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>I am 62 and have those brown age spots on my hands. If that is

>what you termed " Blood Stasis " how do you correct it? I would love

>to not have these.

 

First, you or your TCM healer need to determine if there is Blood Stasis.

One symptom alone seldom makes a TCM syndrome. I'll be posting separately

on the signs and symptoms of Blood Stasis.

 

In the meanwhile, this is from Aging & Blood Stasis: A New Approach to

Geiatrics by Yan De-Xin:

 

" The brown spots on the skin of the face, hands, and upper back are called

lao nian ban or old age patches and shou ban, longevity patches.

Investigation confirms that the incidence of these brown patches on the skin

increases with age. Seventy-five percent of people aged 60-79 have them,

while 89% of those aged 80-90 have them. Moreover, if these brown patches

on the skin spread widely, then senility is severe. Thus we may see that

old age patches are universally accepted as a criterion for determining the

senility of the organism. At the same time, old peoples' skin also becomes

rough, inelastic, and pigmented darkly. TCM refers to this as scaly, dry

skin, and it is a typical symptom of static blood.

 

" Scaly, dry skin is caused by vacuity taxation blood stasis, in which case

there is dry blood internally. Because the elderly are affected by blood

stasis, fresh blood is not engendered, while vanquished blood accumulates.

Therefore, the skin loses its moistening and nourishment and becomes rough.

In addition, superfluous substance and neoplastic tissue may grow. "

 

In the first paragraph, it makes sense that old age patches, Blood Stasis,

and senility would be linked. Part of what Blood Stasis is is poor

circulation. (It's a bit more than that, but this is a good way to think of

it.) Western herbalists are using ginko biloba leaves and other herbs which

improve circulation to treat many cases of senility. When blood flow to the

brain increases, people are more alert.

 

In the second paragraph, I'm not sure exactly what he means by " vacuity

taxation blood stasis " beyond the fact that Blue Poppy Press books use the

term " vacuity " instead of " empty " or " Deficient " . This would be Blood

Stasis arising from a Deficiency condition, probably Spleen Qi Deficiency.

The Spleen plays a major role in both the production of Blood and in the

transformation and transportation of Fluids. If the Spleen and Qi are not

performing their transporting function properly, Blood can Stagnate.

 

Also, anything which triggers dehydration can trigger Blood Stasis. Very

thick blood does not circulate very well. I once knew a PWC (Person With

CFIDS) who was so dehydrated he had to be hospitalized. The staff reported

that his blood was like syrup.

 

Some of the things which can trigger dehyrdation are Excess or Deficiency

Heat. Heat dries. But Dampness and Yang Deficiency also can lead to

dehydration. One of the symptoms of Dampness accumulation is the person may

have an aversion to drinking water or any liquids because of the Dampness.

In time, even though the Dampness persists in parts of the person,

dehydration and Dryness also results. One of the first areas of the body to

be affected by dehydration is the blood.

 

Kidney Yang Deficiency also can lead to dehydration. Some severly Yang

Deficient people who have had the problem for some time will be reluctant to

drink anything but hot soups. Feeling chilly and having problems warming up

is a problem for people who are Yang Deficient. A sip of room temperature

water or even warm tea in very severe cases can cause a Yang Deficient

person to feel even colder. Thus, the aversion to drinking liquids in Yang

Deficient people and the resulting dehydration if this goes on too long.

Many PWCs are Kidney Yang Deficient. Also, as people age Kidney Yang and

Yin tend to decline.

 

The sweating caused by Qi Deficiency or Yin Deficiency (night sweats) can

lead to dehydration. It goes without saying that loss of blood through

heavy menstrual periods or accident also cause blood volume to decrease and

this in turn can trigger Blood Stasis.

 

In addition, any trauma - surgery or accident - can cause Blood to congeal

and Stagnate. A bruise is congealed Blood. Apple cidar vinegar and salt

packs are good for preventing bruising and resolving old ones. Chives also

will help. Some people unknowlingly follow diets that help resolve Blood

Stasis and congealed Blood. Others may still have problems with Blood

Stasis and old, congealed Blood years or decades after the orginal trauma.

 

From a Western standpoint, vitamin B12 deficiency and/or certain chronic

medical conditions can cause poor blood circulation. Healthy red blood

cells have a certain shape and are flexible. These are called discocytes.

Non-discocytes are misshapen, inflexible red blood cells. Non-discocytes

have problems making it through the smaller capillaries because of their odd

shapes and rigidity. This can cause circulation problems. B12 promotes the

production of healthy discocytes. A number of Western-defined medical

conditions are marked by higher than normal percentages of nondiscocytes -

diabetes, CFIDS, etc. (For more information on nondiscocytes, see the work

of New Zealand researcher L.O. Simpson, M.D..)

 

Sunlight (UV radiation) can cause capillaries to shrink and spasm in some

individuals. This results in poor circulation. Some people will report

that being out in the sun makes them feel sick and dizzy. In some of these

cases, it's not the heat making them sick but the resulting poor circulation

problems.

 

Cold also can trigger Blood Stasis. This can be Yang Deficiency Cold or

Excess Cold that invades from the environment. It also can include Excess

Cold that results from too many cold and/or raw foods. Cold slows down and

congeals. Cold can trigger both Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis.

 

Qi Stagnation can trigger Blood Stasis, and Blood Stasis can trigger Qi

Stagnation.

 

These are some of the possible etiologies of Blood Stasis.

 

Victoria

 

 

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