Herbs_Tonify Blood Flashcards
Blood Tonics
- Spleen controls blood
- Liver stores blood
- Heart controls the blood vessels
- Blood Xu: sallow complexion, pale lips and nails, worries and pensive anxiety, palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, easily frightened or sensitive (tearful) and menstrual problems
Shu di Huang
(Radix Rehmanniae prepared)
- Nourishes Blood
- Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin
- Replenishes Jing
- Arrests cough and wheezing
- Caution - Sp and St Xu
- Sweet and slightly warm - Liver and Kidney
He Shou Wu
(“Black-Haired Mr He”)
- Replenishes Jing, nourishes Liv Blood and Kidney
- Eliminates toxins
- Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
- Malarial disorders
- Cautions - Spleen Xu, loose stools or diarrhoea, damp or phlegm
- Sweet, bitter, astringent, slightly warm - Liver and Kidney
Dang Gui
(Angelica Sinensis)
- Sweet, acrid/pungent, warm
- Heart, Liver, Spleen
- ‘The Women’s Jewel’
- 6-15gr
- Nourishes Blood - He Bl Xu and Liv Bl Xu
- Invigorates Blood (circulation) and relieves pain
- Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
- Reduces swelling, expels pus - promotes healing in chronic skin sores/abscesses
- Caution - can cause loose stools or abdominal distension - add Chen Pi or Sha Ren
- Formula: Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (with Zhi Huang Qi) for gentle nourishing and moving
Bai Shao Yao
(Radix Paeoniae Alba)
- Nourishes Blood and preserves Yin
- Nourishes the Liver to calm Liver Yang and Liver Wind
- Softens the Liver and relieves pain and spasms
- Bitter, sweet, sour, cool - Liver and Spleen
Gou Qi Zi
(Fructus Lycii)
- Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin, brightens the eyes
- Moistens Lung Yin - chronic respiratory disorders, cough and breathlessness from Lu Yin Xu
- Enriches Jing
- Sweet, neutral - Liver, Kidney, Lung
Long Yan Rou -
“Dragon Eye Flesh”
- Tonifies Heart and Spleen
- Benefits Qi and Blood
- Sweet and warm - Heart and Spleen
Compare and contrast:
Dang Gui and Bai Shao
- Dang Gui: Warm - dispersing - suitable for blood xu with yang xu or coldness
- Bai Shao: Cool and sour (astringent) - blood and yin xu with heat
- Huang Qi combined with Dang Gui makes a powerful combo for tonifying Qi and Blood
Recap -Tonics
- Qi and Blood tonics are often used together, as this deficiency usually occurs together
- Qi and Yin tonics are often combined in chronic illness, especially where there may have been heat consuming Qi and fluids
- Yin and Blood tonics - what affects Blood will eventually affect Yin, so it is usual to use tonics from both these categories. As you have seen, Shu di Huang and Gou Qi Zi both nourish Yin but are in the blood tonics category. Shu di Huang is the major herb to nourish Yin
- Blood and Yin tonics are often heavy and greasy, creating dampness and causing side-effects with the bowel - sometimes it is necessary to strengthen the Spleen Qi before using Yin or Blood tonics
Herbs that tonify Jing and Liver Blood
- Shu di Huang
- He Shou Wu
- Gou Qi Zi
Herbs that tonify Liver Blood
- Bai Shao Yao
- Dang Gui
Herbs that nourish Liver Yin
- Bai Shao Yao
- Gou Qi Zi
Herbs that nourish Kidney Yin and Jing
- Shu di Huang
- He Shou Wu
- Gou Qi Zi
Blood Xu signs & symptoms
Physical
- dryness
- blurred vision / dry eyes
- tingling / numbness in muscles
- joint stiffness
- itchy skin
- fatigue, tiredness
- menstrual issues
Mental
- insomnia / dream-disturbed sleep
- palpitations
- anxiety
- poor memory / inability to concentrate
- restlessness
Pulse: thready, wiry, weak
Tongue: pale, poss. cracked
Complexion: pale
Blood and Jing
Bl & Jing are substantial.
They can turn into each other. Therefore, Bl tonics can treat Kid Jing Xu as well.
Bl tonics often used for: Infertility, slow development in children, poor memory, blurred vision
