How is this different from Qi deficiency or Blood deficiency?

Qi and Blood deficiency describes a pattern where signs of both Qi deficiency and Blood deficiency appear together, rather than leaning toward one side. In practice, the distinction is made by looking at the overall state rather than a single symptom.

What tests could be helpful?

If you have persistent fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, or paleness, blood tests can be used to check for anemia, thyroid function, and nutritional status.

What is evaluated during the medical consultation?

We also examine the distribution of fatigue and activity recovery, diet and digestion, sleep, menstruation, dizziness, pulsating sensations, and cold sensitivity.

Does this mean I just need to supplement them?

A tonic or prescription is not determined by the term 'Qi and Blood deficiency' alone. We determine if treatment is appropriate after identifying causes such as anemia, bleeding, thyroid function, and nutritional status, and after reviewing current digestion and medications.

Qi and Blood deficiency looks for the presence of both fatigue and signs of Blood deficiency

Qi and Blood deficiency describes a pattern where signs of Qi deficiency, such as tiring easily and slow recovery, appear together with signs of Blood deficiency, such as dizziness, paleness, pulsating sensations, and dryness. It is not determined solely by a statement of feeling tired or the fact that food intake was low.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: Anemia is confirmed through blood tests related to hemoglobin and red blood cells, and fatigue has various causes including thyroid function, sleep, infection, and cardiopulmonary function. Qi and Blood deficiency is a pattern identification in Korean medicine and is not the same as a medical diagnosis of anemia or chronic fatigue, nor is it the same as test results showing nutritional deficiencies.
Information to record before your visit: Please note your fatigue and recovery time after activity, shortness of breath, pulsating sensations, or dizziness when climbing stairs, the color of your skin and lips, and your sleep patterns. Please also prepare information on diet and digestion, menstrual flow and other bleeding, weight changes, recent complete blood count, iron, and thyroid results, as well as current medications, iron supplements, and Korean herbal medicine.
Scope of this material: WHO data was used to define the traditional medicine scope of Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, and Qi and Blood deficiency, while NHLBI data was used to distinguish the symptoms, tests, and cause evaluations of anemia. The explanation of Qi and Blood deficiency does not diagnose anemia or guarantee the efficacy of tonics or iron supplements. Chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or continuous bleeding require immediate medical evaluation.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning and differential range of Qi and Blood deficiency, as well as patient guidance expressions, have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideMy hands and feet feel cold

Symptom and Disease GuideChills

Symptom and Disease GuideNumbness in hands and feet / Numbness in feet

Heat and Cold ColumnCauses of cold fingertips, and Korean medicine treatment based on color changes, numbness, or neck pain

This distinguishes cold fingertips into Raynaud's phenomenon, nerve compression, or systemic coldness, and explains Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments tailored to finger color changes, numbness, and neck and shoulder pain.

Heat and Cold ColumnWhy do I still feel coldness in my lower body even when test results are normal?

Beyond simple sensitivity to cold, we examine the Korean medicine causes of coldness in the lower body and toes, and provide self-check criteria and lifestyle management methods.

Heat and Cold ColumnReasons why the body feels cold, and Korean medicine treatment when coldness in the hands, feet, and abdomen is accompanied by fatigue

This explains how to distinguish the reasons for a cold body from thyroid issues, anemia, and Raynaud's phenomenon, and describes how Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments vary when coldness in the hands, feet, and abdomen is accompanied by poor digestion, fatigue, or edema.

Medical GuideWhen my hands and feet are cold and chilly, should I only think of it as cold hypersensitivity (Sujok Naengjeung)?

Symptoms of cold hands and feet vary, even under the single term 'cold hypersensitivity' (sujok-naengjeung). By distinguishing between color changes, differences between sides, numbness, and general fatigue, and by examining digestion, sleep, and lower abdominal coldness when tests show no clear cause, we can determine if Korean medicine treatment is appropriate.

Medical GuideWhat should I check if tests are normal but sensations of heat and cold persist?

Just because a cause was not found in a test does not mean the symptoms the patient feels do not exist. The Baekrokdam Heat-Cold Clinic respects existing results while examining details not captured in test reports, such as location, timing, sleep, sweat, and digestion, categorizing them by heat-cold patterns to find points where Korean medicine treatment can help.

Comparison of similar terms

Korean Medicine ConceptQi and blood

In the context of Qi and Blood, 'Qi' is a Korean medicine term describing the body's functions and activities, while 'Blood' describes the foundation that nourishes and moistens the body. These are not literal expressions for gas or the actual volume of blood.

Korean Medicine ConceptQi deficiency

Qi deficiency is a category in Korean medicine considered when signs of functional decline are present, such as tiring easily, slow recovery, or shortness of breath and sweating with minimal movement. It is not synonymous with simple fatigue or a specific disease name.

Korean Medicine ConceptHyeol-heo

Blood Deficiency (Hyeol-heo) is a Korean medicine category that groups various clues such as dizziness, paleness, palpitations, dryness, or numbness. It does not mean the same thing as anemia confirmed by blood tests, so they must be distinguished from each other.

Conditions requiring differential diagnosisAnemia

Anemia can cause fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, paleness, and sensitivity to cold, and is confirmed via blood tests. It should not be judged by coldness alone; the cause and severity must be evaluated. It is not the same as Blood Deficiency in Korean medicine.