Blood Deficiency

Definition:
Blood deficiency is an imbalance where the blood is low on nutrients and/or the liver is not able to generate enough blood. In Western terms, this correlates to anemia, although there are early detection signs before a person is actually advanced to the stage of anemia.

Blood deficiency occurs when someone is not taking in enough food or the food does not have enough nutrients in it.

It also may happen because the body is not properly able to digest and extract the nutrients from the food.

Trigger and Aggravating Factors

  • Irregular Eating Habits

  • Poor Diet

  • Limited calorie intake (dieting)

  • Poor Digestion

  • Heavy Periods

  • Vegan/Vegetarian Diet

  • Blood Stagnation

  • Lack of restoring nutrition, blood, and bodily fluids after childbirth and during breastfeeding, as well as adequate rest during these times.

Related Emotions

  • Sadness

  • Loss

Indicators/Body Signs:

  • Light-colored menses

  • Energy drop during or after a period

  • Headaches

  • Absent periods

  • Scanty periods

  • Heavy periods

  • Anovulation

  • Difficulty conceiving

  • Low breastmilk

  • Late Menarche

  • Late Postpartum Menstrual Return

  • Long Menstrual Cycles

  • Anemia

  • Low Breast Milk

  • Depression

Medical Diagnosis and Treatment:
In Western medicine, Blood Deficiency correlates to anemia through Blood Deficiency can be detected much earlier.

Medical treatment involves iron pills, monitoring, and blood transfusions.

Traditional Asian Medicine / Acupuncture:
The concept of Blood Deficiency here relates to both Blood Deficiency and Yin Deficiency in TCM.

Steam Therapy:

STEAM RESPONSIVENESS: Moderate.

Needs to be coupled with additional practices to be all the way successful.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Steam can be helpful by helping improve circulation to the blood system which may be an important factor in increasing the body’s ability to absorb and disperse nutrients.

Steaming with herbs that have blood-tonic properties may also introduce nutrients into the bloodstream.

It’s also possible that steaming and/or doing an herbal soak with blood tonic herbs may be helpful for absorption if weak digestion is a factor preventing the blood from receiving nutrients.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Here are some of the observations that people report after steaming. These observations would indicate an improvement in blood nourishment.

A difference in the menses color (from orange/pink to more red color).

A decrease in some of the side effects of blood deficiency (like headaches).

An increase in the period length (from only one day to two, for example).

STEAM FACILITATOR (Peristeam Facilitator)
It is helpful to work with a practitioner to find out the right steam setup, duration, and herbs. A Steam Facilitator can help with this.
Weekly steaming with a Peristeam Facilitator is a great way to support blood circulation which may be helpful for an increase in blood production.

STEAM THERAPIST (Peristeam Hydrotherapist)
If dealing with missing periods, long cycles (which often result in hormonal imbalances), or unexplained infertility, consult a Peristeam Hydrotherpaist for a steam plan that may help to regularize the cycle.

DEDICATION TIME
Weekly steaming should become an ongoing self-care practice.