TCM & Blood

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The TCM concept of Blood is different from the Western definition of blood.

The key to understanding Blood is to remember that TCM pays more attention

to function than to form.

 

The three main functions of Blood are nourishment, moistening, and providing

a foundation for the Shen (aka Spirit or Mind). (Bob Flaws, Curing PMS

Naturally with , pp. 14-15. Giovanni Maciocia, The

Foundations of , p. 50.)

 

Blood and Qi flow together all over the body. The Blood brings nourishment

and moisture to every part of the body. The Organs, the channels and

vessels, the muscles, the skin, the hair, etc. Thus, when skin or hair is

dry, one considers the possibility of Blood Deficiency being the Root and

rule this in or out. Another possible symtom of Blood Deficiency is

emaciation. Have you ever looked at a person whose skin appeared

excessively wrinkled - sort of like a prune or a plum? This is emaciation,

and it can arise from Blood Deficiency, Yin Deficiency, and/or Fluid

Deficiency. Blood Stasis also can play a role in localized emaciation by

preventing the Blood from getting to a part of the body. Qi Stagnation also

can play a role since the Blood is dependent on Qi to move it. Blood

nourishes and moistens the body.

 

The third major function of Blood is that it anchors the Mind/Spirit (Shen)

in the Heart. The Heart is the residence of Shen. I know this sounds

terribly esoteric and " way out there " , but it has some important, practical

applications in healing. " If the Heart is weak and Blood deficient there

may be mental problems (such as depression), poor memory, dull thinking,

insomnia or somnolence and in extreme cases, unconsciousness. "

(Foundations, p. 72) In other words, some cases of depression, some cases

of " brain fog " , many cases of insomnia and excessive dreaming have Heart

Blood Deficiency as the Root. When the Heart Blood Deficiency is corrected,

the depression, the brain fog, the excessive dreaming, and the insomnia

clear up in these cases.

 

In addition to anchoring the Shen (Mind/ Spirit), the Blood also anchors the

Ethereal Soul (Hun). The Ethereal Soul is housed in the Liver. Yes, I know

this sounds even more far out than the part about the Shen being the Spirit/

Mind and residing in the Heart. But just like the problems associated with

the Shen not being anchored in the Blood of the Heart, there are some

definite symptoms associated with what the Chinese call the Ethereal Soul

(Hun) not Rooted in the Liver due to Liver Blood Deficiency.

 

What the Chinese call the Ethereal Soul has to do with people being able to

plan their lives and have a sense of direction. Maciocia says, " A lack of

direction in life and mental confusion could be compared to the wandering of

the Ethereal Soul alone in space and time. " (p. 81) If a person lacks

direction in life and has problems making plans for his/her life, suspect

and rule in or rule out Liver Blood Deficiency. Maciocia also adds:

 

" If Liver-Blood or Liver-Yin is very weak, at times the Ethereal Sopul may

even leave the body temporarily at night during sleep or just before going

to sleep. Those who suffer from severe deficiency of Yin may experience a

sensation as if they were floaing in the few moments just before falling

asleep: this is said to be due to the 'floating' of the Ethereal Soul not

rooted in Blood and Yin.

 

" The Ethereal Soul is also related to resoluteness and a vague feeling of

fear at night before falling asleep is also said to be due to a lack of

rooting of the Ethereal Soul. " (p. 81) In other words, if some complains of

fearing to go to sleep and/or feelings of floating or falling while drifting

off to sleep, suspect and rule in or rule out Liver Blood and Liver Yin

Deficiency.

 

Bottom line: Blood Deficiency can be associated with some definite

psychological and mental-emotional symptoms as well as physical symptoms

like dryness, emaciation, some menstrual problems in women, and weakness,

tembling, and numbness in the limbs.

 

The three main things that can go wrong with Blood is Blood Deficiency,

Blood Stasis, and Hot Blood. These will be covered in more detail in future

posts.

 

Many (though not all) cases of anemia are manifestations of Blood

Deficiency. The reason for the Blood Deficiency can lie in a number of

Organs - the Spleen, the Liver, the Heart, the Lungs, or the Kidneys. This

will be gone into in more detail in a separate post.

 

The reason I'm going into detail about Blood in the TCM sense is that

understanding Blood will be critical in understanding a wide range of

manifestations of Blood problems - some anemias, many menstrual problems,

some cases of fatigue, hemorrhages, some emotional-mental problems, and some

other things.

 

The main thing for those new to TCM to remember is that the three main

functions of Blood is to nourish, to moisten, and to provide an anchor for

Shen (and the Ethereal Soul).

 

Victoria

 

 

 

 

 

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