Herbs that Invigorate the Blood

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There is a broad category in the TCM Materia Medica (list of healing

substances) called Herbs that Regulate the Blood. This class is further

divided into Herbs That Stop Bleeding and Herbs That Invigorate the Blood.

 

The herbs that Invigorate the Blood are herbs for treating Blood Stasis

(Blood which isn't moving properly). Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble say in the

Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Revised Ed., " In general, the

problems associated with blood stasis in Chinese medicine are understood in

modern biomedicine as either hematological disorders (including hemorrhage,

congesion, thrombosis, and local ischemia) or local tissue changes. " (pp.

265-266)

 

Herbs that invigorate the Blood differ in their strengths and in just how

much stasis they can correct. Also in their exact functions. There is no

standardized terminology for reporting this, and Bensky and Gamble point out

that even different sections of the same book may use different terminology.

But, there are 4 general categories that will show up in a variety of

books. These are in ascending order, herbs that harmonize the Blood, herbs

that move Blood, herbs that dispel Blood Stasis, and herbs that break (or

crack) Blood Stasis.

 

Of the substances that break Blood Stasis, the strongest aren't herbs at

all. They are a leech (Hirudo seu Whitmania, aka Shui Zhi) and a wingless

cockroach (Eupolyphaga seu Opisthoplatia, aka Tu Bie Chong, aka " land

soft-shelled turtle " in a literal English translation of the Chinese). The

leech contains hirudin and heparin; its not known what the cochroach

contains that could account in part for its properties.

 

For those a little leery of the leech and cochroach routes, Tuber Curcumae(

Yu Jin), Rhizoma Curcumae Longae (Jiang Huang), and Rhizoma Curcumae Ezhu (e

zhu) also have Blood Stasis breaking properties, can dissolve abdominal

masses, and have Qi moving properties as well. (p. 294) Some readers are

familiar with the more common English names of Tuber Curcumae and Rhizoma

Curcumae Longae: Turmeric tuber and turmeric rhizome. Turmeric is found in

the spice section of supermarkets. (Note: Pregnant women need to be careful

even about herbs and spices found in the supermarket. Some of these need to

be used cautiously or not at all in pregnancy.)

 

Bensky and Gamble elaborate some on the types of conditions that herbs that

Invigorate the Blood are used for. They get used a lot for pain due Blood

Stasis. When one starts to study TCM in depth, one quickly realizes that TCM

can be merticulous in describing different facets of and quality as well as

quantity of pain in order to arrive at the correct analysis. The pain

associated with Blood Stasis is a sharp, boring pain. As Bensky and Gamble

put it, " The pain associated with blood stasis is rather precisely localized

and feels deep, colicky, or sharp. It may be of long duration. " (p. 265)

This is not a pain which is spread out, vague, or diffuse - like in " my

whole lower abdomen feels wort of uncomfotable and bad. " One knows exactly

where this pain is located. It's boundaries are relatively sharp, and it

goes deep. One may even hear the description " It feels like an awl (knife,

screw, etc.) has been driven in and is being twisted. " Bensky and Gamble

report, " The most common types are lower abdominal pain, chest pain, pain

from trauma, and pain from internal bleeding. When pain is very localized,

well-defined in its boundaries, and sharp, suspect and rule in or rule out

pain due to Blood Stasis. (Note: When doing acupressure or massage, one may

encounter areas like this. Pain also can be due to Qi Stagnation, but if a

point is encountered that is particularly sore and the pain is especially

sharp and boring, consider the possibility of Blood Stasis. This pain may

be due to other things, including Qi Stagnation, but consider the

possibility of Blood Stasis.)

 

Bensky and Gamble also report that herbs that Invigorate the Blood get used

to treat abscesses and ulcers. They say, " In Chiense medicine it is

believed that stagnation and stasis of qi and blood are often involved in

the pathogenesis of ulcers, abscesses, a variety of necrotic inflmmation

such as skin slough due to a colorless, painless, flat, slow-healing

suppurative inflammation of the soft tissues (ju), and Intestinal abscesses

(chang yong). This last diagnosis often overlaps with appendicitis in

modern biomedicine. " (p. 265)

 

Herbs that Invigorate the Blood also get used in treating abdominal masses.

" The modern medical diagnoses of hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, abdominal or

pelvic tumors of various etiologies, and some varieties of abdominal or

pelvic cysts often fall under the rubric of immobile abdominal mass. " (p.

265) The terms splenomegaly and hepatomegaly refer to an abnormal

enlargement of the spleen and liver. These can occur due to a variety of

Western-defined causes - infection (mononucleosis, hepatitis, tuberculosis,

etc.), cirrhosis of the liver, problems in arteries, problems in ducts,

leukemia, thrombosis, stenosis, injury, rheumatoid arthritis (Felty's

syndrome), etc. In TCM there are other things besides Blood Stasis that can

trigger abnormal swelling or enlargement of the spleen or liver (Qi

Stagnation, Damp Heat). But in cases of abnormal enlargement of the spleen

or liver, consider the possibility of Blood Stasis as a cause or the

enlargement or a symptom of the enlargement (congestion/ blockage can create

Blood Stasis), and rule in or out. Also consider that Blood Stasis rarely

occurs alone (except in cases due to trauma). I mean somebody slips on a

banana peel, falls down, and gets a bruise or breaks a bone, or is in a car

wreck, there's obviously no other underlying TCM syndrome giving rise to the

Blood Stasis. Cases of surgery (another possible cause of Blood Stasis)

don't count because obviously there's an underlying imbalance or the person

wouldn't need surgery to begin with. Always ask what else needs to be

treated besides the Blood Stasis and ask what's causing the Blood Stasis.

In addition to trauma the following also can trigger Blood Stasis: Qi

Stagnation, Qi Deficiency, Hot Blood, Blood Deficiency, and Interior Cold.

See Maciocia, Foundations of , p. 194 for more info on the

possible causes of Blood Stasis.) One looks at the entire picture.

 

Note for students: " The Liver stores Blood ... when a person moves, Blood

goes to the channels, when at rest it goes to the Liver. " (Maciocia,

Foundations, p. 78) When you're asleep or resting, the Blood collects and is

stored in the Liver. When you're active, the Blood is sent out to nourish

and moisten the muscles. The Liver has a lot of control over the volume of

Blood in the body. There are people who have blood volume problems. Lab

technicians have problems finding veins and getting blood samples from these

people. The people themselves tend to suffer from feeling weak, fainting,

etc. " When the Blood flows to the appropriate places in the body at the

appropriate times, it will nourish the necessary tissues, and therefore give

us energy. " (Maciocia, p. 78) When someone has Blood volume problems,

suspect and rule in or out Liver Blood Deficiency. Keep in mind that Liver

Blood Deficiency can trigger Blood Stasis which can manifest as headaches,

some cases of fainting, etc. Liver imbalance isn't the only thing that can

cause or contribute to Blood volume problems, but it's the most common

underlying Root.

 

Also, Blood volume problems " indirectly influences our resistence to

external pathogenic factors. If this Liver function is normal, the skin and

muscles will be well nourished by Blood and be able to resist attacks of

exterior pathogenic factors. " (Maciocia, p. 78) Remember the question why

some people are so much more susceptible to Exterior Pernicious Evils than

others are? The number one cause is weak Protective Qi. Yang Deficiency

and generalized debility also can be a cause. Add to this a consideration

that Liver Blood may be Deficient, and indirectly causing the increased

susceptibility.

 

Victoria

 

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