About This Herb*
Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties
Herb Description*
San Qi (Notoginseng) is one of the most prized herbs in Chinese medicine, sometimes called "gold that cannot be exchanged" for its remarkable ability to stop bleeding and heal injuries. It works by clearing out stagnant blood while simultaneously stopping active bleeding, making it uniquely versatile for both internal bleeding conditions and traumatic injuries. It is the principal ingredient in the world-famous Yunnan Baiyao wound medicine.
Herb Category*
Main Actions*
- Dispels Stasis and Stops Bleeding
- Invigorates Blood and Dispels Stasis
- Reduces Swelling and Alleviates Pain
How These Actions Work*
'Transforms stasis and stops bleeding' is the hallmark action of San Qi and what makes it truly unique among hemostatic herbs. Most herbs that stop bleeding do so by cooling, contracting, or astringent mechanisms, which risk trapping old blood (stasis) inside the body. San Qi stops bleeding while simultaneously dispersing stagnant blood. This means it can be used for virtually any type of bleeding, whether internal (coughing blood, vomiting blood, nosebleeds, blood in the stool or urine, uterine bleeding) or external (traumatic wounds). It is especially valuable when bleeding occurs alongside signs of blood stasis. Zhang Xichun, the famous physician of the modern era, praised it as a substance that "dissolves stagnant blood without damaging new blood" (化瘀血而不伤新血).
'Activates Blood and resolves stasis' means San Qi promotes healthy circulation and breaks up accumulations of stuck or stagnant blood. This action applies broadly to conditions involving blood stasis patterns: chest pain from heart vessel obstruction, abdominal masses, blocked menstruation, painful periods, and postpartum pain from retained blood clots. It enters the Liver channel (which stores blood) and the Stomach channel (the hub of the Yang Ming, rich in Qi and blood), giving it wide reach across the body's blood system.
'Reduces swelling and alleviates pain' is why San Qi has been called the "sacred herb of traumatology" in Chinese medicine. It directly addresses the swelling and pain that follow injuries. For sprains, fractures, contusions, and other physical trauma, San Qi can be taken internally or applied as a powder directly to the affected area. This pain-relieving action extends to any condition where blood stasis causes pain, such as the stabbing chest pain of coronary artery obstruction.
Patterns Addressed*
In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. San Qi is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.
The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.
Why San Qi addresses this pattern
San Qi is one of the most effective herbs for treating Blood Stasis (blood that has become stuck or stagnant in the body). Its warm temperature and sweet-bitter taste give it the ability to both move stagnant blood and generate new blood. It enters the Liver channel, which is responsible for storing blood and ensuring its smooth flow, and the Stomach channel, which belongs to the Yang Ming system that is abundant in both Qi and Blood. By activating blood circulation and dispersing accumulations, San Qi directly addresses the core pathomechanism of Blood Stasis. Its pain-relieving action is especially relevant here, as fixed, stabbing pain is the cardinal symptom of blood stasis.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Fixed, stabbing chest pain from heart vessel obstruction
Menstrual pain with dark, clotted blood
Bruising and swelling from traumatic injury
Postpartum abdominal pain from retained blood clots
Why San Qi addresses this pattern
This is the pattern for which San Qi is most classically indicated. When bleeding occurs in the context of blood stasis, ordinary hemostatic herbs create a dilemma: stopping the bleeding may worsen the stasis, while resolving the stasis may worsen the bleeding. San Qi resolves both simultaneously. Its unique ability to "stop bleeding without trapping stasis" (止血不留瘀) makes it the ideal herb when bleeding and stasis coexist. Its warm nature gently moves blood without being too harsh, while its sweet taste supports the production of new blood to replace what was lost.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Vomiting blood with signs of underlying stasis
Coughing up blood
Blood in the stool
Nosebleeds with dark or clotted blood
Why San Qi addresses this pattern
When blood stasis obstructs the heart vessels, it produces the TCM pattern known as chest obstruction (胸痹 xiōng bì), presenting with chest pain, tightness, and palpitations. San Qi enters both the Liver and Stomach channels, giving it access to the circulation system. Its ability to invigorate blood and relieve pain directly targets the stasis blocking the heart vessels. In modern clinical practice, San Qi is widely used in formulas for coronary heart disease and angina pectoris, where it pairs well with Dān Shēn (Salvia root) to enhance the blood-moving, pain-relieving effect.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Stabbing chest pain radiating to the back
Angina with a sense of chest oppression
Palpitations with a dark or purplish tongue
TCM Properties*
Warm
Sweet (甘 gān), Bitter (苦 kǔ)
Root (根 gēn)
This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.