Blood Stasis Syndrome refers to the obstruction of blood, characterized by symptoms such as pain, masses, bleeding, purple tongue, and a choppy pulse. When the flow of Qi and blood in the body’s meridians is obstructed, blood that leaves the meridians fails to be expelled or dissipated in time, remaining in one place, or blood flow is hindered, accumulating in the meridians or organs, losing its physiological function. This condition is known as blood stasis, which is encapsulated in the saying “No flow means pain”.
Now, let us review the formulas for treating blood stasis syndrome!
Taohe Chengqi Decoction
From the Treatise on Cold Damage
【Ingredients】50 pieces of Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), 4 liang of Da Huang (Rhubarb), 2 liang of Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), 2 liang of Gan Cao (Licorice, roasted), 2 liang of Mang Xiao (Mirabilite).
【Dosage】Decoct in water, take twice daily.
【Function】Break blood and eliminate stasis.
【Indications】Lower Jiao Blood Stasis Syndrome with symptoms of acute lower abdominal pain, frequent urination, manic behavior, severe agitation and delirium, night fever; also for blood stasis causing amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, with a deep, solid, and choppy pulse.
Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction
From the Correction of Medical Errors
【Ingredients】4 qian of Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), 3 qian each of Hong Hua (Safflower), Dang Gui (Angelica), and Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia), 1.5 qian of Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), 2 qian of Chi Shao (Red Peony), 3 qian of Niu Xi (Achyranthes), 1.5 qian of Jie Geng (Platycodon), 1 qian of Chai Hu (Bupleurum), and 2 qian each of Zhi Qiao (Bitter Orange) and Gan Cao (Licorice).
【Dosage】Decoct in water.
【Function】Activate blood, eliminate stasis, move Qi, and relieve pain.
【Indications】Blood Stasis in the Chest with symptoms of chest pain, headache, persistent pain like a needle prick, or prolonged hiccups, or choking on water, dry heaving, or internal heat and restlessness, or palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams, irritability, or tongue with stasis spots, choppy or tight pulse.
【Additional Formulas】Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction— composed of Chi Shao (Red Peony), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Hong Hua (Safflower), She Xiang (Musk), Lao Cong (Scallion), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Hong Zao (Red Date), and Huang Jiu (Yellow Wine), it has a good warming and aromatic effect, primarily activating blood and unblocking orifices, indicated for headaches due to stasis in the head and face;
Gexia Zhuyu Decoction— composed of Wu Ling Zhi (Flying Squirrel Feces), Dang Gui (Angelica), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Chi Shao (Red Peony), Yuan Hu (Cyathula), Gan Cao (Licorice), Hong Hua (Safflower), Xiang Fu (Cyperus), Wu Yao (Lindera), and Zhi Qiao (Bitter Orange), it has a good effect in moving Qi and relieving pain, effective for abdominal pain and flank pain due to stasis below the diaphragm;
Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction— composed of Yuan Hu (Cyathula), Mo Yao (Myrrh), Dang Gui (Angelica), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), Chi Shao (Red Peony), Pu Huang (Cattail Pollen), Wu Ling Zhi (Flying Squirrel Feces), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), Rou Gui (Cinnamon), and Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel), it is focused on warming the meridians, dispersing cold, and relieving pain, suitable for lower abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, and irregular menstruation due to cold congealing blood stasis.
Buyang Huanwu Decoction
From the Correction of Medical Errors
【Ingredients】4 liang of Huang Qi (Astragalus), 2 qian of Dang Gui Wei (Angelica Tail), 1.5 qian of Chi Shao (Red Peony), and 1 qian each of Di Long (Earthworm), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), Hong Hua (Safflower), and Tao Ren (Peach Kernel).
【Dosage】Decoct in water.
【Function】Tonify Qi, activate blood, and unblock meridians.
【Indications】Stroke, Qi Deficiency with Blood Stasis Syndrome with symptoms of hemiplegia, facial droop, slurred speech, drooling, frequent urination or urinary incontinence, pale tongue, white coating, and weak pulse.
Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction
From Medical Inventions
【Ingredients】0.5 liang of Chai Hu (Bupleurum), 3 qian each of Gua Lou Gen (Trichosanthes Root) and Dang Gui (Angelica), 2 qian each of Hong Hua (Safflower), Gan Cao (Licorice), and Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin), 1 liang of Da Huang (Rhubarb), and 50 pieces of Tao Ren (Peach Kernel).
【Dosage】Grind into powder, add Huang Jiu (Yellow Wine), decoct in water.
【Function】Soften the liver, unblock meridians,activate blood and eliminate stasis.
【Indications】Trauma and blood stasis obstruction syndrome with symptoms of trauma, blood stasis under the ribs, intolerable pain, or lower abdominal pain.
【Differentiation】Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction and Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction both have the function of activating blood and eliminating stasis to relieve pain.
Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction syndrome—blood stasis is stagnant in the chest, in addition to using strong blood-activating and stasis-eliminating herbs, it is combined with Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Zhi Qiao (Bitter Orange), Jie Geng (Platycodon), and Niu Xi (Achyranthes) to move Qi and guide blood, with strong effects of activating blood and eliminating stasis and moving Qi to relieve pain. Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction syndrome—blood stasis remains under the ribs, combined with Da Huang (Rhubarb), Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin), etc., has a strong effect of activating blood and breaking stasis, also softening the liver and unblocking meridians.
Wenjing Decoction
From the Essentials of the Golden Chamber
【Ingredients】3 liang of Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia), 2.5 liang each of Dang Gui (Angelica), Shao Yao (Peony), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), 2.5 liang of E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), 2.5 liang of Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), 1 sheng of Xia (Summer) and 1 sheng of Mai Dong (Ophiopogon).
【Dosage】Decoct, dissolve E Jiao and take.
【Function】Warm the meridians, disperse cold, nourish blood, and eliminate stasis.
【Indications】Deficiency cold in Chong and Ren, blood stasis obstruction syndrome with symptoms of continuous bleeding, dark blood with clots, difficult urination, or menstruation that is early or late, or amenorrhea, with lower abdominal urgency, fullness, evening fever, hot palms, dry lips, dark red tongue, and thin, choppy pulse. Also treats women with cold in the uterus, unable to conceive for a long time.
Shenghua Decoction
From the Gynecology of Fu Qingzhu
【Ingredients】8 qian of Dang Gui (Angelica), 3 qian of Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), 14 pieces of Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), 5 fen of Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), and 5 fen of Gan Cao (Licorice, roasted).
【Dosage】Decoct, or add Huang Jiu (Yellow Wine) to decoct.
【Function】Nourish blood, eliminate stasis, warm the meridians, and relieve pain.
【Indications】Blood deficiency with cold congealing, blood stasis obstruction syndrome with symptoms of postpartum lochia not flowing, cold pain in the lower abdomen.
【Differentiation】Wenjing Decoction and Shenghua Decoction both warm the meridians, disperse cold, and nourish blood to eliminate stasis. Wenjing Decoction—has a stronger effect of warming and nourishing, combining warming, clearing, and supplementing, indicated for deficiency cold in Chong and Ren, blood stasis obstruction syndrome. Shenghua Decoction—better at transforming stasis and generating new blood, but not as strong in warming and nourishing, indicated for women postpartum with blood deficiency and cold congealing, blood stasis internally obstructing.
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
From the Essentials of the Golden Chamber
【Ingredients】Equal parts of Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fu Ling (Poria), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), and Shao Yao (Peony).
【Dosage】Refine with honey into pills.
【Function】Activate blood, eliminate stasis, and soften masses.
【Indications】Blood Stasis in the Uterus with symptoms of women with masses, continuous bleeding during pregnancy, or fetal movement instability, dark purple blood, abdominal pain with resistance to pressure, or amenorrhea with abdominal pain, or postpartum lochia not expelled with abdominal pain and resistance to pressure, purple or dark tongue with stasis spots, choppy pulse.
【Differentiation】Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan and Bie Jia Jian Wan both have the function of transforming stasis and eliminating masses. Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan—has a gentle effect of transforming stasis and eliminating masses, indicated for blood stasis remaining in the uterus during pregnancy with continuous bleeding. Bie Jia Jian Wan—stronger in softening and eliminating masses, indicated for chronic malaria not resolving, and masses due to the combination of blood stasis and phlegm.
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