What does it mean when Qi and Blood are deficient?

This is a diagnostic expression used when functional issues, such as fatigue and decreased recovery power, appear alongside clues of nutritional status, such as paleness, dryness, or numbness.

Is this the same as blood circulation?

They are not the same. Blood circulation is a medical term regarding blood vessels and blood flow, whereas Qi and Blood is a broader concept in Korean medicine used to explain various bodily functions.

How is this confirmed during a medical evaluation?

We examine activity levels and fatigue, diet and digestion, sleep, menstruation, skin color, and the distribution of cold sensations or numbness.

Is the term 'Qi and Blood circulation' the same as blood circulation?

They are not the same. Blood circulation refers to the state of blood vessels and blood flow, while the flow of Qi and Blood is an expression in Korean medicine that explains the relationship between function and nutritional status. If a vascular disease is suspected, medical tests should be checked first.

Qi and Blood do not simply refer to energy and blood volume

In Korean medicine, Qi and Blood are basic concepts used together to explain the body's activity and function (Qi) and the foundation that nourishes and moistens tissues (Blood). They do not correspond one-to-one with the general notion of 'energy' or the blood volume measured by tests; rather, they are a language used to explain the relationship between symptoms and clinical findings.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: Blood circulation is a medical term regarding the heart, blood vessels, and blood flow, and anemia is a condition confirmed through blood tests, such as hemoglobin levels. Since saying that Qi and Blood are deficient or blocked is not a diagnostic name for these diseases, symptoms like fatigue, numbness, cold sensations, or pain are not automatically interpreted as blood circulation problems.
Information to record before your visit: Please record your activity level, recovery time after fatigue, diet, digestion, sleep, skin color, dryness, bruising, menstruation, and any other bleeding. Preparing the location and movement of cold sensations, numbness, or pain, as well as recent blood tests, blood pressure, and current medications, makes it easier to distinguish between medical causes and specific Korean medicine categories such as Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, or blood stasis.
Scope of this material: WHO data was used to define the scope of traditional medicine terms for Qi and Blood, and NHLBI data was used to distinguish the symptoms and blood tests of anemia. Explanations of Qi and Blood do not diagnose anemia or vascular diseases, nor do they guarantee the efficacy of restorative herbal medicine. Chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, sudden one-sided paralysis, or swelling of the limbs 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 of Qi and Blood, the scope of differentiation, and 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

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Check the guides where these terms are used

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When symptoms of cold hands, feet, and abdomen persist, we look beyond simple lack of circulation to examine the causes and characteristics of coldness from a Korean medicine perspective and provide a checklist for self-assessment.

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This explains how cold feet in people with diabetes are categorized into actual cold sensation, peripheral nerve sensory changes, or blood flow issues, and describes Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments based on Spleen-Yang deficiency, Kidney-Yang deficiency, or Qi and Blood deficiency.

Medical GuideWhere should I start checking when sensations of heat and cold recur?

Even if there are no clear abnormalities in tests, recurring sensations of heat and cold are a definite discomfort. By gathering information on the area, time of day, duration, and accompanying changes such as sleep, sweat, and digestion, we can examine the branches of symptoms more precisely from the perspective of heat and cold and determine the direction of Korean medicine treatment.

Medical GuideWhat should I record before a consultation for heat or cold sensations?

Even if the cause was not revealed in tests, you can describe your discomfort in detail. By noting the onset time, location, times when symptoms worsen, and changes in sweating, numbness, dry mouth, or sleep, and by preparing previous test results and medications, we can more accurately examine the patterns of heat and cold and the direction of Korean medicine treatment.

Comparison of similar terms

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.

Korean Medicine ConceptQi and blood deficiency

Qi and Blood Deficiency (Gi-hyeol-yang-heo) is a Korean medicine category determined by observing whether clues such as dizziness, paleness, palpitations, and coldness appear alongside fatigue and decreased recovery power. It is not the same as a diagnosis of anemia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Korean Medicine ConceptBlood stasis

Eohyeol is a category in Korean medicine that groups together fixed pain in one area, stabbing sensations, bruising or skin color changes, and menstrual changes. It is not a medical diagnosis such as thrombosis or vascular occlusion.