Blood Deficiency with External Wind
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Blood The concept of Deficiency / Empty The concept of Exterior The concept of Wind
Key attributes
Chinese name: 血虚兼外风 Pinyin name: Xuè Xū Jiān Wài Fēng
Pattern nature: Full/Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Exterior Wind
Causes
Common causes: 1. Chronic Illness or Long-Term Health Conditions, 2. Poor Nutrition or Inadequate Diet, 3. Windy environment, 4. Emotional Stress, 5. Weak Immune System
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Rash Eczema Measles Itching Alopecia and eleven other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Treatment
Treatment principle: Nourish the Blood, moisten Dryness, dispel wind, and alleviate itching
Common formulas: Dang Gui Yin Zi
Pathology
This pattern is characterized by chronic itchiness that worsens at night, potentially accompanied by a rash and flaking skin, resulting from long-term External Wind lodged in the body that has damaged the Blood, or occurring in individuals with a Blood-Deficient constitution who contract a Wind pathogen.
The pale tongue with a thin coating and a thin, wiry pulse are diagnostic signs. The focus of treatment in this pattern is to nourish the blood, moisten dryness, dispel wind, and alleviate itching, which is essential for conditions involving chronic itching skin disorders due to blood deficiency, contrasting with formulas that focus on dispelling wind-damp-heat toxins.
Causes
Chronic Illness or Long-Term Health Conditions: These can lead to a gradual depletion of Blood and Qi (vital energy), weakening the body's defenses against external pathogenic factors.
Poor Nutrition or Inadequate Diet: An insufficient intake of nutrients essential for blood production can lead to blood deficiency.
Windy environment : Prolonged exposure, especially in individuals with a Blood Deficiency constitution, can lead to this pattern.
Emotional Stress : Chronic stress or emotional disturbances can affect the Liver, which in TCM is closely related to the smooth flow of blood and qi throughout the body.
Weak Immune System: A compromised immune system, often linked with Blood and Qi Deficiency, makes the body more susceptible to external pathogens like Wind.
Diagnosing Blood Deficiency with External Wind
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi) or wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Main symptoms: Rash Eczema Measles Itching Alopecia Dry skin Urticaria Psoriasis Furuncles Ichthyosis Carbuncles Flaking skin Neurodermatitis Contact dermatitis Drug-induced dermatitis Itching worsen at nights
Diagnosis commentary: Chronic itchiness that worsens at night and pale tongue with a thin coating and a thin, wiry pulse are diagnostic signs.
Treating Blood Deficiency with External Wind
Treatment principle
Nourish the Blood, moisten Dryness, dispel wind, and alleviate itching
Herbal formulas used to treat Blood Deficiency with External Wind
Dang Gui Yin Zi
Source date: 1253 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Blood. Moistens Dryness. Clears Heat. Dispels Wind. Relieves itching .
Formula summary
Dang Gui Yin Zi is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1253 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dredge and disperse External Wind.