Are You Running on Empty?

The Common Pattern of Blood Deficiency

Discover how this often-overlooked pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Naturopathy could be at the core of your exhaustion, mood swings, and menstrual irregularities—and what you can do to start rebuilding your vitality naturally.

As a naturopath and Chinese medicine practitioner, one of the most common patterns I see in clinic—especially in women—is blood deficiency. So many women I see are running on empty. They’re exhausted, foggy, emotionally flat, or battling irregular cycles—and yet their blood tests often come back “normal.”

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and functional naturopathic lens, this picture often points to blood deficiency: a state of internal depletion that affects everything from your energy to your hormones and mood. While this is a core diagnostic concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), its signs and symptoms often overlap with what we’d label in functional medicine as iron deficiency, nutrient depletion, chronic fatigue, or post-viral burnout. In this article, I’ll walk you through the signs, causes, and natural ways to rebuild your blood and restore your vitality—starting with something as simple as what you eat.

If you’ve been feeling tired all the time, emotionally flat, dizzy when standing, having trouble sleeping, or experiencing scanty or irregular menstruation—this article is for you.