Term | Definition |
San Qi (Bai Yao) ***
"3-7"
(notoginseng root) | (stop bleed) Stops bleeding and transforms blood stasis (and generates flesh), also for coronary artery Dz; Reduces swelling and alleviates pain (BEST for traumatic injuries); internal and topical |
Pu Huang ***
(Typha pollen, cattail pollen) | (stop bleed) Stops bleeding (topically for traumatic injury); Invigorates blood and dispels blood stasis (esp for GYN/post-partum); Promotes urination |
Qian Cao ***
(madder/rubia root) | (stop bleed) Cools the blood, stops bleeding (from heat in blood); Invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis
Caution w/cold SP/ST xu, blood xu, yin xu fire |
Ai Ye ***
"Moxa leaf"
(mugwort leaf) | (stop bleed) Warms the Womb and stops bleeding (like menstrual bleeding from xu cold), calms fetus; Disperses cold and alleviates pain; Eliminates dampness and stops itching
CAUTION w/yin xu heat |
Bai Mao Gen ***
"White grass root"
(Woolly grass, white grass) | (stop bleed) Gentle herb; Cools the blood, stops bleeding; CLEARS HEAT, PROMOTES URINATION; Clears heat from ST and LU (for cough, or thirst in febrile Dz)
CAUTION w/SP and ST xu cold |
Xian He Cao ***
"crane herb"
(Agrimony)
(also called fatigue grass) | (stop bleed) Restrains leakage of blood and stops bleeding (in combination can be used for xu bleeding or heat); Alleviates diarrhea and dysenteric d/o; Kills parasites; Also for fatigue
NOT for diarrhea from EPF |
Bai Ji ***
(bletilla rhizome) | (stop bleed) Restrains leakage of blood and stops bleeding (esp LU/ST); Reduces swelling and generates flesh (often topically)
Caution with with presence of EPF, or heat/fire toxin due to stringency |
Chuan Xiong ***
"Water plant"
Szwchuan lovage root) | Invigorates the blood and promotes movement of Qi; Expels wind and alleviates pain (for HA, dysmenorrhea, blood not nourishing sinews, etc); recently for angina and aneurism
CAUTION w/ pregnancy, heavy menses. NOT for fire from yin xu |
Dan Shen ***
"Red Ginseng"
(Salvia root) | Invigorates blood and dispels stasis, alleviates pain (chest, abdomen, gyn); Clears heat and soothes irritability (insomnia or palpitations); cools blood, reduces abscesses; Nourishes the blood and calms spirit
NOT for pregnancy or w/ Li Lu |
Ji Xue Teng ***
"Chicken blood vine"
(Spatholobus root and vine) | (invig blood) Promotes the movement of and tonifies blood; Invigorates the channels, collaterals, relaxes sinews
NOT for Pt with heavy menses |
Yan Hu Suo ***
"Herbal Aleve"
(Corydalis rhizome) | Invigorates blood, promotes the movement of Qi, STRONGLY stops pain (abdominal, traumatic, chest, gyn)
NOT during pregnancy (unless in exceptional circumstances) |
Yu Jin ***
"Constrained/depressed gold"
(Curcuma tuber) | Invigorates blood, stops pain, promotes movement of Qi, resolves constraint (moving but not harsh, for depression); Clears heat, cools blood; Clears HT, opens the orifices (anxiety, seizures, etc); Benefits the GB, reduces jaundice
CAUTION with pregnancy |
Yi Mu Cao ***
"Benefits mother herb"
(Leonorus, Chinese motherwort) | Invigorates blood, dispels stasis (regulates menstruation, postpartum); Promotes urination, reduces swelling; Clears heat and resolves toxicity (itchy rashes...)
NOT w/yin or blood xu, or during pregnancy |
Chi Shao ***
(Red peony root) | Invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, stops pain (traumatic injury, early abscesses/boils, GYN like fibroids or dysmenorrhea); Clears heat and cools blood
Caution w/cold from xu |
Tao Ren ***
"Peach kernel"
(inside of peach pit) | Breaks up blood stasis (strongly invigorates blood), for GYN, trauma, abdominal masses; moistens intestines for constipation; stops cough/wheezing (weak action)
NOT w/blood xu, pregnancy, or loose stools |
Hong Hua ***
"Red flower"
(Safflower, carthamus) | Invigorates blood, dispels stasis, unblocks menses (historically for abortions), for unexpressed rashes, abdominal masses, GYN, trauma (sometimes too strong)
NOT during pregnancy, or w/any bleeding related problems like hemorrhagic dz or peptic ulcers |
E Zhu ***
(curcuma rhizome) | Breaks up blood stasis, promotes the movement of Qi, and alleviates pain (but harsh!); Dissolves accumulations, reduces food stagnation, alleviates pain
NOT for pregnancy or excessive menstruation |
San Leng ***
"3 ridges/edges"
(Burr reed rhizome) | Forcefully breaks up blood stasis (HARSH), promotes the movement of Qi, alleviates pain; Dissolves accumulations (food stagnation)
NOT in pregnancy, or excessive menstruation |
Niu Xi ***
"Ox knee"
(Achyranthes root) | Breaks up blood stasis, dispels blood stasis, unblocks menses; (when prepared) Tonifies LV, KD, strengthens sinews and bones, benefits joints (infertility, elderly pt); Induces downward movement of blood and fire (LYR, delivery); Clears DH in lower jiao |
Chuan Niu Xi ***
"Ox knee from Sichuan"
(Cyathula root) | Invigorates blood, unblocks menses; Expels wind, drains dampness
NOT in pregnancy or w/excessive menses |