How to understand the "blood" in Traditional Chinese medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, blood is primarily produced from three sources: water and grain essence (nutrients produced by the spleen and stomach after digesting food and water), kidney essence (substances synthesized by the bone marrow), and body fluids (substances secreted by the human body).

2.1 Essence of water and grain:

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation, and the stomach is responsible for intake. After food is digested by the spleen and stomach, it is converted into the essence of water and grain and becomes part of the blood.

2.2 Kidney essence turns into blood

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the kidneys store essence and control bone marrow, and the bone marrow produces blood, so the kidneys are the main organ for hematopoiesis.

2.3 Body fluid

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that all water and other secretions in the human body belong to body fluid. Body fluid and blood are transformed from each other (body fluid and blood have the same origin).

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the three key elements for proper blood circulation are unobstructed meridians, the push of qi, and the coordinated functioning of the internal organs. Blood circulates throughout the body through the blood vessels. Heart qi propels blood, and the lung qi, through its function of dispersing and descending, helps blood flow throughout the body, both internally and externally. The liver stores blood and regulates its volume. The spleen participates in the regulation of blood flow, ensuring its smooth circulation within the blood vessels and preventing bleeding.

6.1 Blood deficiency

Blood deficiency refers to insufficient blood, resulting in a lack of nourishment for the body. Blood deficiency can be caused by congenital deficiency, spleen and stomach weakness, nutritional deficiencies, chronic illness, or parasites. Symptoms include pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, scanty menstruation, or amenorrhea.

• Blood-nourishing foods: carrots, pig hearts, longan meat, grapes, dog meat, Polygonum multiflorum, peanuts, donkey-hide gelatin, spinach, cuttlefish, lychees, mulberries, and pig liver.
• Blood-nourishing Chinese herbs: angelica, Rehmannia root, Polygonum multiflorum, white peony root, donkey-hide gelatin.
• Blood nourishing food dietary: peanut pork liver egg soup, spinach pork liver soup.
• Blood-nourishing medicinal diet: Angelica ginger mutton soup, four-ingredient chicken soup (angelica, Chuanxiong, white peony root, Rehmannia root, and chicken).

6.2 Blood stagnation

Blood stagnation refers to poor blood circulation, resulting in blood stagnation. It can occur in the meridians or within the internal organs. Symptoms include pain, swelling, dark complexion, bleeding, and localized pain.

• Foods that promote blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis: Root of Chinese cabbage, peach kernel, rapeseed, vinegar, mushrooms, hawthorn, black fungus, peach kernel, safflower, and wine.
• Chinese herbs that promote blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis: Chuanxiong, Corydalis yanhusuo, Danshen, Leonurus japonicus, Millettia reticulata, Achyranthes bidentata, Panax notoginseng, Salvia miltiorrhiza
• Food dietary that promotes blood circulation and dissipates blood stasis: Chuanxiong fish head soup, hawthorn and rose tea.
• Medicinal diet that promote blood circulation and dissipates blood stasis: Angelica sinensis Panax notoginseng black chicken soup, Leonurus japonicus porridge.

7.1 Blood in Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Definition of Blood: "Blood" is the fundamental substance that constitutes the human body. It is interdependent with "Qi" and together they are essential for maintaining and driving life activities.
• Formation of Blood: Blood is closely related to the functions of the major internal organs. The spleen and stomach transform food into food essence (nutrients), which is then supplemented with clean Qi (oxygen) from the lungs. The kidney transforms innate essence into blood (the bone marrow produces blood). The liver regulates blood distribution, and the heart propels blood through the blood vessels to the entire body. All organs work together to form the components of blood and nourish the body.
• Functions of Blood: It nourishes the internal organs, viscera and bowels, five senses, and five limbs, maintaining physiological functions and mental consciousness. It also participates in the body's defense and regulatory functions.
• Pathologies of Blood: These are primarily manifested as blood deficiency, blood stasis, blood heat, and blood cold. These disorders can affect the functions of the internal organs and lead to various clinical symptoms.

7.2 Blood in Western medicine

• Definition of blood: Blood is a concrete substance composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma that carry oxygen, nutrients, and immune functions. Blood is defined as a liquid tissue composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, with a well-defined composition and physical properties.
• Formation of blood: Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are produced in the bone marrow and then enter the blood circulation.
• Blood function: carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones and metabolic waste, and maintains body temperature, has blood clotting and immune functions.
• Blood pathologies: manifested by changes in blood composition, such as anemia, leukemia, hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, etc., as well as diseases related to blood circulation, such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, etc.