Herbs that Regulate the Blood

 

Blood nourishes, supports, and warms the body. It is generated by the food essence, which is transformed and transported by the Spleen and Qi, which is transported by the lung. The blood is stimulated by the heart, regulated by the liver, and controlled by the spleen. And the the Kidney-essence becomes the source of blood.

 

Warm simulates the blood circulation, and cold calms.

 

The reason of blood stagnation.

1) heat speeds up the circulation of blood, leading to bleeding

And comsumes the fluid in the blood

2) cold freezes blood.

3) Qi stagnation due to emotional disturbance, stress, anxiety, dippression.

4) trauma, fracture

5) wind, damp, cold that stays in the channel for long time.

6) Qi or Blood Deficiency.

 

Cautions

During pregnancy, the spleen and sotomach deficiency

 

Categorization accordin to action and properties

1) Chuan Xiong (川芎), Yan Hu Suo (玄胡索), Hong Hua (紅花)

They are warm in nature.

Chuan Xiong : pungent and warm, the Liver, Gall Bladder and Pericardium

Yan Hu Suo:  pungent, warm and slightly bitter. Liver, Spleen, Stomach

Hong Hua:  pungent and warm, and the Heart and Liver

 

2) Dan Shen (丹蔘) and Chi Shao Yao (赤芍藥)

They are cold.

Dan Shen : bitter and slightly cold, and the blood level of the Heart and Liver channels.

Treats chest pain, hypochondriac pain, heartburn, depression, irritability, insomniaand restlessness due to heat and blood stagnation

Chi Shao Yao is sour, bitter and slightly cold. The liver and spleen.

 

3) Wu Ling Zhi (五靈脂), Ze Lan(澤蘭), Dan Shen (丹蔘), Yu Jin (㭗金)and Yi Mu Cao (益母草)

They dissolve congealed blood and also stimulate blood circulation. chronic syndromes of blood stagnation such as atherosclerosis, hyperlipemia, thrombosis, endometriosis.

Wu Ling Zhi and Ze Lan are warm.

Dan Shen, Yu Jin and Yi Mu Cao are cold.

 

Wu Ling Zhi removes congealed blood in a gentle

Ze Lan is aromatic, and spreads theLiver-Qi and the Spleen-Qi

Dan Shen is bitter and cold, and primarily enters the Heart channe. clears heat in the Heart and promotes the blood circulation in the chest

Yu Jin primarily enters the Liver channel. Yu Jin can cool the blood and stop bleeding due to liver heat.

Yi Mu Cao treats stagnation of blood in the Lower-Jiao. treat gynecological disorders, such as dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation.

 

4) Tao Ren (桃仁), Hong Hua(紅花), Yu Jin (㭗金),Ru Xiang (乳香) and Mo Yao (沒藥)

They break up congealed blood. (chronic blood stagnation). They are pungent, salty or bitter.

Ru Xiang (乳香) and Mo Yao (沒藥) have a strong smell that can cause nausea, and overdose may injure the stomach. Both are hard to eat actually. Before giving prescription to patient, l recomand to try this first.

 

5) San Leng (三稜), E Zhu (莪朮), Zhe Chong (蟅蟲)*, Meng Chong (虻蟲)* and Shui Zhi (水蛭)

They can break up or drive out congealed blood. treat severe cases, such as hepatosplenomegaly, liver cirrhosis and cancer.

San Leng and E Zhu can strongly promote Qi movement and blood circulation, and break up congealed blood.

Zhe Chong, Meng Chong and Shui Zhi are insects and are poisonous.

 

6) Chuan Xiong (川芎), Ji Xue Teng (鷄血藤) and Hong Hua (紅花)

They work on the whole body and are warm.

 

Categorization according to region

 

1) Chuan Xiong (川芎), Hong Hua (紅花), Dan Shen (丹蔘) and Chuan Niu Xi (川牛膝)

Act in the chest.
 Chuan Xiong (川芎) and Hong Hua (紅花) are warm.
Dan Shen (丹蔘) and Chuan Niu Xi (川牛膝) are cold.

 

2) Yu Jin (㭗金), Chi Shao Yao (赤芍藥), Yan Hu Suo (玄胡索) and Su Mu (蘇木)

Act in in the hypochondriac region and upper abdomen.

 

3) Dang Gui (當歸), Ze Lan (澤蘭), Yi Mu Cao (益母草) and WuLing Zhi (五靈脂)

Act in abdomen.

 

4) Tao Ren (桃仁) and Hong Hua (紅花)

Act in lower abdomen.

 

5) Chuan Xiong (川芎), Su Mu (蘇木), Chuan Niu Xi (川牛膝) and Jiang Huang (薑黃)

Act in the limbs. Bi syndrome.

 

6) Wang Bu Liu Xing (王不留行),Lu Lu Tong (路路通) and Di Long (地龍)

Act in the collaterals.