Iron-Deficiency Anemia — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach

Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns

In TCM, this condition is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:

These formulas are for reference under TCM syndrome differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Food Therapy & Diet

Dietary Therapy Recipes

• Pork liver and spinach porridge: pork liver 100g sliced, spinach 150g with roots removed and cut into sections, polished round-grained rice 100g cooked into porridge; add the pork liver and spinach with scallion, ginger and salt to season; nourishes the liver and blood.
• Peanut and Red Date Soup: 200g peanuts with skins and 30-50g red dates (jujubes) boiled together in water until the peanuts are tender; eat the dates and peanuts and drink the soup. Strengthens the spleen and promotes blood production.
• Astragalus, Jujube and Mutton Bone Porridge: Crush 1000g mutton bones and decoct with 30g astragalus root (huangqi) and 10 jujubes to obtain the broth, then cook 100g polished rice in it into porridge. Tonifies the kidney and strengthens the sinews, fortifies the spleen and replenishes qi.
• Longan and Red Date Porridge: Cook 15g longan flesh, 3-5 jujubes and 100g polished rice together into porridge; take warm. Nourishes the heart and tonifies the spleen.
• Stir-fried Pork Liver with Celery: Slice 200g pork liver and cut 300g celery into sections; lightly fry the liver in oil until it changes color, then stir-fry together with the celery. Supplements iron and folic acid.

Understanding the Condition

Iron-deficiency anemia is a microcytic hypochromic anemia caused by various factors that deplete the body's stored iron, ultimately leading to insufficient raw material for hemoglobin synthesis. In older adults it often results from poor iron absorption after gastrectomy or from long-term diarrhea, or from chronic blood loss such as hemorrhoid bleeding or ulcer bleeding. Clinical symptoms relate to the degree and speed of the anemia; the most common include facial pallor, fatigue, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, palpitations, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath after activity. Severe patients may also have stomatitis, glossitis, and spoon-shaped nails. Laboratory tests show white blood cell and platelet counts mostly normal, red blood cells smaller than normal, and markedly reduced hemoglobin.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.