Anemia

Common Causes:

• Blood loss
• Increased destruction of red blood cells
• Decreased production of red blood cells

Blood loss

• Acute hemorrhage: post-partum; body will catch up
• Chronic: mennorrhagia or gut bleeding 

Increased destruction (hemolytic)

• Malaria
• Sickle cell anemia
• Often re-generation can keep up with destruction

Decreased production

• Dysfunctional bone marrow (aplastic anemia)  
• Main reason is inadequate nutrients  
• Deficiency of Folate and B12 can be problem too (megoblastic anemia)
• Most common is iron deficiency

Megoblastic anemia

• Impaired dna synthesis of red blood cells
• Caused by deficiency of folate or B12 
• Folate def. less common as in most fresh fruits and veg.
• B12 def. (pernicious anemia) more common (malabsorption, lack of intrinsic factor).

Iron deficiency

• Most common type of anemia
• Could have higher demand like in pregnancy or early infancy
• Chronic blood loss  
• Deficient intake- careful with vegetarian or vegan
• Malabsorption issues (celiac, gut inflammation, bariatric surgery) 

Signs & Sympoms?

• Fatigue
• Pallor
• Cold extremities
• Muscle aches
• Difficulty concentrating
• GI distress
• Tingling/numbing of extremities
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

Treatment will depend on type of anemia:

• Find deficient nutrient & replace.
• Heal gut if malabsorption
• Source of chronic bleeding?
• Blood builders...

TCM Blood building herbs

• Research shows that Dong Quai enhances RBC formation

TCM Blood building herbs:

• Angelica sinensis (Dong quai)
• Polygonum multiflorum or Fallopia multiflora  (Fo-ti or He-shou-wu)
• Paeonia lactiflora (White or Red peony) 
• Rehmania glutinosa (Rehmania) 
• Codonopsis pilosula

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Rumex crispus (yellow dock)

• Reputation for anemia
• Studies reveal a benefit in raising iron when combined with iron, yet not by itself.
• Better absorption (inflammation?)

RDA for iron

• Women 19-50 yrs= 18 mg. (post-menopause= 8 g)
• Pregnancy=27mg.
• Men 19-50 yrs=8 mg.
• **Vegetarians need to double RDA
• What helps and hinders non-heme iron absorption?

Highest iron foods:

• Mollusks- 24mg (3 oz)
• Animal liver-113 mg (4 oz)
• Pumpkin seeds- 34 mg (1 cup)
• Nuts-7.8 mg (1 cup)
• Beef and lamb 3.1 (3 oz)

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• Beans & Pulses 6.6mg (1 cup cooked)
• dark leafy greens-6 mg (1 c cooked)
• Dark chocolate 5 mg (1 square)
• Tofu 3.4 mg (1 cup)

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