Herbs that Tonify the Blood

Question 1

Shu Di Huang

Answer 1

sweet, sl warm
HT, KD, LV
9-30
1. Tonifies the blood (blood deficiency. Very common when blood deficiency leads to irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, and post partum bleeding. Best when there is no significant stagnation)
2. Nourishes the yin (LV and KD yin deficiency)
3. Strongly enriches the yin and relieves wasting and thirsting d/o (esp useful for lower burner wasting. Stand alone in large doses)
4. Nourishes the blood and tonifies the essence (problems of both blood and essence)

Question 2

Zhi He Shou Wu

Answer 2

bitter, sweet, astringent, sl warm
LV, KD
9-30
1. Tonifies LV and KD, nourishes the blood, augments the essence (patterns of yin or blood deficiency. Commonly used b/c both tonifies and preserves and is neither cold, drying, nor too cloying
2. Expels wind from the skin by nourishing the blood (wind rash dt blood deficiency)

Question 3

Dang Gui

Answer 3

sweet, acrid, warm
HT, LV, SP
4.5-15
1. Tonifies the blood and regulates the menses (patterns of blood deficiency, esp when affecting the heart and LV. Commonly used for blood deficiency associated with menstrual disorders)
2. Invigorates and harmonizes teh blood and disperses cold (an important herb for stopping pain dt blood stasis. Commonly used for when accompanied by cold from deficiency. Important herb in the postpartum period even during pregnancy if used with caution. Also in the tx of blood deficiency with chronic wind-damp bi_
3. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (dry intestines dt blood deficiency)
4. Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and alleviates pain (tx sores and abscesses where its ability to both tonify and invigorate the blood leads to improvement. Also used topically)
5. TX cough (effect is weak. Use adjunctively)

Question 4

Bai Shao

Answer 4

bitter, sour, mildly cold
LV, SP
6-15
1. Nourishes the blood and regulates the menses (blood deficiency. Commonly used in womens d/o)
2. Calms and curbs the LV yang and alleviates pain (pain from constrained LV qi or disharmony between LV and SP. Softens and comforts LV qi and good for ascendant LV yang)
3. Preserves teh yin and adjusts the nutritive and protective lvls (all sorts of things)

Question 5

E Jiao

Answer 5

sweet, neutral
KD, LV, LU
3-9 (dissolve separately and add to other decocted herbs)
1. Tonifies the blood (blood deficiency. Stand alone or melted into warm rice/millet wine)
2. Nourishes the blood and stops bleeding (any type of bleeding but best for consumptive disorders)
3. Nourishes and moistens the yin (yin deficiency. Also dry LU cough dt yin deficiency or consumption)

Question 6

Gou Qi Zi

Answer 6

sweet, neutral
LU, LV, KD
6-12
1. Nourishes and tonifies the LV and KD (yin and blood deficiency. Neither hot or cold therefore good for tx patterns)
2. Benefits essence and brightens the eyes (LV and KD deficiency patterns where essence and blood are unable to nourish the eyes)
3. Enriches the yin and moistens the LU (consumptive cough, wasting thirstind d/o)

Question 7

Sang Shen

Answer 7

sweet, cold
HT, LV, KD
9-15
1. Tonifies the blood and enriches the yin (also wasting thirsting d/o)
2. Moistens Intestines (constipation dt blood deficiency or insufficient fluids)

Question 8

Long Yan Rou

Answer 8

sweet, warm
HT, SP
9-15
1. Tonifies and augments the HT and SP, nourishes the blood, calms the spirit (HT and SP deficiency. Commonly used for problems associated with excessive pensiveness and overwork. Can be taken alone as a tea)