blood Stagnation or Qi And Blood Stagnation.