All forms of thalassemia are inherited. A person with a mutated or defective gene may be a carrier of the disease without exhibiting any symptoms. It must, however, be understood that a thalassemia minor cannot progress into a thalassemia major. Another classification of thalassemia is based on the protein types that make up the haemoglobin in the blood cells: the alpha globin and the beta globin. We get two genes from each parent to make the alpha globin protein chains. To make beta globin protein chains we inherit one gene from each parent. A gene defect or mutation that affects the production of either of their protein chains can result in alpha thalassemia or beta thalassemia.

Our TCM clinical practice has showed that integration of Chinese medicine and western medicine is a very good choice for this disease. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, there are some patterns of syndrome that lead to thalassemia.
1. Pattern of Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
2. Pattern of Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
3. Pattern of Damp-Heat and Blood Stasis