cheya Posted July 25, 2015 What does TCM/CCM say about donating blood? Anybody here donate and want to comment on their experience? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fate Posted July 26, 2015 I remember from a Qi Gong workshop that there has been research done on the blood of cultivators, and it is very clean and free of pathogens. Also the Red Blood Cells are not misshapen and healthy looking. If you're healthy and strong from regular Qi Gong practice, please share your blood with the world. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Synchronic Posted July 28, 2015 Hi there, I'm no acupuncturist but have some experience with losing small but consistent amounts of blood. Last year I participated in a research study which was looking at metabolic rates and how genetics and environment can affect chances of obesity. During the study I was attached via a tube going into my forearm which would draw blood about 8 times a day for 3 days. A fairly large amount would be drawn, then the majority pumped back in with only a small bit being used for a sample/blood analysis. After the 3 days I wen't home and tried to jam (improvise musically) with a drummer and good friend of mine with whom I often have near "psychic" level connective-ness while playing music, where we are both "in the zone" (Wu Wei) and are not conscious of what we are doing but are coming out with interesting and unique stuff that is locked in with each other and following each others changes instantaneously etc... The thing was after losing the blood I felt like I could not enter this state, and my playing and musicality suffered greatly, to the extent that I was scared that I had lost much of my musical/intuitive/improvisational abilities... this lasted for a few days before gradually coming back. I attributed this to losing some of my life force/chi/spirit, and I am very wary of giving or losing any largish amounts of blood now in the future. Just my experience, I have heard that in TCM it is believed that losing blood can lead to loss of Chi or Jing (can't remember exactly). Seems to corroborate my experience. Thanks 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted July 29, 2015 (edited) They used bloodletting in the olden days, and leeches, and in cases when these procedures weren't abused and misused, they could efficiently and safely lower the patient's high blood pressure (without toxic chemicals used today for the purpose) and often prevented a looming stroke. There were some other indications -- but also warnings against using these procedures on patients of the wrong "constitution." Acupuncturists in China did this too -- I've seen instruments in a museum of acupuncture in China that were used for the purpose. Also cupping coupled with bleeding is still used today. It is only used on people who will benefit from losing some blood though -- and it's not "everybody," of course. Some people need to build up their blood -- there's many, many TCM formulas specifically designed for the purpose. A sudden drop in one's blood volume can be very hard on many organs and systems of the body, and anemic, weakened, malnourished, etc., donors are at a greater risk of adverse effects. Where I come from donors were turned down if they had nearsightedness higher than -5 diopters (if I remember correctly) because a sudden rapid loss of blood affects the intraocular pressure and, coupled with high or moderate-high myopia, could trigger retinal detachment. I imagine it would be a very good idea to evaluate donors on a case by case basis -- and also establish public transportation worthy of the level of mobility modern lifestyles require so people wouldn't be needing thousands of liters of blood daily due to vehicular accidents as they do now -- also it would be a good idea to eliminate wars, this would drastically lower the demand for donor blood -- also stop hundreds of thousands of unnecessary surgeries currently performed every year -- sorry, spaced out into a daydream... Edited July 29, 2015 by Taomeow 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leth Posted September 5, 2015 As an acupuncturist, in general there is no problem with donating blood. It will obviously effect your Xue and in some cases it should be avoided but if you feel fine there should not be much of a problem. Bloodletting has been practiced, and it makes sense in certain aspects of traditional chinese medicine to actually use as a remedy, but i would rather use some other method in such cases. Certain western studies have shown that (in general) people that donate blood are healthier than people that don't donate blood. And while i do actually think there might be benefits with donating blood aside from the good deed i have to say that i am sceptical to making any sort of conclusions from those studies. Mostly only healthy people are allowed to donate blood, and that in itself will lead to such statistical distributions. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Posted September 6, 2015 Heart governs the spirit and the blood, so they're all interconnected. I've often wondered if blood donors and their recipients become connected, even if only for a short time. I received blood transfusions this summer and I got some strong psychic impressions from each bag. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
