Cause
- mental irritation
- Spleen Qi deficiency
- a diet that lacks protein
- severe bleeding
- weakness after long term illness/chronic illness
In traditional Chinese medicine "the Heart houses the mind"(1)(2). Long term mental irritation which is excess energy/excess heat/excess Yang consumes the Yin of the Heart. Blood is part of Yin thus the blood of the Heart is also consumed(1).
Another cause for Heart blood deficiency is a weak Spleen. When the Spleen is weak it cannot sufficiently perform its transformative function - transforming food into "food essence", Qi and blood. Thus not enough blood is being produced leading to the blood of the Heart to become deficient(2). If this is the case the above blood deficiency symptoms are accompanied with some digestive issues like poor appetite, poor digestion, etc.
A diet which lacks insufficient nourishment and protein is another cause for the blood to become deficient. Severe bleeding(2)(3) and weakness after long term illness(1) or chronic diseases (3) are other causes.
If you want to learn more about the Heart and its functions from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine go to "The Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine" in the Physiology chapter.
Symptoms
- nervousness
- anxiety
- insomnia
- dream-disturbed sleep
- poor memory
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- paleness
The Heart houses the mind(1)(2). Thus “depleted Heart blood” will lead to an unstable spirit as the house of the spirit is now fragile. Therefore the majority of the Heart blood deficiency symptoms are spirit related. Such are nervousness, anxiety(2), insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep(1)(2)(3)(4) poor memory(1)(2)(3). In addition there is heart palpitations(1)(2)(3)(4) - the main symptom that manifests when the Heart is in disharmony. Dizziness(1)(2) is a general blood deficiency symptom (not enough blood to nourish the brain). Paleness is another general blood deficiency symptom. Paleness on the face, lips and/or tongue confirm that one is blood deficient(1)(2)(3).
Treatment
In order to treat Heart blood deficiency blood in general needs to be tonified. As the Liver, which stores blood, may also become blood deficient, the treatment principle for tonifying Heart blood is similar to the treatment principle for tonifying Liver blood.
A great way to tonify Heart blood is by adding blood tonifying foods to the diet.
To unlock the rest of this article select "Yes, I want to learn!" below.
Food therapy is the most economical and non-toxic biochemical approach to health and disease. Food is something we continuously use to sustain our lives. Learning what foods are healing (and what disruptive) for each condition has the potential to convert every meal into a form of therapy.
YS
(1) Deng Liangye, Gan Yijun, He Shuhui, Ji Xiaoping, Li Yang, Wang Rufen, Wang Wenjing, Wang Xuetai, Xu Hengze, Xue Xuiling, Yuan Jiuling (1987). Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. China: Foreign Languages Press
(2) Maciocia, Giovanni (1989). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Harcourt Publishers Limited
(3) Yang Weiyi, Meng Fanyi, Jiang Yuanan(2002). Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Beijing: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology
(4) Zhang, Enqin (1990). Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shanghai: Publishing House of Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(5) Pitchford, Paul (2002). Healing with Whole Foods. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books
Related Articles:
The Heart and the emotion "joy"
The Heart, the season summer, and summer foods that benefit the Heart
Herbs that tonify the blood and benefit Heart blood deficiency
Herbs that transform phlegm and benefit phlegm in the Heart
Herbs that tonify Qi and benefit Heart Qi deficiency
Hearbs that calm the spirit and clear heat in the Heart
Please read our Disclaimer
