by Winston Lee L.Ac., Ph.D., KMD
Now and then, I meet a patient whose symptoms don’t point to just one organ or system. It takes a bit of digging, intuition, and traditional understanding to find the right path. That was the case with a 42-year-old female patient who came in with a strange sensation that had started recently. She said she had a constant tingling in all ten fingers. It wasn’t numbness or pain. Just a tingling that had been bothering her all day and night for the past two weeks. She didn’t remember hurting herself, and there were no significant injuries or health events. But her blood test told me a lot: her red blood cell count and hematocrit were around 30% below the normal range without any reason. Based on the physical exams and blood tests, I could rule out the possibility of Rheumatoid Arthritis or other neurological disorders.
When I asked more questions, she told me she had been under significant stress at home over the past month. It was the kind of emotional stress that weighs on the chest and drains her without notice. Right away, I thought of the concept in Korean Medicine where emotional stress creates internal fire, and this fire burns up the body’s fluids. When the body gets too dry, the nerves don’t get the smooth nourishment they need. That’s why the fingertips start to tingle or feel abnormal. So, I diagnosed her with Blood deficiency and explained to her that she needs to cool the internal fire and rebuild her Blood.
I prescribed her an herbal formula focused on nourishing Blood. The core ingredients were Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Shu Di Huang, and Bai Zhu. Each herb was selected for its role and synergy with the others. Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) is known for tonifying and invigorating Blood. It promotes healthy circulation and helps remove Blood stasis. Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum wallichii) is often paired with Dang Gui to move Blood and ease pain or stagnation, especially in the upper body and head. Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora) nourishes blood and relaxes muscles and tendons, mainly when tightness or spasms occur. It also calms Liver Yang, which often flares up during emotional stress. Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa, prepared) is deeply nourishing and helps generate Blood and Yin, almost like a slow-cooked meal that fills you up gradually. Finally, I added Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), which is not a blood tonic but strengthens the Spleen and helps the body absorb and transform the nourishment from the other herbs.
After two days on the herbal formula, she reported that the tingling in her fingers had decreased by about 50%. Her hands felt warmer, and her energy more balanced. By the end of the week, the symptom had disappeared entirely. Moments like this remind me why herbal medicine is such a powerful tool — it’s not just about treating symptoms, but understanding what the body lacks and restoring its balance.
