According to East Asian Medicine (EAM), many chronic conditions can be partly contributed to stagnant blood circulation. Blood stasis / stagnation refers to the accumulation or lack of circulation of blood in the body’s channels, vessels or meridians. This article will explore the concept of blood stasis / stagnation in EAM and its diagnosis, causes, symptoms and treatment options.
Circulation of blood is what nourishes and hydrates all of our tissues, helping them heal and removing waste and the remnants of injury. Fresh blood flow keeps the skin supple and elastic, muscles relaxed and bones strong. It is what keeps us healthy and beautiful and can heal us when we are ill. There are obviously other factors as well, but without good blood circulation, we cannot reap the full benefits of other interventions.
The diagnosis of blood stagnation involves observing physical signs and symptoms while asking detailed questions about the patient’s medical history. Physical signs that EAM practitioners look for include a dark or purplish tongue, varicose veins, dull complexion, age spots, dry skin, masses or nodules and a history of bruises. These signs can indicate poor circulation and the accumulation of stagnant blood. Another common symptom of blood stagnation is aching pain that worsens with pressure.
For women, EAM practitioners also will inquire about the patient’s menstrual cycle. Issues such as heavy or painful periods, irregular cycles or clotting, can indicate blood stagnation. Past or current injuries, surgeries or infections can also contribute to blood stagnation and are taken into consideration during the diagnosis process. Symptoms of blood stagnation can manifest in various ways, such as aching or stabbing pain, numbness or tingling sensations, skin changes, menstrual irregularities and even emotional disturbances. By examining all of these factors, EAM practitioners can develop a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s health and create an individualized treatment plan to address their specific needs.
Another, less commonly addressed way for blood stagnation to occur is through our emotions. Prolonged or intense emotional stress disturbs the mind (Shen) and causes disharmony in the organs, qi and blood. According to EAM, all 7 emotions (anger, joy, sadness, worry, pensiveness, fear and shock) have some effect on qi and blood stagnation. Pensiveness and worry knot the qi and cause qi stagnation, which then lead to blood stagnation. On the other hand, the liver stores the blood and this function can be largely disturbed by anger. So it is vital to keep our emotions controlled as much as possible.
Blood stagnation in EAM can be compared to a traffic jam on a highway. Imagine a busy highway with multiple lanes of traffic flowing smoothly. Suddenly, there is an accident or roadblock that causes a backup of cars, leading to a traffic jam. Cars become stuck and unable to flow smoothly on the congested road, resulting in frustration and delays for drivers.
In the same way, blood can become stagnant and accumulate in the body’s vessels or channels, resulting in poor circulation and potential health issues. Blood stagnation can be caused by various factors such as trauma, exposure to cold, qi deficiency or an unhealthy diet. Blood stagnation can also occur when the bodies qi isn’t flowing well because energy (qi) assists in blood circulation. When blood flow is blocked or disrupted, it can cause pain, numbness or tingling sensations in the affected area, skin changes such as dark or purplish skin, varicose veins or spider veins and menstrual irregularities. Emotional disturbances such as depression, irritability or anxiety can also be associated with blood stagnation.
Just as traffic needs to be cleared to restore the smooth flow of vehicles, blood stagnation needs to be treated to promote circulation and reduce obstructions in the body’s pathways. In EAM, different methods are used to treat blood stagnation, including acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbal medicine and dietary therapy, cupping, moxibustion and tuina massage.
Aside from utilizing EAM to treat blood stagnation, there are also things you can do to help improve blood stagnation, if it’s something you’re dealing with.
1. Move – We all hear it. We all know it. And many of us just don’t do it enough. But the truth is that movement / exercise is important for every aspect of living. Without movement, our bodies disintegrate. Our muscles shrink and atrophy, our bones become weaker, our blood and lymphatic fluid stagnates, our minds loose their ability to process and we end up dying sooner than if we had been more active.
2. Resolve Stress – This is another area that we all know we need to work on more. Stress is a killer…literally. As mentioned above, prolonged stress contributes to blood stagnation. This can manifest as everything from a heart attack to chronic gastrointestinal issues like IBS or Crohn’s disease. Find ways to deal with your stress. Write, dance, sing, exercise, etc. If your job is too stressful, consider another path. Life is too short to be miserable.
3. Eat Healthy Foods – Yet another area we are all aware of, but struggle with frequently. With regards to blood stagnation, there are specific foods to avoid and others to add to the daily diet. Foods that make blood stagnation worse include: excessive amounts of cold foods like iced drinks or salads, dairy products, fried foods, overly processed foods and excessively sweet foods. To improve blood stagnation, you want to incorporate these foods on a regular basis: steamed or roasted veggies, beans, legumes and herbs that improve circulation like onions, garlic, pepper, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon.
If you incorporate these various items into your daily routine, you will start to notice significant changes over time. But remember, if it took your body years to start showing symptoms of blood stagnation, it will also take time for it to be improved or reversed. Studies show that creating a habit, good or bad, takes on average 21-30 days of consistently performing the act to make a new neural pathway in the brain that then changes how you perceive and perform. This is why acupuncture is never just a one and done scenario. Just like going to the gym, each session builds upon the previous ones. So be patient and don’t give up.