“Blood deficiency” in Chinese medicine is much like anemia in Allopathic medicine. Although there are many different types of anemia, in TCM we work in general to build the blood in patients exhibiting signs of blood deficiency.

Almost all the clinical signs of anemia are directly related to “blood deficiency” in TCM. The top two are the most common symptoms:
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Headaches
• Pale skin
• Poor memory and concentration
• Numbness
• Cold hands and feet
• Vision problems, especially night-blindness
• Palpitations, rapid, or irregular heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Delayed or scanty menses
• Brittle, peeling, or pale nails
• Dry skin and hair

Although vegetarianism is thought to be synonymous with alternative medicine, TCM advocates eating meat, especially for those with this pattern. In addition, incorporate more dark leafy greens into your diet. Generally, red colored foods are blood tonics i.e. beets, carrots, dark chocolate, berries, grapes, red beans etc. Not surprisingly, many of the herbs we use to treat this condition contain B vitamins, amino acids, and carotene, just like the foods listed above.

Typically herbs are given to supplement the blood, just as a vitamin supplement would be given in Allopathic medicine.

When you feel a headache coming on, drink a glass of water (most headaches are due to dehydration) and press on the point known as LI 4 between your thumb and pointer finger. On the hand, divide the metacarpal bone of the pointer finger in half and move your finger over toward your thumb where there is a sensitive depression in the muscle. Press this point alternating both hands up to 10 minutes until the pain diminishes.

All right, listen up computer connoisseurs. I know you have dry, possibly gritty and probably red eyes. Here is a simple tea you can brew to soothe your eyes and slightly improve your vision.

Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) flowers decrease redness and wolfberries (Gou Qi Zi /Go Ji berries) lubricate and nourish the eyes.

In general, use a ratio of 1:2 flowers to berries. If your eyes are red but don’t feel overly dry, decrease the berries and up the flowers a little. If they’re more dry and scratchy, add a few more berries to the mix.

Start with 5 dried flowers and 10 berries. Add boiling water and steep for about 5 minutes. Strain if you like or eat the berries when you’re done. Gou Ji berries also make a great snack.

Most local health food stores carry wolfberries; especially if there is a bulk food section and chrysanthemum is found in many teahouses. After a few cups of this delicious tea, your eyes will feel more comfortable and look clearer. Enjoy!

 In my first year of school I was a total stress case.  I felt electrically charged, like a highly caffeinated live wire.  My chest was constricted and deep breathing was nearly impossible.  I was irritable and sighed constantly.  The knot in my stomach stole my appetite and prevented me from eating more than a few bites of food in one sitting.  The pit in my throat was a major annoyance.  My energy was erratic, probably due to the lack of sleep I was getting.  My mind raced and finally after drifting off to sleep, disturbing vivid dreams frequently woke me.  I was miserable!  This is a classic case of liver Qi stagnation, a.k.a. stress.  When the Qi gets blocked, like it did in my case, you may have any number of physical or mental symptoms.   Continue Reading »

We use a lot of metaphors in Chinese medicine. Some of them get lost in translation and therefore can be really amusing. But, this one I’m about to share with you is pretty easy to understand and illustrates a great point. If there’s one piece of dietary advice I’d like you to know, it’s this. Think of your stomach as an oven. If you throw raw, uncooked food into it, it must work much harder to cook the food. In addition, the flame is easily put out when it comes in contact with cold food. A healthy oven must have an adequate flame to cook the food properly. If the food is not cooked the nutrients aren’t fully extracted. This is why most acupuncturists will recommend that you steam your vegetables (the healthiest cooking method) instead of eating them raw and heat up your food before you eat it. For you salad lovers out there, this is a double whammy… both raw and cold!

This advice completely contradicts the principles behind the raw foods diet, which not everyone is suitable for.  Continue Reading »

A very wise man once told me, “Either you think or don’t think, but if you choose to think, make a decision and act”. The first time I heard this I severely underestimated the magnitude of this advice. It wasn’t until, only hours later, I began stressing about something trivial like I really need to put away that stack of papers that’s been sitting on my desk for ages, or I should vacuum since I didn’t do it a week ago when I intended to. I realized then how so many of us get caught in rumination cycles on a daily basis and do nothing to assuage our guilt of non-action. It’s the hamster running and running in his wheel so determined to get somewhere, to do something. But sadly, there is no progress, no step forward.

So, I’m here to encourage you to step out of your wheel and either act or let it go. It really is as easy as that. Psychological stress and has a cumulative effect and when out of hand, can be crippling. Many people will become so overwhelmed that instead of being productive, become completely apathetic. Even the smallest tasks are daunting. You may notice that your moods are unstable; you’re feeling anxious, depressed, or both. There may be vague pains that seem to wander about your body. Your abdomen feels uncomfortable and distended. These are all signs of stress. You don’t have to feel this way.

Some people benefit from posting sticky notes reminding them to breathe or relax. You might also add to take action. Another thing you can do is force yourself to take just a few minutes to step away and clear your mind. Try not thinking for a minute. It is difficult, but you’ll notice a sense of clarity as the chatter dies down. Many people after acupuncture report that they feel this way. After the first few treatments, some find feeling a little tired later that day. However, they soon find an increased level of productivity and clarity and instead of thinking about their to-do list, they’re already in motion.

Sleep is highly underrated these days. When I ask people how their sleep is, most reply that it is okay. Upon further inquiry I find they are not getting enough hours (between 7-9 is recommended for most people) and they are not waking feeling refreshed. Since most people don’t know what good sleep is, first I’ll define what good sleep isn’t. Continue Reading »