Anemia is a health condition in which the body fails to manufacture an adequate amount of red blood cells (RBCs) in the body. Since these red blood cells convey oxygen to other cells in order for them to function normally, inadequate amounts of RBC’s lead to the appearance of a number of dysfunctions and symptoms. The most common symptom of anemia is tiredness. This is because the body lacks enough oxygen to be able to function in a normal way. There are different forms of anemia. The anemia can be severe, mild, moderate anemia, or last for a short while or even become a condition that can last a lifetime. The type of treatment selected by allopathic medicine depends on the type of anemia diagnosed by the doctor. Alternative therapy practitioners include practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) who use acupuncture, different forms of bodywork, Chinese herbs, and/or other forms complementary therapies to treat anemia.

Anemia Treatment Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

In allopathic medicine, there are many different types of anemia: aplastic anemia, thalassemia, sickle-cell anemia, hemolytic anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, vitamin-deficiency anemia, and many others. A specific type of anemia has a certain specific cause and thus, need a specific type of treatment. In TCM, however, anemia is seen as a sign that the body is failing to produce adequate amounts of good quality blood and/or that the circulation of life force known as chi or qi has slowed down or become blocked. This qi is the life-giving energy of the body and without it, the body dies. To treat anemia, TCM physicians utilize different types of techniques to stimulate certain vital organs to manufacture adequate amounts of good quality blood as well as help restore the normal circulation of qi and remove any blockages to its flow. The symptoms the patient exhibit determines the type of treatment used.

Acupuncture for Anemia in Cleveland

Acupuncture is one of the most commonly used TCM treatments for anemia. It is a procedure that involves the insertion of long, thin needles into various points on the skin to normalize the circulation of qi. When the needles are inserted, they pierce the skin and stimulate vessels known as meridians in which qi travels throughout the body. In the treatment of anemia, acupoints associated with the liver meridian is selected for treatment. In TCM, the liver is the organ system that stores blood. It also is responsible for the regulation of blood flow all over the body.

Other Targeted Acupoints for the Treatment of Anemia:

1. Stomach 36 (St 36): This point is situated over the Stomach meridian. The Chinese refer to this point as the “Foot Three Mile (Hsu San Li) point, meaning its function of resolving fatigue can, in a certain sense, enable you to walk another 3 miles farther. The St 36 improves the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, improves digestion and helps tonify blood and qi, as well.

2. Liver 8 (Lv 8): The Chinese call this point “Spring at the Crook (Chu Chuan).” It is located on the Liver meridian and is usually selected to treat deficiencies of the Liver, which are conditions often linked to blood disorders. The Lv 8 tonifies both the blood and yin of the body and invigorates the blood.

3. Spleen 10 (Sp 10): This point is chosen for the treatment of all types of blood disorders and to tonify and invigorate blood. In Chinese, the Sp 10 is called Hsue Hai or Sea of Blood. It is situated on the Spleen meridian.

Chinese Herbs for Anemia

Both complex herbal formulas and single herbs can be used to treat anemia.

There are different kinds of herbs that can increase qi and good quality blood in the body. Some of these herbs/herbal formulas include:

1. Atractylodis macrocephalae or white Atractylodes rhizome (Bai shu) – Spleen tonifier; supplements qi.

2. White peony rhizome (Bai Shao) – Yin astringent and blood nourisher.

3. Rehmannia (Sheng Di) – In processed form Rehmannia is known as Shu Di. This is a fluid generator and yin nourisher.

4. Deer antler (Lu rong) – Qi and blood tonifier and yang strengthener.

5. Astragalus propinquus (Wang qi) – Spleen qi and blood tonifier.

6. Glycyrrhiza uralensis or licorice root (Gan cao) – Stomach and Spleen qi tonifier.

7. Pilose asiabell root or radix codonopsis pilosulae (Dang shen) – body energy and blood nourisher.

8. Angelica or Archangelica spp (Dang gui) – Dispels cold; blood tonifier, harmonizer, and invigorator.

In a lot of instances, the use of a mixture of herbs is needed in TCM treatment of various kinds of disorders. The Four Ingredient Decoction (Si Wu Tang) is one of the most classical TCM formulas for the treatment of blood deficiency. This formula is made up of Chuan Hsiong, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, and Shu Di. One of the popular formulas for blood generation is Angelica Tonify the Blood Decoction (Dang Gui Bu Hsue Tang). This is made of only Wang Qi and Dang Gui. There are quite a number of formulas for specific types of anemia along with the kinds of symptoms clinically manifested by the patient. Some of these include: Shou’s Anemia Formula, Shang’s Anemia Formula, Yi Hsue Sheng, Ye Hsue Shang, Ye Hsue Jing, Hsue Bao Hau Jia, and Sheng Hsue Jiao Nang. They all have been tested and found to work effectively in treating one or another type of anemia.

Anemia Treatment using Tui Na Massage

A part of TCM, Tui Na massage treatment has been around for tens of centuries. This treatment follows an underlying principle akin to that of acupuncture, which is the correct balance of yin and yang and smooth and normal qi circulation throughout the body through the manipulation of meridians. Some TCM physicians specialize in hand and foot massage to help increase high quality blood production in the spleen and to boost qi circulation throughout the body.

What Is TCM?

TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient Chinese medical system designed to treat a number of emotional, mental, and physical disorders. This type of medical system has been around for at least over 2,000 years and has been used by countless numbers of people all over the world as a main or complementary form of treatment for their illnesses. TCM works under the principle that the health of the body and mind is based on a balanced flow and amount of energy and forces throughout the body along energy pathways known as meridians. Qi is the primary energy of the body; two other forces equally important energy forces in the body are yin and yang. The movement and production of these energy and forces are regulated by vital organs including the abdomen, kidneys, spleen, lung, liver, and heart among others. These organs work in tandem with each other. If the circulation of these energy and forces are weak or are blocked for whatever reason and/or if the organs create inadequate amounts of qi, yin, and/or yang, it can lead to health conditions such as anemia. It is the duty of the TCM physician to observe the symptoms manifested by a patient, know what kind of imbalance or deficiency that causes the symptoms, and recommend and then, if possible, perform treatments to resolve the problem.

What Is Anemia?

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, anemia is a health condition in which the body fails to manufacture an adequate amount of red blood cells (RBCs) in the body. It is marked by various kinds of symptoms including:

-Muscle cramps
-Shortness of breath especially following exercise
-Headache
-Concentration difficulties
-Dizziness
-Pale skin
-Loss of energy and fatigue

There are many types of anemia and each type is caused by a different specific cause. Sufferers of sickle-cell anemia, for example, possess a genetic disorder that causes their body to create abnormally-shaped RBCs. Their RBCs are inclined to clump together in the bloodstream, resulting in a patient’s susceptibility to infection, poor muscular development, and joint pain. One the other hand, people with iron-deficiency anemia have this problem because the amount of iron in their bloodstream is inadequate. Other types of anemia include thalasemmia, hemolytic anemia, vitamin-deficiency anemia, and aplastic anemia to name a few.