Improve Anemia With Diet and Lifestyle Tips From TCM Physician

According to traditional Chinese medicine, adjusting eating habits, integrating dietary therapy, and getting plenty of rest can help improve anemia.

Anemia can be improved by adjusting eating habits. New Africa/Shutterstock

Anemia can be caused by a multitude of factors, including iron, folate, or vitamin B12 deficiencies, and even certain medications. It can also be caused by bone marrow, gastrointestinal, renal, or liver diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regards the intestines and stomach as the hematopoietic center. Therefore, adjusting eating habits and combining TCM dietary therapy can help improve anemia.

The red blood cells (RBCs) in human blood are responsible for carrying oxygen to the whole body. If the number of RBCs or the hemoglobin within them is too low, it may lead to insufficient oxygen supply in the body, resulting in a condition called anemia. In quantitative terms, anemia is defined as hemoglobin levels below 13.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in adult men and below 12.0 g/dL in non-pregnant women.

Self-Test for Anemia Symptoms

What are the symptoms of anemia? Common symptoms are frailty, shortness of breath, dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, throbbing or whistling in the ears, headache, cold hands and feet, chest pain, and pale or skin turning yellowish.