Qi and Blood Deficiency
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? The concept of Q The concept of Blood The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 气血亏虚，气血两虚，气血不足 Pinyin name: Qì Xuè Kuī Xū, Qì Xuè Liǎng Xū, Qì Xuè Bù Zú
Pattern nature: Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Qi Deficiency Blood Deficiency
Causes
Common causes: 1. Mental over-work, 2. Chronic diseases
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Insomnia Pale face Dizziness Weak voice and eight other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Slowed-down (Huan), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale tongue with thin white coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify both Blood and Qi, invigorate Blood and Qi circulation, tonify the Spleen.
Common formulas: Gui Pi Tang Ba Zhen Tang Guo Qi Yin and one other formulas
Pathology
The Qi and Blood are from the some origin and these two elements are transformable between each other. The Qi creates the Blood, and vice versa the Blood supplies Qi. Therefore it is quite common both patterns appear at the same time.
When general Qi is Deficient, the patients lack the energy to speak, to move, to eat or to do any exercises. The weakened Qi also makes it hard to defense the body against any external Pernicious Influences or the six Evils.
As for Blood Deficiency, the patients don't have enough Blood to nourish the brain (hence the dizziness and poor memory), the limbs (thus the numbness in arms and legs), the skin, nails and hair (thus the dryness there) and the eye (hence the blurred vision). The patients also surfer from insomnia, dream disturbed sleeps, slight anxiety and depression.
For women, Qi and Blood Deficiency can also give rise to scanty periods, late periods or even complete absence of periods.
Causes
Mental over-work: Working long hours, often in a confined space, with unreasonable deadlines under conditions of stress can largely consume both Qi and Blood. Furthermore, this often results in skipped, late or irregular meals which further contributes to Qi and Yin Deficiency.
Chronic diseases: Long term sickness consumes both general Qi and Blood.
Diagnosing Qi and Blood Deficiency
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): Slowed-down (Huan), weak (Ruo) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale tongue with thin white coating
Main symptoms: Fatigue Insomnia Pale face Dizziness Weak voice Poor memory Palpitations Poor appetite General weakness Aversion to speak Shortness of breath Numbness in the skin Numbness in the limbs
Diagnosis commentary: Tey characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the general weakness and fatigue, aversion to speak, short of breath as well as pale face and lips.
Treating Qi and Blood Deficiency
Treatment principle
Tonify both Blood and Qi, invigorate Blood and Qi circulation, tonify the Spleen.
Herbal formulas used to treat Qi and Blood Deficiency
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Formula summary
Gui Pi Tang is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1529 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi and Blood.
Besides Qi and Blood Deficiency, Gui Pi Tang is also used to treat Qi Deficiency or Blood Deficiency.
Ba Zhen Tang
Source date: 1326 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and augments Qi. Tonifies and augments Blood.
Formula summary
Ba Zhen Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1326 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi and Blood.
Besides Qi and Blood Deficiency, Ba Zhen Tang is also used to treat Lung Qi Deficiency or Spleen Qi Deficiency.
Guo Qi Yin
Source date: 1602 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Warms the menses. Dispels blood Stagnation. Nourishes the blood .
Formula summary
Guo Qi Yin is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1602 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Besides Qi and Blood Deficiency, Guo Qi Yin is also used to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation.
Diet recommendations
Balance diets and try these foods that rich in nutrition but also easy to digest such as rise, meat, fish, shrimps. Avoid cold, raw, spicy or greasy foods.
Try an diet that is good in Blood generation, such as red meat, spinach or animal livers.