Qi And Blood Stagnation
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Qi The concept of Blood
Key attributes
Chinese name: 气滞血瘀 Pinyin name: Qì Zhì Xuè Yū
Pattern nature: Full combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Blood Stagnation Qi Stagnation
Causes
Common causes: Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Dark face Chest pain Depression Amenorrhea Purple lips and fourteen other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Purple tongue with dark spots
Treatment
Treatment principle: Invigorate Qi and Blood, expel Stagnation especially in the Liver.
Common formulas: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang and six other formulas
Pathology
The typical symptoms of Qi stagnation are distension, oppression and swelling. There are also emotional issues like mood swing, depression or irritability. However, the Blood Stagnation is more on pains and purple color manifestation on skin, face, lips and nails.
Qi Stagnation can cause the latter pattern, as vicious circle, the Blood Stagnation worsens the Qi flow. The Liver is responsible for overall Qi circulation of the body and it also stores the Blood. Therefore, the malfunction of the Liver can cause both patterns at the same time. That's the reason many of the symptoms are located in chest area.
Causes
Emotional stress: Prolonged or intense emotional stress disturbs the Mind (Shen) and causes disharmony in Organs, Qi and Blood. According to TCM, all 7 emotions (Anger, Joy, Sadness, Worry, Pensiveness, Fear, and Shock) has some effect on Qi and Blood Stagnation. Pensiveness and Worry are supposed to knot Qi the most and cause Qi Stagnation, which then lead to Blood Stagnation. On the other hand, the Liver stores the Blood and this function can be largely disturbed by anger.
Diagnosing Qi And Blood Stagnation
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), deep (Chen) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Purple tongue with dark spots
Main symptoms: Dark face Chest pain Depression Amenorrhea Purple lips Mood swings Purple nails Irritability Blotchy skin Chest fullness Painful period Abdominal masses Lochia retention Dark colored blood Swelling of the feet Black and tarry stools Irregular menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Dark clots in menstrual blood
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the pain that is boring, stabbing and fixed in one place. There are also manifestations like distention or oppression. Patients also suffer from emotional problems such as mood swings, depression or irritability.
Treating Qi And Blood Stagnation
Treatment principle
Invigorate Qi and Blood, expel Stagnation especially in the Liver.
Herbal formulas used to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Source date: 1602
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood. Alleviates pain. Harmonizes Blood.
Formula summary
Chai Hu Shu Gan San is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1602, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement.
Besides Qi And Blood Stagnation, Chai Hu Shu Gan San is also used to treat Rebellious Qi or Liver Blood Stagnation.
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood. Dispels blood Stagnation. Spreads the Liver Qi. Unblocks the channels.
Formula summary
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1830 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation.
Besides Qi And Blood Stagnation, Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is also used to treat Heart Blood Stagnation or Heart Vessel obstructed.
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Expels Cold and warm the menstruation Blood. Stops pain. Invigorates Blood. Dispels Blood stagnation.
Formula summary
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1830 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation.
Besides Qi And Blood Stagnation, Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang is also used to treat Blood Stagnation or Cold in the Uterus.
Related conditions
Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Qi And Blood Stagnation, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.
Prolonged periods Menopausal syndrome Absence of menstruation Menstrual cramps
Special highlight: the link between menstrual cramps and Qi And Blood Stagnation
Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu) is the key herb for Xiao Yao San, a formula used for menstrual cramps caused by Qi And Blood Stagnation
Typical symptoms for menstrual cramps caused by Qi And Blood Stagnation: Restlessness Scanty periods Clots in blood Breast distention Intense period pain Lower abdominal pain Dark menstrual blood Pre-menstrual tension Pre-menstrual irritability Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal distention and fullness Pain relief after clots discharge
Recommended herbal formulas: Xiao Yao San, Tao Hong Si Wu Tang, Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Qi and Blood Stagnation is one of the most common patterns behind painful periods and it often comes along other patterns. For instance, when there is dysmenorrhea due to Qi and Blood Deficiency as the main pattern, some degree of Qi or Blood Stagnation often occurs at the same time. Similarly the pattern Cold in the Uterus, another frequent cause of menstrual cramps, also causes Blood Stagnation.
According to Chinese Medicine, the Liver and the Penetrating Vessel are the body parts most...Read more about menstrual cramps
Special highlight: the link between absence of menstruation and Qi And Blood Stagnation
Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong) is the key herb for Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang, a formula used for absence of menstruation caused by Qi And Blood Stagnation
Typical symptoms for absence of menstruation caused by Qi And Blood Stagnation: Moodiness Dark face Dizziness Depression Chest pain Breast pain Irritability Abdominal pain Chest fullness Breast distention Abdominal fullness Menstruation decreases gratually Feeling of fullness in the chest
Recommended herbal formulas: Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang, Tao Hong Si Wu Tang, Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang, Wu Yao Tang, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, Wei Jing Tang
This is an Excess type of Amenorrhoea. This means that the periods are absent because Blood is stagnated rather than being insufficient.
Qi and Blood Stagnation discussed here typically occurs in the Liver. It normally results from emotional factors such as anger, frustration, resentment, irritation, worry or anxiety. If it is not treated for a long period of time, stagnated Blood can not flow freely from the Liver to fill the Penetrating Vessels and the Uterus. Therefore the menstruation...Read more about absence of menstruation