Anemia according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Anemia factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Symptoms: Weak voice Loose stools Poor appetite and two other symptoms
Recommended formula: Si Jun Zi Tang
Symptoms: Impotence Incontinence Spermatorrhea and six other symptoms
Recommended formula: You Gui Wan
In Chinese Medicine, anemia can be associated with six so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here anemia can be caused by six different patterns.
To understand whether someone's anemia might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from anemia alone. For instance when anemia is caused by the pattern Spleen Qi Deficiency, patients also experience symptoms such as pale complexion, weak voice, poor appetite and loose stools. Similarly, patients with Spleen Qi Deficiency typically exhibit soggy (Ru) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
We've listed below a description of the six patterns associated with anemia so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below twelve formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with anemia, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The six "patterns of disharmony" associated with anemia
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Soggy (Ru), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Si Jun Zi Tang
Symptoms: Weak voice Loose stools Poor appetite Pale complexion Weakness in the limbs
Anemia might be due to Spleen Qi Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as pale complexion, weak voice, poor appetite and loose stools. Similarly, patients with Spleen Qi Deficiency typically exhibit soggy (Ru) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: You Gui Wan
Symptoms: Impotence Incontinence Spermatorrhea Aversion to cold Cold extremities Edema of the lower extremities Weakness and aching in the knees Exhaustion from long-term illness Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Anemia might be due to Kidney Yang Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as exhaustion from long-term illness, aversion to cold, cold extremities and impotence. Similarly, patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Heart and Spleen Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Pi Tang
Symptoms: Fatigue Anxiety Insomnia Menorrhagia Palpitations Forgetfulness Poor appetite Pale complexion Abnormal uterine bleeding
Anemia might be due to Heart and Spleen Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as forgetfulness, palpitations, insomnia and fatigue. Similarly, patients with Heart and Spleen Deficiency typically exhibit fine (Xi) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency
Recommended herbal formula: Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Symptoms: Fatigue Coughing Dry skin Dry mouth Dry throat Weight loss Palpitations Feverishness Forgetfulness Poor appetite Shortness of breath Dyspnea on exertion Restlnessness at night
Anemia might be due to Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as palpitations, forgetfulness, restlnessness at night and feverishness.
Read more about Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency here
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Qi Deficiency
Recommended herbal formula: Ba Zhen Tang
Symptoms: Weak voice Aversion to speak Shortness of breath
Anemia might be due to Lung Qi Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as shortness of breath, weak voice and aversion to speak.
Ginseng (Ren Shen) is the key herb for Ba Zhen Tang, a formula used for Qi and Blood Deficiency
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Recommended herbal formula: Ba Zhen Tang
Symptoms: Vertigo Pale face Pale lips Pale tongue Palpitations
Anemia might be due to Qi and Blood Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as palpitations, vertigo, pale face and pale lips.
The twelve herbal formulas that might help with anemia
Ba Zhen Tang
Source date: 1326 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and augments Qi. Tonifies and augments Blood.
Why might Ba Zhen Tang help with anemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Lung Qi Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency and Qi and Blood Deficiency which are sometimes associated with anemia. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Si Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Si Jun Zi Tang help with anemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Spleen Qi Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with anemia. If it looks like you might suffer from Spleen Qi Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with anemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Kidney Yang Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with anemia. If it looks like you might suffer from Kidney Yang Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with anemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heart and Spleen Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with anemia. If it looks like you might suffer from Heart and Spleen Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi and Blood. Nourishes the Heart. Calms the spirit.
Why might Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang help with anemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with anemia. If it looks like you might suffer from Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
