1. All diseases are caused by blood stasis
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that all diseases arise from blood stasis. “Blood stasis and blockage” are the root causes of many diseases.
Regarding blood stasis and blockage, the ancients had many sayings, such as “All diseases arise from blood stasis”, “Long-term disease will result in blood stasis”, “Pain means blockage, generalization means no pain”, “Condensation causes blood stasis, blood stasis causes blockage, blockage causes tumors, and tumors Cancer”, “There is no cancer in the world, only blood stasis and blockage”, etc. It can be seen that blood stasis and blockage are very harmful to the human body.
I believe that most people have heard these statements more or less, but few people explain or explain the mechanism clearly, which leads many people to think that the statement “all diseases arise from blood stasis” is too mysterious. Today, Dianhetang will try to explain what “blood stasis and blockage” is from different angles, and how “blood stasis and blockage” causes various diseases step by step.
2. How do Chinese and Western medicine explain the principle of “blood stasis and blockage causing disease”
Generally speaking, “blood stasis” means that toxins and garbage accumulate throughout the human body, while “blocking” means that stasis reaches a certain level and some tissues are completely blocked, hindering local material exchange.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to traditional Chinese medicine, body stasis and blockage mainly refer to qi stagnation, blood stasis, accumulation of turbid evil, etc. Its manifestations include blockage of meridians, which can be tangible or intangible.
Because the organs and tissues of the human body need to be nourished by Qi and blood. “Blood” contains nutrients and oxygen needed by the human body, and “Qi” drives and regulates the metabolism in the human body, which is equivalent to a force that drives nutrients to be transported to the body. Everywhere in the body and promotes the discharge of metabolic waste. Therefore, when there is qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm coagulation, dampness accumulation and other stasis in the body, it will cause organ dysfunction, disharmony between qi and blood, and accumulation of turbid evil, and the body will feel uncomfortable; if the stasis lasts for too long, It can easily evolve into various diseases.
Western medicine
From the perspective of Western medicine, the main manifestations of blood stasis are blood stasis caused by microcirculatory disorders and blood stasis caused by poor discharge of metabolites and secretions in tissue and organ cavities or pipes, and the two will promote and influence each other.
▏▎▍ 01 Microcirculation blockage ▍▎▏
Microcirculation is the blood circulation between arterioles and venules. The basic function of microcirculation is to exchange substances between blood and tissue fluid. Under normal circumstances, the blood flow of microcirculation adapts to the metabolic level of tissues and organs, ensuring the blood perfusion of various tissues and organs and regulating the amount of blood returned to the heart.
If microcirculation is disrupted, the intracellular environment of tissues and organs will form stasis, resulting in insufficient blood supply, insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen; carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes produced by tissue and cell metabolism cannot be taken away well, resulting in intracellular Environmental deterioration compresses and stimulates tissues and nerves, directly affecting the health of cells and the physiological functions of various organs; at the same time, blood stasis and blockage can also affect the movement of immune cells, reducing human immunity and disease resistance.
▏▎▍ 02 Blockage of lacunae in tissues and organs ▍▎▏
Stasis and blockage caused by poor discharge of metabolites and secretions in tissue and organ cavities or ducts will worsen the internal environment of the tissue or organ, damage its functions, and prevent it from working properly. Moreover, stasis will also compress and stimulate tissues and nerves. Produce various uncomfortable symptoms.
Although Chinese and Western medicine have different wordings when describing the principles of blood stasis and blockage, in summary, it can be simply understood as such a process:
Step 1: Stimulation by internal and external factors
Step 2: Circulation disorders and blood stasis occur
Step 3: The physical environment deteriorates and the functions of various organs and systems become abnormal.
Step 4: Sub-health/disease
Where does blood stasis come from?
Blood stasis and blockage can cause all kinds of diseases, so what factors cause blood stasis and blockage?
First of all, the body will produce blood stasis and blockage during the normal metabolic process. This is a basic rule and cannot be avoided. It’s just that people who have a good mentality, live a regular life, and pay attention to health maintenance will have slower and milder blood stasis; people with poor lifestyles will have faster and more severe blood stasis!
The main adverse factors that aggravate the occurrence of blood clots include irregular work and rest, staying up late, alcoholism, indulgence, excessive fatigue, etc.; high mental stress or emotional stimulation; unreasonable and unbalanced diet, preference for spicy, fatty, raw, and cold foods; and too little sitting for long periods of time. Exercise; not paying attention to keeping warm, etc.
Because blood stasis and blockage naturally occur during the metabolism process, old age and physical weakness are also factors that aggravate blood stasis and blockage, because one of the most direct results of aging is that the body’s metabolism slows down, thus the body’s nutrient absorption and utilization rate, The metabolic rate of waste and toxins gradually decreases, and blood stasis becomes more likely to develop into diseases.
3. Pathogenesis and current status of blood stasis and blockage
The environment has been deteriorating in recent years, and modern people’s living habits have become increasingly worse and confusing. For example, from the campus to all walks of life, “documentation” and the proliferation of substances have led to widespread irregular diet, heavy oil and salt, reverse day and night, and lack of sleep. In addition, people generally lack awareness of blood stasis and blockage. Although the public’s awareness of medical treatment has improved, Medical resources such as medical facilities and environment are also constantly being enriched and optimized. However, the result is that the incidence rate of various “blood stasis and blockage diseases” is increasing year by year, and the national health continues to decline.
According to a national survey by the Chinese Health Organization, only 5% of people are completely healthy, 20% have one or more diagnosed diseases, and the remaining 75% are sub-healthy or have diseases but have not been diagnosed. And the sub-healthy population is getting younger.
Since blood stasis and blockage are unavoidable, chronic diseases caused by blood stasis and blockage are particularly common in life:
▏▎▍ 01 Prostate disease ▍▎▏
| Involving disease | Prostatitis; Prostatic hyperplasia; Prostate cancer |
| Pathogenic mechanism | When the prostatic fluid, semen or refluxed urine secreted by the prostate forms blood clots in the glandular ducts due to congestion, infection, aamage to gland function, and irritation and compression of the urethra and nerves, resulting in various uncomfortable symptoms and diseases. |
| Symptoms | Urination: Frequent urination, urgency, incontinence, nocturia, and urinary incontinence;Pain: lower abdominal pain, low back pain, perineal swelling and pain, testicular pain;Sexual dysfunction: impotence, premature ejaculation, weak erection;Other problems: such as moist scrotum, white dripping, semen not liquefying, etc. |
| Common triggers | Sedentary for long periods of time, indulgence, liking to eat stimulating foods, drinking too much, staying up late, excessive fatigue, etc. |
| Incidence | Prostatitis mainly affects patients aged 18-54, accounting for about 89%, with the highest proportion accounting for 40% among those aged 25-34. Judging from the trend in recent years, the proportion of patients aged 18-24 years old seeing medical treatment has increased significantly;Prostatic hyperplasia mainly affects patients over 45 years old, accounting for about 95%. There is also a certain trend of younger people, with the proportion of people aged 55-64 increasing in the past two years. |
▏▎▍ 02 Gynecological diseases ▍▎▏
| Involving disease | Dysmenorrhea; irregular menstruation; infertility; adenomyosis; endometriosis; early menopause; premature ovarian failure; uterine cold |
| Pathogenic mechanism | When microcirculation disorders occur in the endometrium and myometrium, or ovaries are blocked, the endometrium will not grow, proliferate, necrosis, or fall off normally, or part of the endometrium will invade the muscle tissue of the uterine wall or become trapped in the uterine wall. Implantation outside the uterine cavity. Therefore, when menstruation occurs, because the endometrium does not shed smoothly, the myometrium will undergo spasmodic contractions with excessive production of prostaglandins, resulting in lower abdominal pain, bloating and other dysmenorrhea phenomena; at the same time, microcirculation disorders, ovaries and Blockage of fallopian tubes can also lead to abnormal uterine and ovarian function. |
| Symptoms | Different degrees of dysmenorrhea, early/late menstrual cycle, abnormal menstrual volume and color, infertility or ectopic pregnancy, low back pain, high mood swings, irritability, excessive sweating at night, etc. |
| Common triggers | Emotions are depressed for a long time, like to eat raw and cold food, stay up late, often catch cold, sit still for a long time, etc. |
| Incidence | The global incidence of gynecological diseases has reached more than 65%, and among women of childbearing age, the incidence of gynecological diseases has exceeded 70%;Among them, women reported the most menstrual-related symptoms, accounting for 50.8%. The main symptoms were irregular menstrual cycles, dysmenorrhea, abnormally increased menstrual flow, etc.;Other common symptoms include other gynecological symptoms and breast symptoms, with the proportions of self-reported symptoms being 30.2% and 20.5% respectively. |
▏▎▍ 03 Urination problems ▍▎▏
| Pathogenic mechanism | When microcirculation disorders occur in the detrusor and sphincter muscles of the urinary system such as the bladder and urethra, the blood supply to the corresponding muscles will be blocked, the supply of nutrients and oxygen will be insufficient, and metabolites will become blocked, resulting in muscle relaxation or edema, impaired function, and blood stasis. The blocked toxins stimulate and compress the nerves, leading to muscle dysfunction and various severe urinary symptoms. |
| Symptoms | Frequent urination, urgency, incontinence (urine leakage), nocturia, and nocturia |
| Common triggers | Stimulating food, holding back urine, sitting for long periods of time, unclean sex, etc. |
| Incidence | 7% of people in China have experienced abnormal urination symptoms, which means that 7 out of 100 people are troubled by abnormal urination symptoms. The ratio of male to female patients is 6:9, and the average age is 47.1 years old;88% of the public do not know whether they are sick; when diagnosed with urinary system diseases, 90% of patients will take treatment measures; during the treatment and medication process, 78% of patients lack correct medication habits. |
▏▎▍ 04 Gout ▍▎▏
| Pathogenic mechanism | When the human body’s blood uric acid level is too high, urate crystals in the blood will accumulate in the joints, body fluids and tissues. First, they will be deposited and stagnated in the distal joint cavity. When the blood uric acid level fluctuates or Cold exposure and overexertion can induce acute attacks of gout and severe joint pain; long-term excessive accumulation can form tophi, joint bone destruction, and severe kidney disease. |
| Symptoms | The joints are red, swollen and painful, the skin on the joint surface is red, purple and shiny, and the joints are deformed. |
| Common triggers | Regular consumption of foods that cause high uric acid, such as animal offal, seafood, liquor, etc. |
| Incidence | In 2019, there were 16.2 million gout patients in China, and the age-standardized prevalence ratios (ASPR) of men and women were 12.3‰ and 3.9‰ respectively;The male CPR increased from 7.38‰ in 1990 to 17.76‰ in 2017, and then dropped to 16.70‰ in 2019 (still rising overall). The CPR of Chinese women gradually increased from 2.38‰ to 5.81‰. |
▏▎▍ 05 Stones ▍▎▏
| Involving disease | Kidney stones; ureteral stones and other urinary tract stones |
| Pathogenic mechanism | The formation process of kidney stones is that certain factors (such as metabolic abnormalities, obstruction, infection, foreign bodies, drugs, etc.) cause the concentration of some components in the urine (such as calcium, oxalic acid, uric acid, and cystine, etc.) to increase or the solubility to decrease, resulting in the formation of kidney stones. The supersaturated state causes crystals to precipitate, and these crystals accumulate in local stasis in the kidneys, eventually forming kidney stones. Kidney stones fall from the kidneys into the ureter and become lodged in the stricture, forming ureteral stones. |
| Symptoms | Waist soreness and discomfort, intermittent low back cramps; some patients present with symptoms such as hematuria, frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, nausea, vomiting, and sudden anuria; some patients also experience infection-related symptoms, such as acute renal colic It often causes patients unbearable pain. |
| Common triggers | Drinking too little water, holding in urine, and excessive intake of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate in the diet, such as spinach, leeks, beer, strong tea, chocolate, etc. |
| Incidence | The peak age of onset of urolithiasis in Chinese patients is between 21 and 50 years old, with 67.7-89.6% of cases observed;There are more male patients than female patients, but the incidence in female patients is on the rise; recent data show that about 95% of stones are now in the upper urinary tract; lower urinary tract stones account for about 5%. Upper urinary tract stones mainly occur in economically developed areas, while lower urinary tract stones mainly occur in rural areas and other economically backward areas. |
▏▎▍ 06 Kidney cyst ▍▎▏
| Pathogenic mechanism | Simple renal cysts are the most common. Diverticula are formed in the weak parts of the renal tubules due to nephron obstruction. Urine is retained in the diverticula and gradually expands to form renal cysts. Simple renal cysts generally have no symptoms. When the cyst is larger than 4-5cm, it will compress the kidneys, leading to hydronephrosis, renal function damage and other diseases. |
| Symptoms | Mild symptoms may not be present;Low back pain, hematuria, proteinuria, and high blood pressure. |
| Common triggers | Improper diet, overwork, repeated infections, taking nephrotoxic drugs, etc. |
| Incidence | The incidence rate is about 10% before the age of 30, the incidence rate of renal cysts exceeds 40% in healthy people over 40 years old, and more than half of those over 50 years old can detect renal cysts through screening;The overall incidence trend is on the rise. |
▏▎▍ 07 Gallbladder disease ▍▎▏
| Involving disease | Cholecystitis; gallbladder stones; bile duct stones |
| Pathogenic mechanism | When the bile discharge in the gallbladder is not smooth and blood stasis occurs, the bile will be over-concentrated. The concentrated bile will stimulate the gallbladder wall, causing roughness, thickening, fibrosis, ischemia, etc. The gallbladder will deform and the gallbladder neck outlet will be blocked. Cholecystitis occurs; long-term stasis and over-concentration of bile will cause crystals to precipitate in the bile, and the crystals will gradually accumulate to form gallbladder stones or bile duct stones. |
| Symptoms | Discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen or right upper abdomen, and the pain may involve the back or right shoulder blade, and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. |
| Common triggers | Overeating, greasy eating, low immunity, obesity, infection, etc. |
| Incidence | The incidence of gallstones increased from 6.27% in 1989 to 10%-15% in 2017;About 85% of gallbladder cancer patients have gallbladder stones. The risk of gallbladder cancer in patients with gallbladder stones is 13.7 times higher than that of people without gallbladder stones. |
▏▎▍ Some sub-health symptoms caused by “blood stasis and blockage” ▍▎▏
| Skin Hair | Freckles and acne, dull and uneven skin tone, oily skin, and petechiae;The hair is fragile, yellow, dull, hair loss, and thinning. |
| Metabolism | It is easy to accumulate food, easy to gain weight and difficult to lose weight. |
| Systemic symptoms | Weakness, easy fatigue, loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to cold, cold hands and feet, constant numbness in limbs, poor libido or sexual dysfunction, etc. |
| Pain | Frequent backache, joint pain, chest and hypochondriac pain |
| Immunity | Poor resistance, prone to infection, slow recovery from trauma, frequent colds and colds, etc. |
……
- What exactly are we talking about when we talk about “blood stasis and blockage”?
When many people learn that “blood stasis can cause so many diseases” and “turn out that they are also victims of blood stasis”, they may still not fully realize what threats “blood stasis” poses to our lives.
Perhaps after reading these brief cases summarized by Dianhetang, readers will have a deeper understanding of this:
● 01 Xiao Liu, who suffered from chronic prostatitis at the age of 16, took more than a year out of school and almost gave up on the college entrance examination;
● 02 At the age of 29, Ms. Wu was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure 2 years after her marriage and had no choice but to end her marriage;
● 03 Ms. Zhang, an employee of a private enterprise, was politely dismissed from her job after taking leave for three consecutive months due to dysmenorrhea;
● 04 Mr. Hu, who was only 28 years old, was diagnosed with gout 2 years ago and had to give up his job as a programmer that required a lot of keyboarding every day;
● 05 Because the symptoms of prostatitis had a great impact on his work, Mr. Li, 45, was laid off instead of being promoted at a critical moment;
● 06 Mr. Wang, who bought a car and a house at the age of 38, was rejected many times on blind dates because his partner learned that he had prostatitis;
● 07 Mr. Zhang, 73, has suffered from prostatic hyperplasia for nine years. Most of his income after retirement was spent on medical treatment and never traveled;
……
If the above cases seem ridiculous to you, it means you are lucky and have not experienced these bad things. Once people reach middle age, they will find that it is not uncommon for the rhythm of work and life to be disrupted due to physical reasons. Only those who have experienced it can best understand the bitterness and ups and downs.
