Deficiency of both Blood and Qi

This refers to the blood deficiency and qi deficiency take place simultaneously.

Clinical manifestations/Indications: Headache with dizziness, poor appetite, fatigue, spontaneous perspiration, palpitation, insomnia, watery stool, pale complexion, low and weak voice, or unwilling to speak, lassitude of limbs. In women, menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis with blood masses and frequent pain, threatened abortion or with vaginal bleeding, etc. Pale and tender tongue, thready, weak or deep and loose pulse.

This syndrome is found in cases of indigestion, neurasthenia, chronic gastroenteritis, anemia, hypoproteinemia, chronic dysentery and various chronic comsumptive disorders.

Etiopathology: This syndrome is mostly caused by prolonged illnesses that jeopardize both blood and qi. There are cases blood deficiency fails to turn into qi; or qi deficiency fails to produce blood.

Therapeutic Principle: Replenishing qi and strengthening the spleen, nourishing and regulating the blood.

Recipe: Decoction of Eight Precious Jewels*

Ingredients: Radix Ginseng, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrophalae, Poria, Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix paeoniae, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata.

Modern studies have confirmed that it is effective in stimulating the central nervous system, facilitating the functional activities, promoting metabolism, digestion and absorption, regulating gastrointestinal functions, arresting diarrhea, and relieving swelling and inducing diuresis, tranquilizing the mind, relieving muscle spasm, etc.

Cautions: Prolonged administration may lead to symptoms of dry mouth and tongue, thirst, restlessness, etc. Those with high fever, hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency, or fullness due to stagnated qi, or insufficiency of body fluid, or excessive thirst and constipation should administer with great care.