You have heard that everything in your body has a Yin and a Yang quality, what’s more, when comparing two different elements of your body, they also can be differentiated into Yin and Yang. Perhaps one of the clearest examples is the relationship between Qi and Blood. Qi represents Yang, and Blood represents Yin. Yet, what exactly is Blood in Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Stick around to find out.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Blood is a vital substance that shares some similarities with its Western counterpart. You can identify it with the red fluid, but it has some unique characteristics. Blood nourishes and moistens the body, it makes sure the Organs are functioning adequately, circulates through the meridians, and is the medium of the Shen. It has a Yin/Yang relationship with Qi where Blood makes the Organs produce Qi and Qi propels Blood through the body.
Make sure to read until the very end because I have a surprise for you.
Blood in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Blood (Xue) is a vital substance along with Qi, Shen, Jing, and Fluids. It is of Yin nature and represents Yin characteristics of the body’s processes. Blood is yielding, passive, soft, takes the shape of its container, and is deep, and nurturing.
Blood is the vital substance that goes through the body nourishing, moistening, and maintaining the Organs’ functions. It is the medium of the Shen and has a deep relationship with Qi.
The term Blood in TCM is capitalized so it does not get confused with the Western concept of blood (the red fluid that runs through the vessels).
Blood includes the red fluid, but in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has a broader extent than just the fluid. Unlike the term of the West, Blood (Xue) also circulates through the meridians and takes part in their functioning.
Now let’s see how the Blood is formed:
Origins
Blood, just like the other vital substances of the body, is formed in the digestive process. When food is ingested, the Stomach ripens it, the Spleen then extracts the nutritive essence from it, or Food Qi as it is often called, and brings it upwards to the Lungs. While this nutritive essence ascends, the air Qi the Lungs bring in gets mixed with the Food Qi and creates the different vital substances: Qi, Blood, Jing/Essence, Shen/Spirit, and the Body Fluids.
Blood then is propelled through the body by the Heart.
Functions
The Blood has two core functions in the body that rely on its circulation through the body and meridians:
- Nourishing, nurturing, and maintaining the functions of the different Zhang-Fu Organ Networks ensures they work as they must: Blood energizes the different organs and supplies them with the necessary nutrients for them to be in their best state possible.
- Being the medium of the Shen: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spirit (Shen) uses the Blood as its medium. Given that the Shen is divided into five smaller Shen and they all need to be in coordination, the flow of Blood through the vessels and meridians makes sure the communication between the Organs and therefore their different Shen is guaranteed.
By use of the cyclical nature of Blood, the body can maintain its cyclical functions like digestion, creation of vital substances, transportation of nutrients, and disposal of waste products.
Relationships
The Blood has deep relationships with every organ in the body. However, three Organs have a direct impact on the functioning of the Blood. These organs are the Heart, the Liver, and the Spleen.
Heart
The Heart is the organ that ‘governs Blood’. It is the Heart Qi the one that pumps the Blood through the vessels making sure it reaches every organ. Being also the recipient of the little Shen in charge of grounding yourself in time and space according to the circumstances, the Heart communicates this Shen with the others so that they respond to the situation properly.
Being the Blood the medium for the Shen, the Heart with its propelling functioning guarantees the other Shen are being nourished as well.
Liver
The Liver is the Organ in charge of storing Blood according to the traditional theory. It grants the smooth and undisturbed flow of Qi and Blood through the body and regulates its volume. During daytime and exertion, the Liver increases the volume of circulating Blood to meet the requirements of the body. During nighttime, the Liver decreases such volume.
The Liver can easily be disturbed and strained which causes disharmonies that can include Blood, manifesting entities known in the West as hypertension for example.
Spleen
The Spleen is not only necessary for the formation of new Blood through digestion. But it has a huge role in the circulation of Blood.
The Spleen is the Organ in charge of keeping the Blood inside the vessels.
A damaged Spleen Qi therefore can manifest signs of Blood getting out of its place in the vessels. This is related to the West’s hematological diseases like purpuras, thrombocytopenia, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, and other blood disorders.
Qi
Blood and Qi have a Yin/Yang relationship. But let’s expand a bit on it. One depends on the other, and they both represent the Yin and Yang of life’s course. Qi is representative of the forward direction, of activity, whereas Blood is representative of the quietness, responsiveness, and smoothness.
Qi moves forward while Blood moves in cycles. This reflects a person’s daily life: While our force and efforts move in time, Blood is in charge of the cyclical aspects of life: your daily bodily functions.
Qi makes sure Blood is circulating properly, while Blood nourishes the Organs in charge of creating Qi.
When one is deficient, the other will also be impacted.
Disharmonies
The main disharmonies that affect Blood are Deficiency and Stagnation (also called Congealed Blood by other authors). These are the ones that specifically affect Blood, but keep in mind that it is more common to find combined disharmonies and not simple ones.
Let’s now take a look at them.
Deficiency
Blood Deficiency happens when the body or a specific Organ is not being nourished enough by Blood, therefore causing a series of signs depending on the location and level of Blood deprivation.
When the whole body is deficient in Blood, symptoms and signs such as a pale face, tachycardia, palpitations, dry skin, muscle tightness, and psychological issues manifest. On the other hand, if a particular organ is affected, then the signs will be specific to that organ.
If you want to learn more about Blood Deficiency, come read this article.
Stagnation
Blood Stagnation, Stagnant Blood, or Congealed Blood is a disharmony characterized by the impairment of the smooth flow of Blood through the body. This manifests signs such as a sharp stabbing pain that is not relieved by warmth (therefore differentiating itself from Cold), the formation of painful cysts, and tumors, and if one specific organ is affected it would get enlarged (cardiomegaly, hepatomegaly, etc.)
How to Nourish Blood
Now let’s see how you can nourish your blood for better health and well-being.
Diet therapy
To nourish Blood you need to include in your menu sweet, salty, and sour foods.
Some examples are:
- Rice
- Yams
- Lamb
- Beetroot
- Eggplants
- Black beans
- Beef, beef liver
- Pork
- Egg yolk
- Bone marrow
- Deer antler
Herbal Medicine
Here is a list of herbs used to nourish and tonify Blood:
- Red dates
- Cooked pseudoginseng root
- Angelica sinensis
- Rehmannia glutinosa
- Ginseng
Acupuncture
The following points will have a direct effect on the main organs that intervene in the flow of Blood (Liver, Heart, and Spleen). The Kidneys are also tonified because they support the Essence which in turn helps nourish the Blood.
To know how to locate the points use this article as a guide.
- Spleen 6: Strengthens the Spleen, Kidneys, and Liver improving their functioning and therefore the flow of Blood. Located three cun above the center of the inner ankle, behind the tibia.
- Liver 8: Nourishes Liver. Located in the medial end of the popliteal crease, anterior to the tendons.
- Pericardium 6: Soothes the Heart improving Blood flow. Located two cun above the frontal wrist crease between the tendons.
- Heart 7: Same as Pericardium 6. Located in the anterior (front) wrist crease, in the depression between the ulna and the beginning of the fifth metacarpal bone (your pinky finger).
- Lung 9: In the anterior wrist crease, in the depression between the radius and the first metacarpal, towards the outer side of the artery. This one combined with Pc 6 and HT 7 form the Buddha triangle which helps calm the mind, therefore soothing the flow of blood.
- Points of the Back: These are called the Back Shu points, here the Qi of the Zhang-Fu Organs gathers. By acting on these points you aid the stimulation given in the other points. Here are points for the main organs related to Blood as well as Blood itself. Great area for massage therapy and cupping.
Qi Gong
Qi Gong exercises are really useful for overall health and longevity. This one I’ll recommend is called the Heart Qi Gong because it is specifically tailored to tackle Blood Issues.
Leave a comment below and tell me your thoughts.
See you in the Next post!
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