One of the most common forms of anemia is Iron deficiency anemia or IDA, for short. For women who are in menstruation, this is the most common type of anemia they can experience. About half of pregnant women are also reported to be deficient in iron. Without sufficient amounts of iron, the body will be unable to produce enough hemoglobin, a substance found in red blood cells that convey oxygen to the body tissues.
Causes of Anemia
Increased needs for iron such as those that happen during pregnancy, poor iron absorption brought about by intestinal problems, gastric bypass surgery, colon cancer, internal bleeding, heavy menses, and chronic loss of blood caused by ulcers are some of the reasons for iron deficiency.
Symptoms
-Chest pain
-Concentration problems
-Cold extremities
-Light headedness
-Shortness of breath
-Weakness
-Pale eyelids, lips and skin
-Extreme fatigue
Diagnosis
The means of diagnosing anemia may be based on what is believed to be causing it. In minor incidents connected to deficiency in vitamin or iron, the diagnosis procedure is often quite straightforward. It may begin with a few blood tests. However, when the physician believes that the anemia may be associated with a more extreme condition, the diagnostic procedure can become more thorough and may include genetic testing, bone marrow biopsy, imaging studies, colonoscopy, endoscopy, urinalysis, and stool sampling.
Western Medical Treatment
IDA treatment often entails changes to the patient’s diet. Increasing iron levels in the body usually takes a while and may even take as long as six months. Sometimes, iron injections are needed if the condition of the patient does not get better under oral therapy.
Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
IDA therapy with TCM is often based on what we refer to as “Differential Diagnosis”. This is a process entailing very rigorous evaluation of the symptoms and signs so that the practitioner can come up with a specific and correct diagnosis. In TCM, practitioners search for a “pattern” or a certain group of symptoms. One typical pattern for IDA is known in TCM as “blood deficiency”. A patient can present a single or multiple patterns in his/her body all at once. A “blood deficiency” pattern may be caused by another pattern known as “spleen qi deficiency”. The diagnosis of every patient is always based on what pattern he/she manifests.
Treatment
The treatment utilized by Chinese medicine practitioners will be aimed in addressing the symptoms as well as the root cause of the disease. The modalities often utilized in TCM for patterns related to IDA include diet, massage, acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Specifically concocted herbal formulas as well as acupuncture are needed to help create more qi and blood as well as to enhance digestion, regulate menstruation, and stop bleeding without any harmful side-effects. Massage has proven to help produce more red blood cell count and improve circulation. A vitamin-rich and iron-rich diet coupled with recommendations for bettering digestion can be vital to a successful therapy.
Combining Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine
The integration of TCM and Western Medicine is by far the best therapeutic approach in resolving IDA. Your acupuncturist and doctor can work together to furnish you with a comprehensive plan of treatment is both effective and safe.
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