Do You Have Blood Stagnation? What to look for.
According to Chinese Medicine, many chronic conditions have stagnant circulation of blood as part of their root cause. This certainly goes for pain, but also in many cases of auto-immune conditions, digestive disorders, gynecological issues, and even mental health concerns.
Circulation of blood is what nourishes and hydrates all of our tissues, helping them heal and removing wastes 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 other factors, but without good blood circulation, we cannot reap the full benefits of other interventions. Improving blood circulation is a big part of acupuncture treatment, and often an important part of herbal therapy. As practitioners, we are trained to recognize the signs of significant blood stagnation. I was listening to a podcast by one of my teachers recently that elucidates many of these signs and reminded me of how important it is to recognize this pathology. Do you recognize some or many of these signs in yourself?
- Skin that is dry, cracking, possibly scaly, especially on the lower legs
- A dull or lusterless complexion, possibly with a purple hue to the lips
- Age spots
- A purple tongue; a choppy or irregular pulse
- Distended blood vessels
- Pain of all kinds, especially that which is worse at night
- Dark and clotted menstrual flow
- Headaches that are sharp and stabbing
- Numbness and tingling or cold extremities
- Masses, nodules
None of the above? Great! Keep up the good work and get some acupuncture to maintain that vitality and resilience. But if you are noticing any of these, let’s talk about it at your next appointment. Your health is worth it. Also, consider checking out the podcast Everyday Acupuncture or Qiological if you want to learn more about Chinese Medicine and your body.
