Anemia is caused by excessive blood loss, excessive RBC destruction or deficient RBC production. There are several types, with iron deficiency anemia being the most common. Iron is an important factor because it is used to make hemoglobin. In the US, 20% of all women of childbearing age have iron deficiency anemia, compared to only 2% of men. The difference is that women can lose an excessive amount of blood during menstruation.
In the Chinese medical tradition, blood is the material foundation for bone, nerve, skin, muscle and organ creation. It also contains the Shen (spirit) which balances the psyche. Iron-deficiency anemia comes closest to the usual description of what is called "blood deficiency" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). But the TCM view of blood deficiency doesn't completely correspond to the Western medical concept of anemia. From a symptomatic perspective, there are typical indicators of blood deficiency, which sometimes overlap and sometimes differ in the two medical systems.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms- pale or sallow complexion, pale lips and nailbeds, fatigue, dizziness, increased heart rate, sore or swollen tongue, shortness of breath, headache, irritability, and ringing in the ears-you may be anemic. Some people display an unusual symptom of having cravings for ice, dirt or paint. Look for these symptoms as well: blood deficiency in TCM can present with heart palpitations, blurry vision, insomnia, numbness of the limbs, scanty periods, delayed menstruation, or no periods. Also there could be unusual hair loss, premature graying and thin dry hair, dry skin and poor appetite.
Treatment of iron deficiency anemia with TCM most often revolves around acupuncture and Chinese herbs to nourish the blood and tonify the qi (energy), along with recommending a diet rich in iron. Then, if necessary, iron supplements can be used. The recommended daily allowance for iron ranges from 6 mg for infants to 30 mg for pregnant women. Consult your practitioner for proper dosage. One needs to be careful in not getting too much iron from supplements; excessive amounts of iron can cause constipation, impair the uptake of essential trace minerals, and at worst, high levels of iron in the blood may increase the risk of a heart attack. You can increase dietary fiber to prevent constipation.
