Blood-Regulating Medicines: Unlocking the Secrets of Blood Flow

Blood, the life-giving fluid, plays a critical role in transporting oxygen, nutrients, and removing waste products throughout the body. When blood flow is disrupted, our health can suffer. Blood-regulating medicines, also known as hemostatic or blood-activating medicines, are a group of medications designed to regulate blood circulation and support the treatment of various conditions related to blood stagnation, blood deficiency, blood heat, and bleeding.

I. Classification of Blood-Regulating Medicines

Blood-regulating medicines are primarily categorized into three types:

1. Blood-Nourishing Medicines (Blood Deficiency):

• Signs: Pale complexion, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, brittle nails, dry and brittle hair, scanty menstruation, etc.
• Action: Replenish blood, increase red blood cell count, and improve blood deficiency.
• Examples: Ginseng, Astragalus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Angelica sinensis, Artichoke, garlic chives, etc.

2. Blood-Moving Medicines (Blood Stagnation):

• Signs: Blood stagnation, sluggish blood flow causing pain, swelling, bruising, painful menstruation, breast engorgement, amenorrhea, etc.
• Action: Promote blood circulation, remove blood stagnation, reduce pain, and reduce swelling.
• Examples: Dipsacus asper, Leonurus japonicus, Angelica dahurica, Safflower, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Peach kernel, Clematis chinensis, Euphorbia pekinensis, etc.

3. Blood-Stopping Medicines (Bleeding):

• Signs: Bleeding, menorrhagia, hemorrhoids, epistaxis, hematemesis, hemoptysis, etc.
• Action: Stop bleeding, control bleeding, astringent, and reduce inflammation.
• Examples: Sophora japonica flower, Plantago asiatica, Rhizoma Dryopteridis, Mugwort, Notopterygium incisum, Bletilla striata, Gardenia jasminoides, Paeonia lactiflora, Angelica dahurica, etc.

II. Detailed Classification of Medications:

1. Blood-Moving Medicines:

a. Blood-Activating Medicines:

• Mild action, used to treat swelling and pain due to poor blood circulation and edema.
• Examples: Dipsacus asper, Leonurus japonicus, Angelica dahurica, Safflower, etc.

b. Blood-Breaking Medicines:

• Strong action, used to treat severe pain, swelling, and bruising caused by blood stasis.
• Examples: Curcuma longa, Atractylodes lancea, Sophora flavescens, etc.

2. Blood-Stopping Medicines:

a. Nourishing-Stopping Blood Medicines:

• Used to stop bleeding and nourish blood, typically for bleeding caused by blood deficiency or blood heat.
• Examples: Sophora japonica flower, Plantago asiatica, Rhizoma Dryopteridis, Mugwort, Angelica dahurica, etc.

b. Removing Stagnation and Stopping Blood Medicines:

• Used to stop bleeding and disperse stagnation, commonly used for bleeding due to blood stagnation or blood heat.
• Examples: Notopterygium incisum, Bletilla striata, Gardenia jasminoides, Paeonia lactiflora, etc.

c. Astringent-Stopping Blood Medicines:

• Used to stop bleeding and constrict, generally for bleeding caused by mucosal injury.
• Examples: Areca catechu, Coptis chinensis, Mugwort, Bletilla striata, etc.

d. Invigorating and Stopping Blood Medicines:

• Used to nourish blood and stop bleeding, typically used for bleeding due to physical weakness or blood deficiency.
• Examples: Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica sinensis, Ginseng, Artichoke, etc.

III. Introduction to Some Blood-Moving Herbs:

1. Dipsacus asper (Teasel):

• Part Used: Roots
• Chemical Composition: Saponins
• Uses:
  • Amenorrhea, irregular menstruation.
  • Hematemesis, epistaxis.
  • Joint pain, spinal pain, particularly in the leg joints.
  • Dysuria, urinary calculi.
  • High blood pressure.

2. Leonurus japonicus (Motherwort):

• Chemical Composition: Saponins
• Uses:
  • Irregular menstruation, blood stasis, dysmenorrhea.
  • Rheumatism, back pain, bone aches, arthritis, swollen knees, cramped limbs.
  • Lowering cholesterol, high blood pressure.

3. Leonurus sibiricus (Siberian Motherwort):

• Part Used: Above-ground parts
• Chemical Composition: Flavonoids, alkaloids
• Uses:
  • Amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, blood stasis postpartum.
  • Nephritis-related edema.
  • Conjunctivitis, swollen eyes, blurred vision.
  • High blood pressure, hemorrhoids.
  • Skin ulcers and boils.

4. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius):

• Part Used: Dried flowers
• Chemical Composition: Glycosides (carthamin), pigments.
• Uses:
  • Activates blood flow, regulates menstruation, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation.
  • Detoxification: expels retained dead fetus.
  • Lubricates the bowels, promotes defecation: use seeds.

5. Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen):

• Part Used: Dried roots
• Uses:
  • Dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, retained dead fetus.
  • Treats joint pain, nerve pain caused by cold, pain in the shoulders and neck, joint and bone pain, back pain.
  • Stomach pain, boils.
  • High fever.

6. Peach kernel (Persicae Semen):

• Part Used: Kernel seeds
• Chemical Composition: Glycosides, enzymes.
• Uses:
  • Activates blood flow, eliminates stasis: dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea…
  • Lubricates the bowels, promotes defecation: treats constipation.
  • Clears phlegm, relieves coughs.

7. Euphorbia pekinensis (Euphorbia):

• Part Used: Leaves, stems, roots.
• Uses:
  • Treats blood stasis, swelling, and pain.
  • Indigestion, slow digestion, constipation.

8. Angelica dahurica (Angelica):

• Part Used: Dried rhizomes
• Chemical Composition: Essential oils, alkaloids, phenols.
• Uses:
  • Irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, muscle pain, joint pain, painful boils.
  • Headache (due to wind-cold, wind-heat, rheumatism, blood stasis, blood deficiency), dizziness, toothache.
  • Malaria.
  • Treats weakness, blood deficiency, pallor.

9. Haematoxylum campechianum (Logwood):

• Part Used: Heartwood.
• Chemical Composition: Red coloring matter soluble in alcohol, acids, acetone.
• Properties: Bitter, neutral.
• Uses:
  • Activates blood flow, eliminates stasis.
  • Eliminates wind, relieves pain.
  • Stops bleeding.

10. Corydalis (Corydalis yanhusuo):

• Part Used: Rhizomes.
• Chemical Composition: Alkaloids such as corydalin, protein, Dehydrocorydalin, corybolbin.
• Uses:
  • Breaks blood (used fresh).
  • Activates blood flow (prepared with alcohol).
  • Enhances pain relief (prepared with vinegar).
  • Regulates blood (stir-fried to yellow).

11. Clematis chinensis (Clematis):

• Part Used: Twining stem.
• Chemical Composition: Tannins, quinones.
• Properties: Bitter, warm.
• Meridians: Liver, kidneys.
• Uses:
  • Nourishes blood, activates blood flow.
  • Strengthens kidneys, strengthens bones and tendons.

12. Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha):

• Part Used: Gum resin.
• Chemical Composition: Essential oils, resins.
• Uses:
  • Activates blood flow, eliminates stasis: pain due to menstrual disorders, postpartum blood stasis.
  • Relieves pain, promotes wound healing.
  • Promotes granulation.

13. Frankincense (Boswellia sacra):

• Part Used: Gum.
• Chemical Composition: Essential oils.
• Uses:
  • Activates blood flow, eliminates stasis: pain due to menstrual disorders, postpartum blood stasis.
  • Relieves pain, relieves muscle tension.
  • Promotes granulation.

14. Curcuma longa (Turmeric):

• Part Used: Rhizome.
• Uses:
  • Amenorrhea, blood stagnation in the uterus after childbirth.
  • Treats indigestion, fullness, heartburn.
  • Treats hepatitis, jaundice, difficulty in bile excretion.
  • Treats blood clots or stabbing pain in the heart area.
  • Promotes rapid skin regeneration.

15. Atractylodes lancea (Atractylodes):

• Part Used: Rhizome.
• Chemical Composition: Essential oils, resins, mucilage.
• Uses:
  • Breaks blood, activates Qi.
  • Digests food, eliminates stagnation.
  • Clears the lungs, relieves coughs.

16. Sparganium stoloniferum (Bur Reed):

• Part Used: Rhizome.
• Chemical Composition: Essential oils, starch.
• Uses:
  • Breaks blood: treats amenorrhea, retained dead fetus.
  • Activates Qi: treats stomach pain, breast engorgement.
  • Stimulates digestion: treats abdominal distension, indigestion.

Note:

• Dosage and use of blood-regulating medicines should be advised by a qualified doctor to ensure safety and effectiveness.
• Avoid self-medication, especially with potent medications, as it can lead to unwanted side effects.
• Choose medications from reputable sources with guaranteed quality.
• Use medication as directed by your doctor and adhere to the treatment regimen.
• Do not overuse medication as it can harm your body.
• Monitor your health and report any unusual symptoms to your doctor.

IV. Conclusion:

Blood-regulating medicines play a crucial role in treating blood-related diseases. Understanding the types of medications and their uses, and employing them scientifically and rationally, will help protect your health and that of your family. Consult your doctor for personalized advice and medication selection based on your health condition.