As we approach the Winter Solstice, one of the twenty-four solar terms, it signifies the time of year when temperatures reach their lowest. At this time, the predominant natural energy is “cold“, characterized by “cold congealing and obstructing, cold nature constricting“. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states: “Nine out of ten diseases are caused by cold“, indicating that most diseases in the human body are directly related to cold. It is easy to imagine the extent of harm that cold can inflict on the body. Therefore, the ancients advised that since the main energy in winter is “cold”, which is a natural law, we should focus on “conserving” during winter. However, even while conserving, we may still be invaded by cold pathogens. At this time, we must rely on the body’s defensive Qi to resist cold pathogens. If the protective Qi is insufficient, and cold pathogens manage to invade, leading to Qi and blood stasis, what should we do?
A student, who was once a major in the air force and had a strong physique due to years of training, neglected his hemorrhoids that bled for over a decade. Gradually, he developed Qi and blood deficiency, and insufficient defensive Qi made him unable to resist cold pathogens. As a result of the cold invasion, he experienced joint pain, chronic cold legs, and gradually began to suffer from cold hands and feet, abdominal distension, indigestion, insomnia, and later developed angina, chest tightness, dizziness, and varicose veins. By the age of 60, he had developed many age spots on the back of his hands and face. Upon examining his tongue, there were purple spots on the sides and dark purple veins underneath, with bead-like formations at the root of the veins. These issues severely affected his normal life. In the scorching summer heat of 40 degrees Celsius in Fujian, he still wore long underwear and long-sleeved shirts, afraid to turn on the fan or air conditioning… Many students might wonder, are all these symptoms caused by cold pathogens? Of course, they are, because external cold can cause internal injuries, transitioning from a condition of excess to deficiency, and then to a combination of both. This is the process of falling ill: “deficiency leads to cold, cold leads to dampness, dampness leads to congealing, congealing leads to stasis, stasis leads to obstruction, obstruction leads to tumors, and tumors lead to cancer”. This student started from deficiency, went through dampness and congealing, and has now developed obstruction. Currently, the stasis is blocking his legs, causing varicose veins; blocking his chest, leading to angina; blocking his brain, causing dizziness; and blocking his stomach, resulting in indigestion and bloating… How should we address the issue of blood stasis and obstruction?
Throughout history, no one has studied blood stasis more thoroughly than Wang Qingren.
Wang Qingren was a martial arts champion, and as a martial artist, he inevitably experienced minor bruises and pains. Therefore, ancient martial artists were somewhat knowledgeable about techniques for activating blood and resolving stasis. Wang Qingren transitioned from martial arts to medicine, writing a book on his understanding of blood stasis titled “Corrections in Medical Forest”, and he established the Five Stasis-Resolving Decoctions, which encompass blood stasis from head to toe.
Five Stasis-Resolving Decoctions
The first is Blood Mansion Stasis-Resolving Decoction, where “Blood Mansion” refers to the chest. TCM believes that the chest is where blood converges, so when blood stasis is present in the chest, we use Blood Mansion Stasis-Resolving Decoction. The second is Diaphragm Stasis-Resolving Decoction, for blood stasis located below the diaphragm, particularly in the sides of the body. The third is Lower Abdomen Stasis-Resolving Decoction, for blood stasis in the lower abdomen causing dysmenorrhea, menstrual blood clots, and irregular menstruation. The fourth is Epiglottis Stasis-Resolving Decoction, for blood stasis in the throat. The fifth is Body Pain Stasis-Resolving Decoction, for various pains caused by blood stasis, whether shoulder pain, arm pain, or lower back pain, as long as the pain is sharp and fixed, we use Body Pain Stasis-Resolving Decoction.The heart is the chief of the five organs and six bowels, as the saying goes, “When the heart moves, all organs and bowels respond”. Today, we will focus on Blood Mansion Stasis-Resolving Decoction.
Wang Qingren stated in “Corrections in Medical Forest” that “The Blood Mansion is a thin membrane under the chest, as thin as paper, and is the most solid. It extends from the heart to the concave area of the chest, from both sides to the waist, following the length of the ribs, higher in the front and lower in the back, with the lower part resembling a pool, where blood is stored, known as the essence transformed into blood, called the Blood Mansion.” According to this statement, the “Blood Mansion” is located above the diaphragm, where the aorta and veins converge.
Although anatomically, the human body does not have a real “Blood Mansion”, Wang Qingren observed that blood stasis easily occurs in the chest, which can lead to various problems, including chest tightness, shortness of breath, and palpitations. The treatment focuses on activating blood and resolving stasis in the chest. Blood stasis is primarily governed by the liver; when the liver Qi is stagnant due to emotional stress, it affects the movement of Qi in the body, leading to symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and angina. Qi promotes blood circulation, and prolonged Qi stagnation can lead to poor blood flow, with blood stasis further obstructing the movement of Qi. Thus, symptoms can worsen.
Infections, fever, bleeding, cold, prolonged mental stress, especially depression, trauma, and chronic illness can all lead to Qi and blood disharmony, resulting in blood stasis. The clinical manifestations of blood stasis syndrome include fixed pain, easy coagulation of blood, purple-black color, mental unrest, irritability, and even madness, with a dark purple tongue and a dull complexion.
Blood Mansion Stasis-Resolving Decoction Formula
Ancient Dosage: Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) 9g, Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Glutinosa) 9g, Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) 12g, Hong Hua (Safflower) 9g, Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange) 6g, Chi Shao (Red Peony) 6g, Chai Hu (Bupleurum) 3g, Gan Cao (Licorice) 3g, Jie Geng (Platycodon) 4.5g, Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong) 4.5g, Niu Xi (Achyranthes Bidentata) 9g, decoct in water for oral administration.
Modern Dosage: Tao Ren 12g, Hong Hua, Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Niu Xi each 9g, Chuan Xiong, Jie Geng each 4.5g, Chi Shao, Zhi Ke, Gan Cao each 6g, Chai Hu 3g.
Administration: Decoct in water for oral use.
Formula Song: Blood Mansion, Dang Gui, Sheng Di, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Gan Cao, Zhi Ke, Chi Shao,
Chai Hu, Xiong, Jie Geng, Niu Xi, etc., blood flows downward without exertion.
The diseases treated by Blood Mansion Stasis-Resolving Decoction are listed below.
Function: Activates blood, resolves stasis, promotes Qi, and alleviates pain.
Blood stasis syndrome in the chest. Symptoms include chest pain, headache, persistent pain, stabbing pain with a fixed location, or prolonged hiccups, or choking on water, dry heaving, or internal heat with dizziness, or palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams, irritability, tidal fever in the evening, dark lips or dark circles under the eyes, dark red tongue, or tongue with stasis spots, stasis points, and a pulse that is choppy or tight.
Formula Meaning:This formula primarily treats symptoms caused by blood stasis obstructing the chest and Qi stagnation. This corresponds to the “blood stasis in the Blood Mansion of the chest” as described by Wang Qingren.
The chest is the residence of Qi and the gathering place of blood, where the liver meridian circulates. Blood stasis in the chest obstructs Qi movement, causing clear Yang to be trapped and unable to rise, leading to chest pain, persistent headache, stabbing pain with a fixed location; blood stasis in the chest affects the stomach, causing stomach Qi to rebel, resulting in hiccups and dry heaving, and in severe cases, choking on water; prolonged stasis can transform into heat, leading to internal heat and dizziness; stasis heat disturbs the heart, causing palpitations and insomnia; prolonged stagnation leads to liver dysfunction, resulting in irritability; the observations of the lips, eyes, tongue, and pulse all indicate signs of blood stasis.The treatment should focus on activating blood and resolving stasis, while also promoting Qi and alleviating pain. Tao Ren breaks blood stasis and moistens dryness, while Hong Hua activates blood and resolves stasis to alleviate pain, serving as the monarch herbs. Chi Shao and Chuan Xiong assist the monarch herbs in activating blood and resolving stasis; Niu Xi activates blood and opens channels, resolves stasis and alleviates pain, guiding blood downward, serving as minister herbs. Sheng Di Huang and Dang Gui nourish blood and benefit Yin, clear heat and activate blood; Jie Geng and Zhi Ke, one ascending and one descending, open the chest and promote Qi; Chai Hu soothes the liver and relieves stagnation, ascending and reaching the clear Yang, used together with Jie Geng and Zhi Ke, especially good for regulating Qi stagnation, allowing Qi to flow and blood to circulate. All of the above are assistant herbs. Jie Geng can also carry the medicine upward, serving as a messenger herb; Gan Cao harmonizes all herbs, also serving as a messenger herb. Together, they activate blood, resolve stasis, and promote Qi movement, thus alleviating all symptoms, making it an excellent formula for treating blood stasis in the chest.
The most notable aspect of Blood Mansion Stasis-Resolving Decoction is its powerful effects in activating blood and breaking stasis, so three points should be noted when using it:
1. Due to the presence of many blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs in the formula, it is not suitable for use unless there is confirmed blood stasis.
2. Caution should be exercised in patients with coagulation disorders or those on anticoagulant therapy.
3. Not suitable for pregnant women.
This article is for communication and sharing purposes only; please follow medical advice when using medications.
Longevity and health can be found in the “Three Passages Manual”; scan the QR code below to follow our public account!