Blood+Loss

See also bleeding disorders IBIS:

Definition:
loss of blood from the circulatory system

Etiology:
Bleeding may occur overtly, as from a wound where there is much free-flowing blood from the body; or it may be insidious and unnoticeable until symptoms of severe blood loss occur (as into a body cavity). The most obvious common cause of gross bleeding is traumatic injury. Insidious bleeding occurs most often from gastrointestinal causes (peptic ulcers, hemorrhoids, early carcinoma), and although it must be detected through labwork, the effects can be as severe as gross blood loss over time. Women may suffer blood loss either through prolonged heavy menses, or other causes (e.g. ruptured ectopic pregnancy). Death from blood loss occurs from lack of perfusion to tissues necessary to sustain life.

Somatic Therapies:
• qigong

Nutrition:
therapeutic foods: • foods rich in Iron, folic acid, B12, Chromium and Vitamin C • foods that nourish the Xue (Blood) • beets, green vegetables, black cherries, bee pollen, sun chlorella, apricots, blackberries, apples, currants, eggs, kelp, lettuce, prunes, greenbeans, spinach, huckleberries, tahini, lentils, peach, molasses, mustard greens, nettles, mulberries, parsley, liver, watercress

fresh juices: • blackberry and parsley (Jensen, p. 49) • grape and parsley (Jensen, p. 49) • blackberry (Jensen) • black cherry (Jensen) • parsley (Jensen) • dandelion (Jensen) • tomato and desiccated liver (Jensen) • oatstraw juice or tea (Jensen) • carrot, beet, and celery (Walker, p. 121) • carrot and fennel (Walker, p. 121) • carrot, asparagus, and lettuce (Walker, p. 121) • carrot, beet, and cucumber (Walker, p. 121) • carrot (Walker, p. 121) • carrot, celery, parsley, spinach (Walker, p. 121) • carrot and spinach (Walker, p. 121) • red grape and black currant (Airola)

specific remedies: • grind 15-30 g of the thin red skins of peanuts into a fine dust. Infuse with boiling water and drink three times daily (Yin-fang and Cheng-jun, p. 101) • crush fresh chestnuts into a paste and apply to affected parts (Yin-fang and Cheng-jun, p. 108) • take charcoal made from outer shells of chestnut, grind into a fine powder and sprinkle over affected parts (Yin-fang and Cheng-jun, p. 108)

Botanicals
• Achillea millefolium: various hemorrhages where amount is small, hematuria (Harper-Shove, p. 178; Felter, p. 117) • Alchemilla vulgaris: astringent (Felter and Lloyd, p. 130) • Apocynum cannabinum (toxic): passive hemorrhage (Ellingwood, p. 231) • Capsella bursa-pastoris: hematuria accompanied by phosphate deposits or passive hemorrhage (Felter, p. 274) • Ceanothus americanus: spleen congestion (Felter and Lloyd, p. 473) • Cinchona spp. (toxic) (bark): when a tonic is indicated after exhaustive bleeding, astringent (Felter and Lloyd, p. 552) • Cinnamonum zeylanicum: hemostatic strong infusion; works well with Erigeron canadensis and Terebinthinum use hot, often; postpartum. (Mitchell, p. 43) • Claviceps purpurea (toxic) (ergota): active hemorrhage (Felter, p. 356) • Collinsonia canadensis: local, atonicity, debility causing passive hemorrhage; with Hamamelis virginiana (Ellingwood, p. 266) • Equisetum spp.: hematuria accompanied by phosphaturia, cystitis with hematuria (Mitchell, p. 43; British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 84) • Erigeron canadensis (oil): capillary or passive, postpartum, hematuria, hemoptysis, hematemesis, epistaxis (Felter, p. 360; Mitchell, p. 43) • Eryngium maritimum: hematuria, combines well with Hydrangea arborescens and Eupatorium purpureum (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 85) • Geranium maculatum: passive hemorrhage from nose, stomach, bowels, lungs or kidney. Not for massive internal bleeding (Mitchell, p. 43; Felter and Lloyd, p. 929) • Hamamelis virginiana: passive from nose, lungs, stomach, uterus, bowels (Harper-Shove, p. 178; Felter and Lloyd, p. 973) • Hydrastis canadensis: passive from pelvic organs; externally for blood loss from cuts, eyeball, postpartum hemorrhage; combines with Trillium erectum (toxic) (NCNM Botanicals; Harper-Shove, p. 178; British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 114) • Lycopus virginicus: passive hemorrhage, when the bleeding is frequent and in small amounts; epistaxis, hematuria, metrorrhagia, intestinal bleeding. Indicated in passive pulmonary hemorrhage (hemoptysis); possibly controls blood circulation (Felter, pp. 464, 465) • Oleum Terebinthinae Rectificatum (rectified oil of turpentine): hemostatic effect in pulmonary, gastric and renal capillary bleeding. Dose one third cc. (Kuts-Cheraux, p. 203) • Plantago major: cystitis with hematuria, bleeding hemorrhoids, may be used with Symphytum officinale (toxic) (root) (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 164) • Prunus vulgaris: internal hemorrhage (Harper-Shove, p. 178) • Quercus spp.: astringent, intestinal hemorrhage (Felter, p. 588) • Rubus spp. • Sanicula marilandica: internal wounds, ulcers, hemorrhage (Mitchell, p. 44) • Symphytum officinale (toxic): hematemesis; with Althea officinalis for gastric ulcer (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 203) • Trillium erectum (toxic): metrorrhagia, especially menopausal with depression; menorrhagia, hematuria, hemoptysis; with Vinca major and/or Geranium maculatum in excessive menses; with Bidens tripartita in hematuria (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 218; Bastyr)

Chinese Formulae
• Yun Nan Bai Yao (patent): to control bleeding. (Zhu, p. 243) • Dang Gui Su (patent); Dang Gui Pian (patent): to increase red blood cell count. (Dang Gui Su: Zhu, p. 252; Dang Gui Pian: Zhu, p. 279; Fratkin, p. 177) • Tang Kuei and Ginseng Eight C. (Ba Zhen Tang); Yang Rong Wan (patent); Ganoderma 18 (patent): Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) (Tang Kuei and Ginseng Eight C.: Hsu, 1980, p. 248; Yeung, p. 33; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 107; Bensky and Barolet, p. 259; Yang Rong Wan: Zhu, p. 268; Fratkin, p. 222; Ganoderma 18: Dharmananda, 1990, p. 16) • Ginseng and Tang Kuei Ten C. (Shi Quan Da Bu Tang); Tai Pan Tang Yi Pian (patent); Restorative Tablets (patent): severe (post-surgical/traumatic) (Ginseng: Hsu, 1980, p. 262; Yeung, p. 209; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 107; Bensky and Barolet, p. 260; Tai Pan: Zhu, p. 265; Fratkin, p. 182; Restorative Tablets: Dharmananda, 1990, p. 24) • Coptis and Rhubarb C. (Xie Xin Tang): due to upper body bleeding: epistaxis, hematemesis. (Hsu, 1980, p. 190; Yeung, p. 265; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 151; Bensky and Barolet, p. 79) • Tang Kuei and Gelatin C. (Jiao Ai Tang); Gui Pi Wan (patent): due to lower body bleeding: menstrual, hemorrhoids. (Tang Kuei and Gelatin C.: Hsu, 1980, p. 576; Yeung, p. 137; Bensky and Barolet, p. 345; Gui Pi Wan (patent): Zhu, p. 274) • Coptis and Scute C. (Huang Lian Jie Du Tang); Gui Pi Wan (patent): due to gastric ulcer, in strong patient. (Coptis: Hsu, 1980, p. 175; Yeung, p. 124; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 295; Bensky and Barolet, p. 78; Gui Pi Wan: Zhu, p. 274) • Ginseng and Ginger C. (Li Zhong Wan): due to gastric ulcer, in weak patient. (Hsu, 1980, p. 295; Yeung, p. 144; Bensky and Barolet, p. 219)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Spleen Qi Xu (Deficiency); Spleen not Governing the Xue (Blood); Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency)

» illustrative combinations: • UB-17, UB-18 and UB-20 (+ and/or D): tonify Xue (Blood) • si hua: UB-17 and UB-19 (+): "four flowers"; nourish Xue (Blood)

Homeopathy
• Arnica montana: bleeds easily; blood vessels seem relaxed; blue spots under skin and mucous membrane bleed easily; inflamed parts bleed • Crocus: blood is black; viscid, clotting, forming into long black strings hanging from the bleeding orifice • Cinchona: passive hemorrhage from every orifice with menopause; profuse and exhausting; dark and clotted • Cinnamonum: from nose, bowels, lungs, stomach, any orifice from lifting; straining; overstretching; hysterical attacks with loss of fluids • Crotalus horridus: from eyes, ears, nose, and every orifice; bloody sweat; charred strawlike blood • Ferrum metallicum: bright red blood, coagulates easily; much flushing • Hamamelis virginica: passive venous hemorrhage; sore and bruised; patient exhibits no alarm or anxiety about bleeding • Ipecacuanha: profuse and steady bright red flow of blood • Kali phosphoricum: blood not coagulating; thin; putrid • Lachesis: bleeding from every orifice, gums, mouth, bowels; every scratch keeps on bleeding • Nitric acid: bleeding from bowels • Phosphorus: slight wounds bleed too much • Secale cornutum: slightest wound causes bleeding for weeks, discharge of sanguinous liquid, tingling in the limbs • Sulphur: sensation of heat from where the blood flows

Subtle Support
cardiovascular: • The Barcarole • The Blue Danube • Chopin's A minor Waltz • Tango music • Humoresque • Cui's Orientale • Song of India • Donna e Mobile • Oley Speak's Sylvia (Heline, p. 18)

Mind/Body
• Blood symbolizes life and corresponds to our inner being. The blood is the physical vehicle of life and the expression of our individuality. Every drop of blood contains the whole person, and a single drop may be used to make a diagnosis. (Dethlefsen, p. 195)

Chinese psychophysiology: • Spleen ~ Pi transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood) and holds it in the vessels; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered. » Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence; » Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); craving for sweets; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; easy bruising; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity. When weakened the Spleen is less able to fulfill its roles of holding the Blood in the vessels initially and building more Blood later. » The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen. This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise, overexposure to external Dampness, and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen.

• Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); and reflects emotional harmony and movement. » Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement. » Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry skin and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down.