Chinese: 逐瘀踯血汤
Pinyin: Zhú Yū Zhí Xiě Tāng
Other names: Eliminating Stagnation and Stopping Bleeding Decoction
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Intermenstrual bleeding
- Invigorates Blood
- Stops bleeding
Source date: 1826 AD
Source book: Fu Qing Zhu's Gynecology
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1826 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) invigorates Blood and 2) stops bleeding.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Stagnation. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as intermenstrual bleeding for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang
Di Huang is a king ingredient in Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Di Huang's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it nourishes and cools Blood.
3. Bitter Oranges (Zhi Ke)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Zhi Ke's main actions are as follows: "To regulate the flow of Qi, remove its stagnation, and alleviate distension."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorate Qi to move Blood.
4. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Da Huang's main actions are as follows: "Drains Excess Heat and eliminates Dampness, especially when in the Bright Yang stage according to the Six Stages Theory. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding. Invigorates Blood, breaks up Stasis and relieves pain. Clears Heat and toxins from Excess. Applied topically for Hot sores and Blood Stasis."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates Blood and removes Stagnation.
5. Red Peony Roots (Chi Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chi Shao's main actions are as follows: "Moves Blood, relieves pain and reduces swelling. Cools the Blood and the Liver."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates Blood and removes Stagnation.
6. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Mu Dan Pi's main actions are as follows: "Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates Blood and removes Stagnation.
7. Peach Kernels (Tao Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seed
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: HeartLarge intestineLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Tao Ren's main actions are as follows: "Moves Blood and breaks up Stasis. Moistens the Intestines. Relieves coughing."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates Blood and removes Stagnation.
8. Tortoise Plastrons (Gui Ban)
Part used: Carapace and plastron
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Gui Ban's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes the Yin and holds down the Yang. Strengthens the Kidneys and strengthens the bones. Cools the Blood, stops uterine bleeding. Nourishes the Heart. Promotes Healing."
In the context of Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang, it is used because it enters the Directing and Penetrating Vessels as well as the Uterus to stop uterine bleeding.
Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang is used to treat Blood Stagnation
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Blood Stagnation" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Blood Stagnation it is worth mentioning that it is often associated with the condition "intermenstrual bleeding". Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang treats intermenstrual bleeding". Rather, Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang is used to treat Blood Stagnation, which is sometimes the root cause behind intermenstrual bleeding.
Now let's look at Blood Stagnation, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Firm (Lao), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Symptoms: Lumps Tremor Numbness Dark face Dizziness Purple lips Purple nails Blotchy skin Restlessness Itching scalp Painful period Abdominal mass Scanty periods Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Skin capillaries Hesitant periods Tendency to bleed Premenstrual pain Dark colored blood Traumatic swelling Shoulder stiffness Absence of menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Frequent bleeding episodes Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal distention and fullness
Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dark face, purple lips, boring fixed stabbing pain and abdominal masses. Patients with Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), firm (Lao) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as Purple tongue .
Blood Stagnation - also often referred to as "Blood Stasis" - is where the Blood flow is heavily restricted in all or parts of the body. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the... read more about Blood Stagnation
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