herbs that tonify blood

Question 1

Dang Gui

(state of return)

Answer 1

herbs that tonify blood

Angelica Sinensis; Angelica Root
HT/LV/SP
Sweet, bitter, spicy, warm

For stuck slow blood-not warming properly and causing pain. Tonifies (head of root) and moves (tails of root)

1) Tonify blood: 60-90%
ANEMIA/pallor/emaciated/dry
IRREGULAR MENSES, amenorrhea, UTERINE
DISEASE

2) Move blood 10-40%
coldness, PAIN: chest pain, MENSTRUAL PAIN, injury

3) MOISTENS intestines: constipation w/ dry stools
moistens generally: LV, LV Bld-hair, desiccated SKIN,
emotions,
stimulates compassion (esp during menopause)

4) HEALS TISSUE (bec. moves Bld:) topically for sores,
swelling, bruising .

Contra: pregnancy ("thins" ie, moves blood- move baby down); anticoagulants. 
 overweight folks (unless drain damp too) 
 loose stools 
 long term use

Question 2

Shu Di Huang

(cooked earth yellow)

Answer 2

herbs that tonify blood

Rehmannia glutinosa; Rehmannia Root
HT/LV/KD
Sweet, Sl warm

Strong-can make big change quickly (exception to rule of blood tonifyers)
cook in red wine or black bean juice (8x)

1) tonify
pallor, lips, nails, eyes, blood loss
HT bld: insomnia, palpitations, dizziness

2) Tonify yin (LV/KD yin): sore, weak, back, low back/knee pain, night sweats, vision issues, dizziness
3) benefits essence: anti-aging, grey hair, impotence, late development

4) cough/wheezing: chronic/def cough, asthma
(helps KD grab LU qi- to take big breath)

Contra: phlegm, damp (tongue scallops)
(sticky, gives diarrhea)

Question 3

He Shou Wu

(Mr. He’s black hair)

Answer 3

herbs that tonify blood

Polygonum multiflorum; Fleeceflower root
LV/KD
Bitter, sweet, astringent. warm

cooked w/ black bean juice= Shu He Shou Wu
raw= sheng he shou wu (she d/n use raw or for Fx 2)

1) tonifies KD jing, LV blood: early aging, brittle nails. eyes, menstrual issues, amenorrhea
2) moistens intestines: Dry stools

3) MR: a) protects v. coronary HT disease- by
strengthening blood, angina, chest pain
b) lowers cholesterol for HTN, removes
cholesterol from LVl

Question 4

Bai Shao

(white peony)

Answer 4

herbs that tonify blood

Paeonia lactiflora; White Peony root
LV/SP
bitter, sour, cool

cool, tonifies bld and yin. Good for bld def heat

1) tonifies bld: anemia, menstrual issues, diabetes
preserves yin: astringe moisture in skin (tighten and
tone), night sweats, spermatorrhea, vag,. dryness
goes where LV yin stored to moisten ligaments &
tendons- good for aging pple

2) calms LV down- reduces pain, cramps, muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, flank pain, neck/shoulder pain. Gives pple new flexibility
3) calms LV yang/LV wind: eye spasms/twitches, red eyes, dizzines. For folks who over work

Contra: sedatives. anti- diabetic drugs (yin), external wind rash- could pull it in

Question 5

E Jiao

(gelatin)

Answer 5

herbs that tonify blood

Equus asinus; Donkey-hide gelatin
KD, LV, LU
Sweet, neutral

comes in bricks, break off, dissolve-add after cooking other herbs: DO NOT CONCOCT

1) STOPS BLEEDING- nourishes in order to stop blood (opposite Dang Gui): menses, nose bleeds, pregnancy, coughing up blood, causes blood to slow
2) LU dryness-deficient cough (where capillaries break open), tonifies, moistens LU SOB, dry nose, throat- when folks thirsty but cant expectorate
3) moistens intestines: dry stools

DO NOT USE W/ COPIOUS PHLEGM

Question 6

Long Yan Rou

(dragon eye flresh)

Answer 6

herbs that tonify blood

dimocarpus longan; longan fruit (dragon eye flesh)
HT/SP
sweet, warm

use fresh, fleshy white part-not hard to digest

1) HT/SP together (formula): Gui Pi Tang= for insomnia
fatigue, HT spirit stuff that leads to anxiety,
palpitations, panic, insomnia

2) benefits Qi: SP qi def w/ weakness: recovery from surgery, chronically ill, elderly. Sweet treat can use alone
3) nourishes HT blood, calms spirit, insomnia, pple who over work, fearful, cry, dependent, emotionally changeable

Contra: exterior invasion- bec is tonifier
can cause damp stag

Question 7

Gou Qi Zi

(thorny stalk fruit)
black goji berries

Answer 7

herbs that tonify blood

lycium barbarum; wolfberry fruit
LU, LV, KD
sweet, NEUTRAL (the only one=test Q)

mild tonic, small amounts, lag time

1) tonifies: LV, KD, Yin, Blood, Jing: low back pain, knee pain, dizziness (KD); eyes, blurry eyes (LV), aniti -aging, gray hair, fertility (Jing)
2) dry lungs, dry cough, thirst, moistens LU (LU)

3) MR: opens vessels, lowers blood pressure
increases immunity

Question 8

Sxs Blood Deficiency

Answer 8

blurred Vision
Floaters in eyes
dry eyes
dry hair or loss
brittle nails
Dry skin
pale complexion
easily startled
Dizziness
Insomnia
Scanty periods
History of heavy periods
Amenorrhea (no period/3 months)
Palpitations
Mental fatigue
Muscle cramps
not grounded
T: pale, dry, thin
P: weak, choppy, thready, thin

Question 9

Herbs that tonify blood

Answer 9

Take time to be effective
Make resources of the body stronger:
Qi/Blood
Yin/yang
jing

organs: LV (eyes, periods)/HT (anemia, palpitations, insomnia)/SP (muscles)

Not everyone can tonify- herbs hard to digest
excesses/imbalances/exterior invasions must be taken care of first

blood tonifyers can increase dampness- lead to stag
herbs heavy (like gift of bricks) maybe add qi herbs (wheelbarrow to move bricks)

Question 10

NAMES OF HERBS THAT TONIFY BLOOD

Answer 10

• *Dang Gui** / angelica sinensis/ angelica root (head tonifies, tale moves; for stuck blood not warming properly-cold and pain; emaciated pple; desiccated skin; belly herb; heals tissue (pus) Moistens LI. HT/LV/SP: OVERWEIGHT LONG TERM)
• *Shu Di Huang**/ Rehmannia glutinosa/ Rehmannia root (makes big change quickly=exception to rule, HT, LV/KD yin, stops cough & wheeze, “5 lates”: STICKY, SP/ST def=SCALLOPS; gives diarrhea)
• He Shou Wu**/ Polygonum multiflorum/ Fleeceflower Root (KI Jing/LV bld; anti-aging; moistens LI, lowers cholesterol/HTN*: ANTI DIABETIC DRUG)
• *Bai Shao**/ Paeonia Lactiflora/ White Peony Root (for bld def w/ heat; good for older folks- tightens/moistens skin, moistens sinews, reduces cramps, flexibility, calms LV and LV wind: SEDATIVES, WIND RASH, ANTI DIABETIC)
• *E Jiao**/ equus asinus/ donkey-hide gelatin (stops bleeding; moistens stools (LI), lungs: PHLEGM)
• *Long Yan Rou**/ dimocarpus longan/ longan fruit (HT/SP; restores shen, emotional fragility, elderly, weak, chronically ill, recovery from surgery: DAMP STAG, EXTERIOR CASE
• *Gou Qi Zi**/ lycium barbarum/ Wolfberry Fruit (NEUTRAL, LV. KI YIN, Bld, Jing; opens bld vessels (HTN). lowers BP, immunity- white bld cells, moistens eyes .