What is Blood?
When reading about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) , you will regularly encounter the concept of Blood. Physical blood plays a role, but the meaning is broader than just the blood flowing through your blood vessels.
In TCM, Blood is mainly described in terms of its nourishing and moistening functions. The concept helps connect, for example, the condition of the skin and eyes, muscle function, menstruation and sleep.
On this website, we capitalise Blood when referring to the TCM concept.
What does Blood mean in TCM?
You can compare Blood's nourishing function to an irrigation system in a garden. Plants need not only enough water and nutrients; these must also reach the right place. Both availability and distribution matter.
This comparison helps explain how TCM views Blood. It concerns nourishing and maintaining tissues as well as the circulation needed for this. Blood is not a collective name for all nutrients or bodily fluids.
Which functions are attributed to Blood?
Nourishing and maintaining tissues
In TCM, Blood is associated with nourishing muscles, tendons, skin, hair and eyes, among other tissues. The condition of these tissues may therefore be considered when identifying a pattern involving Blood.
Moistening
A moistening function is also attributed to Blood. Dry eyes or dry skin may, for example, form part of a Blood deficiency pattern. Such complaints can also occur with other patterns, however.
Sleep and mental calm
In TCM, Blood is also associated with sleep, concentration and mental calm. The Heart system plays a particular role here. This is a TCM organ system , with a broader meaning than just the physical heart.
Menstruation
Blood plays an important role in the TCM description of menstruation. A practitioner considers the amount of bleeding, its colour, any clots and pain, among other things. These characteristics are always assessed alongside other complaints.
How are Qi and Blood related?
Qi and Blood are considered together in TCM. Here, Qi describes movement and regulation, among other things; Blood mainly refers to nourishment and moistening.
The traditional saying “Qi moves Blood, and Blood nourishes Qi” summarises that relationship. It means that tissue nourishment and the functioning of the body depend on one another. Circulation is needed to nourish tissues, while well-nourished tissues can perform their functions better.
What does a disturbance of Blood mean?
A practitioner may recognise various TCM patterns involving Blood. Two important examples are Blood deficiency and Blood stasis. Other patterns are possible, and multiple patterns may occur at the same time.
Blood deficiency
In Blood deficiency, the presentation is described within TCM as insufficient nourishment and moistening of certain tissues. Characteristics that may fit include:
- dizziness and a pale complexion;
- dry eyes or dry skin;
- brittle nails or hair loss;
- muscle cramps or tingling;
- difficulty falling asleep or concentrating;
- light or absent menstruation.
Blood deficiency is not the same as anaemia or iron deficiency. It is a TCM pattern identified from the overall picture, not a conclusion about blood test results.
Blood stasis
In TCM, Blood stasis describes impeded circulation of Blood. Characteristics that may fit include:
- clearly localised, stabbing pain;
- pain that keeps recurring in the same place;
- menstrual pain with dark blood or clots;
- persistent pain after an injury or operation.
Blood stasis is not another name for a blood clot or a particular Western condition. A condition such as endometriosis may occur with various TCM patterns; Blood stasis may be one part of the picture.
Not everyone has all the characteristics listed. One symptom is insufficient to identify a pattern.
What role does Blood play in treatment?
Treatment is tailored to your complaints and the identified TCM pattern. With Blood deficiency, the TCM emphasis may be on supporting nourishing and moistening functions. With Blood stasis, promoting circulation may be more prominent.
Acupuncture , Chinese herbal medicine , dietary advice and lifestyle advice may be used for this. The appropriate approach depends on your overall presentation. During the course of treatment, changes in your complaints and the need to adjust treatment are reassessed.
Qi and Blood compared
| Qi | Blood |
|---|---|
| Activity, movement and regulation | Nourishment and moistening |
| Helps describe the circulation of Blood | Helps describe tissue nourishment and maintenance |