Blood Deficiency: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

Chances are, if you have seen an acupuncturist, you have probably heard about Blood Deficiency. But, you might not know exactly what this means, or, more importantly, what you can do about it! In this post, we’ll cover the basics of what we mean when we say Blood Deficiency, and provide some practical solutions to address it through simple modifications in your diet and lifestyle.

So, what exactly is Blood Deficiency? Is it anemia?

Although people with Blood Deficiency can definitely be anemic, these conditions are not synonymous. Anemia refers to a collection of pathologies in which red blood cells are unable to deliver adequate oxygen to the organs and systems of the body. Anemia can be caused by a host of conditions, and is detected with a blood test known as a Complete Blood Count (CBC). People with anemia can experience fatigue, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, pallor regardless of skin color, and other symptoms caused by lack of proper oxygenation of tissues. A medical doctor (MD) will be able to provide an anemia diagnosis.

Blood Deficiency, on the other hand, refers to an inability of the Blood of the body to perform its functions as understood in East Asian Medicine. We use the capitalized “Blood” to differentiate it from “blood”, the liquid that delivers oxygen to our organs and tissues. In East Asian Medicine, we understand that Blood has many functions, such as:

  • circulating vital substances throughout the body (alongside Qi), including warmth and nutrients

  • providing nourishment to the Heart to allow for restful sleep and a calm mind

  • nourishing the brain and the Spleen (responsible for memory) to aid in learning

  • moistening the skin, nails, and hair

  • creating breast milk and sweat

  • providing the substance menstruation and gestation

  • bringing fluids to the muscles to allow for relaxation

  • supporting the “Shen”, or consciousness

As you can see, the Blood is responsible for many vital functions in the body. A deficiency of Blood can manifest as the inability of Blood to perform any of the functions listed above, and therefore the symptoms of Blood Deficiency can vary from person to person. However, very common symptoms of Blood Deficiency are:

  • insomnia

  • muscle pain and tension

  • forgetfulness

  • anxiety and depression

  • fatigue

  • menstrual dysregulation, complications of pregnancy or postpartum, and insufficient lactation

  • dry skin, hair, and nails; a pale or lackluster complexion

  • blurry vision

  • fainting or dizziness

An acupuncturist or East Asian Medicine practitioner can diagnose Blood Deficiency using diagnostic tools such as feeling the pulses in the wrists, looking at the tongue, examining the lower eyelid or gums, and considering the patient’s symptoms. These tools allow the provider to assess the quantity and functionality of Blood in the body, and to determine any co-pathologies that might be leading to Blood Deficiency.

So, if you’ve been diagnosed with Blood Deficiency, what can you do about it? First of all, it’s very important that you follow your acupuncturist’s recommendations regarding herbal formulas! Herbs are powerful tools to build Blood, and will allow your practitioner to address any underlying or concurrent pathologies while supplementing Blood. Aside from taking herbs and getting acupuncture, here are five ways to overcome Blood Deficiency:

  1. Rest: Taking time to rest is crucial for recovering Blood. This means getting adequate sleep (check out our Blog Post on Nighttime Routines for support on this), and making sure you are able to take time out of your week to rest your body and mind outside of sleeping hours. Because of Blood’s crucial role in circulating qi and nutrients to all areas of the body, overwork can exhaust the Blood, so adding even small breaks to your day can have a powerful impact.

  2. Nutrition: Another crucial way to build Blood is through ensuring that you are eating balanced and nourishing meals in regular intervals. Here is a downloadable Blood Building Nutritional Therapy document for detailed information on the subject, and the general guidelines for eating to address Blood Deficiency are to:

    • Eat regularly, and not too much or too little

    • Make sure to incorporate grains, leafy green vegetables, and moderate amounts of red meat (for omnivores)

    • Eat cooked food more than raw food

    • Avoid foods and drinks that you know will disrupt your digestion such as refined sugars, dairy, excess alcohol, fried foods, and very spicy or bitter foods

  3. Movement: Getting enough exercise is important for preventing stagnation, but when Blood Deficiency is present, getting too much exercise can make your symptoms worse. Ways to moderate physical activity are to make sure that you are exercising multiple times a week, but not every day; to exercise to the point of breaking a sweat, but not sweating through your clothes; to make exercise an enjoyable activity, not a punishment! Activities like dancing, hiking, working in the garden, and swimming are all great ways to move qi and support overall health without damaging the Blood.

  4. Hydrate: Make sure you are drinking enough fluids! These can come in the form of water, but also in the form of herbal teas, soups, and hydrating vegetables and fruits.

  5. Supplement: In more advanced cases of Blood Deficiency, when a patient also has anemia, or for vegetarians or vegans whose diet is limited to plant proteins only, your practitioner may recommend supplements to boost your nutrition. Some supplements we like are Taproot’s Strong Woman Formula, Megafood’s Bloodbuilder, and Floradix Liquid Iron supplement.

Thank you for reading! Let us know if you have any questions.