Anemia(Blood Deficiency)

Blood deficiency is a reduced ability of the blood to properly nourish the tissues.   Western medicine will use a blood test and if you fall within rather wide limits, you are declared OK.

In Chinese Medicine, we check the levels of the pulses and the color of the tongue.   We often can fine you blood deficient at the same time an MD will say you are not anemic.

Things that can cause blood deficiency:

• bleeding - obvious such as menstrual bleeding or occult(hidden) such as from an ulcer
• Poor absorption of the necessary nutrients:

• Vitamin B12 - you need a healthy stomach lining to absorb B12, also a reasonable intake.   This is the most common deficiency in people with blood deficiency.  More common in women, vegetarians and milk drinkers.
• Folic acid - from vegetables.  This is reported to be a common deficiency.  I don't see it often in my practice, but many eat few or no vegetables so I see that this is possible.
• Iron - this is usually the last to be a problem. Most common in those with a lot of bleeding.

 

Things that help:

• Discover why you are losing blood or not making it.  If you are loosing too much during your menses, work on that.  If you are bleeding through your stools (red blood or black, tar-colored occult blood), go to an MD and find out what is going on.  If you are not making blood, examine your diet and make changes.
• B12 - I suggest 2000mcg once a day.  Though this is much larger than the RDA, absorption is usually a problem and this much is needed to get the small amount needed to get into the blood stream.
• Folic acid - eat your vegetables.  If you can't eat vegetables, take a multivitamin - there is usually enough folic acid in one.
• Iron - If needed, 50-100 mg per day.  Some people have problems with taking iron.   It would be wise to take a blood test to find out if you have enough iron.
• Herbs - Chinese herbs are great for building blood - Wu Chi Bai Feng Wan, Ba Zhen Wan, Dang Gui Su to name a few.  Check with your herbalist.