Herbs That Move the Blood
Herbs which can move the Blood are graded into categories according to their actions and relative strength.
Herbs which Regulate Blood Mildly:
These herbs invigorate and encourage circulation of blood in the blood vessels, especially microcirculation in the capillaries. This is achieved by reducing coagulation and accumulation of platelets.
- Dang Gui
- Ji Xue Teng
- Chuan Xiong
- Yan Hu Suo *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Wang Bu Liu Xing *caution in pregnancy
- Lu Lu Tong *caution in pregnancy
Herbs That Regulate Blood and Remove Stagnation:
The next category of herbs encourages circulation, especially in areas where blood circulation has become very sluggish and there is pooling of stagnant blood. Their action is a little stronger than those above, which just encourage efficient circulation, and they will be employed when we see evidence of stasis of Blood, e.g., purple coloration on the skin or tongue, pointed pain (in the abdomen in this case), dark color or clots in the menstrual flow.
- Dan Shen
- Yi Mu Cao *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Tao Ren *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Hong Hua *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Chuan Niu Xi *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Ze Lan *caution in pregnancy
- Su Mu
- Yu Jin *caution in pregnancy
- Wu Ling Zhi
- Ru Xiang *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Mo Yao *contraindicated in pregnancy
Herbs and Substances which Break Up Blood and Remove Stagnation:
This category includes herbs and substances which can actually dissolve masses. These are employed when we know (from palpation or from investigative surgery) that there are masses like cysts, fibroids, polyps, endometriosis or breast lumps or tumors. This category includes a number of animal products and these are particularly strong in their Blood-breaking action (and anti-blood-clotting action) and thus have to be used with great caution and in small doses.
- Tao Ren *contraindicated in pregnancy
- E Zhu *contraindicated in pregnancy
- San Leng *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Shui Zhi *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Meng Chong *contraindicated in pregnancy
- Tu (Di) Bie Chong *contraindicated in pregnancy