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Anemia

How Chinese medicine differentiates anemia, the four patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Anemia needs medical investigation to identify the underlying cause; acupuncture is a complementary, not a replacement, approach.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for anemia — 8 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
HE-7Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices. Nourishes Heart-Blood.
Ren-6Tonifies Qi and Original Qi. Regulates Qi in the Lower Burner.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood.
BL-18Nourishes and invigorates Liver-Blood. Resolves Damp-Heat.
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
BL-15Calms the Mind, nourishes the Heart, regulates Heart-Qi and invigorates Blood.
The Four Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations; insomnia with excessive dreaming; poor appetite with bloating after meals; forgetfulness and poor concentration; a pale or yellowish complexion; brought on by mental overwork, stress, worry, cold or greasy food, skipping meals, or overexertion; eased by warm nourishing meals, small frequent meals, rest after eating, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, empty at the left Cun (Heart) position, soft at the right Guan (Spleen) position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen, calm the Mind, restore the appetite.
Note: moxa applicable.

2. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Persistent fatigue and a lack of energy; shortness of breath, especially on exertion; a pale or sallow complexion; dizziness or light-headedness; heart palpitations; poor appetite or reduced food intake; brought on by mental overwork, stress, worry, overexertion, cold or greasy food, skipping meals, or inadequate sleep; eased by rest and sleep, warm nourishing meals, iron-rich foods, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin or tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, may feel empty, weakest at the right Guan position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen, address whole-body depletion.
Note: moxa applicable. No deck slide anywhere on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one generic pattern — a gap confirmed across many prior conditions — so no pattern link is given here.

3. Liver-Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dizziness or light-headedness; blurred vision; dry eyes; brittle, dry, or ridged nails; numbness or tingling in the limbs; scanty menstruation with pale blood; muscle cramps or spasms; vivid dreaming or restless sleep; brought on by mental overwork, stress, worry, a poor diet, excessive menstruation, or prolonged screen time; eased by rest and sleep, warm nourishing meals, gentle exercise, or reducing screen time.
Tongue: Pale, especially at the sides, thin, slightly dry, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Choppy, possibly Wiry at the left middle position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Liver-Blood, regulate menstruation, address undernourishment of the head, eyes, nails, and extremities.
Nourish Liver-Blood
Local, distal
Note: moxa applicable on the Nourish points.

4. Heart-Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations or a racing heart; insomnia with vivid dreaming; poor memory and forgetfulness; a pale face and lips; being easily startled or anxious; brought on by mental overwork, stress, worry, inadequate sleep, staying up late, or cold or greasy food; eased by rest and sleep, warm nourishing meals, or gentle relaxation such as meditation or reading.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, especially at the left Cun position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Heart-Blood, calm the Mind (Shen), strengthen the Spleen to produce Blood, settle palpitations.
Note: moxa applicable.
Related conditions

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