How Ageing Affects Your Blood Vessels — And How Chinese Medicine Can Help
How Ageing Affects Your Blood Vessels
Do you experience any of these:
Slower wound healing
Cold hands and feet
Dizziness or brain fog
General fatigue or a feeling of heaviness
Skin changes
As we get older, it’s common to notice changes in our circulation. Maybe your hands and feet are colder. Maybe your blood pressure creeps up. Cuts take longer to heal. You feel a little more tired going up the stairs. You might even notice changes in skin colour, like bright redness, a bluish tinge, or fine red or purple veins just under the skin(commonly called spider veins). These aren’t just cosmetic—they’re signs that your blood vessels may be working less efficiently than they used to.
Scientists now know that chronic, low-grade inflammation—a process called inflammaging—plays a big role in this. Over time, this invisible inflammation causes blood vessels to stiffen, circulation to slow down, and healing to take longer.
While conventional medicine often treats symptoms like high blood pressure or cholesterol, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on the underlying causes of these changes—and supports the body in a more complete and integrated way.
What Happens to Your Blood Vessels as You Age?
Your blood vessels have a flexible inner lining called the endothelium. When you’re younger, it expands and contracts easily, keeping blood flowing and pressure stable. But as we age, inflammation, stress, and oxidative damage cause this lining to stiffen and lose responsiveness.
As a result, you may start to notice:
Higher blood pressure
Slower wound healing
Cold hands and feet
Dizziness or brain fog
General fatigue or heaviness
Skin changes, including redness, bluish tones in fingers or toes, and spider veins, particularly on the legs or around the ankles
These are not just surface symptoms—they reflect what’s happening deeper in the body, especially in the blood vessels and the organs that support them.
How Chinese Medicine Understands Vascular Ageing
In Chinese medicine, your blood vessels are supported by three key organ systems:
The Spleen is in charge of holding blood in the vessels. If it’s weak, you may bruise easily or experience fluid retention.
The Heart is responsible for moving the blood. If its energy is low, you may feel tired, experience palpitations, or feel pressure in the chest.
The Kidneys support the structure and flexibility of the blood vessels. As we age, Kidney energy naturally declines, which can lead to stiff arteries and slower recovery.
Rather than treating each symptom in isolation, Chinese medicine works to restore harmony between these systems, which in turn supports stronger circulation, better healing, and more resilient blood vessels.
Herbs and Acupuncture for Circulation and Vessel Health
Chinese herbal medicine offers time-tested strategies to improve blood flow, strengthen the blood vessels, and support healthy circulation pathways as we age.
Commonly used formulas include:
Gui Pi Tang – Strengthens the Spleen and Heart, used for people who feel tired, bruise easily, or experience palpitations
Sheng Mai San – Supports energy and heart function, helping to protect blood vessels under stress and reduce fatigue
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang – Clears “stuck” blood in the chest and upper body, often used to improve circulation and reduce pressure or tension
Acupuncture also plays a key role. When points like ST36, PC6, and SP10 are stimulated, the body releases nitric oxide, a naturally occurring chemical that relaxes blood vessels, improves circulation, and reduces inflammation. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps regulate blood pressure, enhance blood flow, and support cardiovascular function—particularly in older adults or those under chronic stress.
Why This Matters
Vascular ageing doesn’t just affect your heart—it affects how you think, move, heal, and feel day-to-day. Circulation plays a role in everything from mental clarity to wound healing, energy levels, and temperature regulation.
By supporting the health of your blood vessels—and the organs that nourish them—Chinese medicine helps you feel stronger, clearer, and better equipped to age gracefully.
If You’re Noticing…
Cold hands or feet
Slower healing
Skin changes (e.g. redness, spider veins, bluish tones)
Bruising easily
Fatigue or fogginess
...these may be early signs that your circulation needs support.
Chinese Medicine Offers:
✅ Natural ways to improve blood flow and oxygenation
✅ Herbal formulas that strengthen vessel tone and tissue repair
✅ Acupuncture to support nitric oxide production and circulation pathways
✅ A whole-body approach that treats root causes—not just symptoms
Choose Qualified Support
If you're considering Chinese herbal medicine for heart and circulatory health, it’s important to work with a qualified practitioner—someone trained in how herbs and acupuncture safely support the cardiovascular system. A properly tailored approach takes into account your full health picture, any medications you're on, and the deeper patterns that may be driving your symptoms.
Ready to support your circulation and stay energised as you age?
Let’s talk about how Chinese medicine can help you feel more balanced, resilient, and well-circulated—at every stage of life.
📍 On the Pulse Clinic, South County Dublin
📞 086 811 9534