Acute Hemorrhagesaccording to TCM

Symptom family: General Hemorrhage and Bleeding Issues

Parent symptom: Bleeding

What is Acute Hemorrhages?

Acute hemorrhages represent sudden and severe bleeding episodes that pose immediate medical emergencies. This condition, encompassing both internal and external bleeding, requires rapid intervention to prevent significant blood loss and potential life-threatening complications. Such episodes are characterized by their abrupt onset and can manifest in various forms and severities, demanding quick and effective medical response to stabilize the affected individual.

How does TCM view Acute Hemorrhages?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches acute hemorrhages as manifestations of underlying imbalances within the body's energy pathways. It views the body as an interconnected system where Qi (vital energy), Blood, and organ systems play pivotal roles in maintaining health.

According to TCM, sudden bleeding episodes signal disturbances in these components, necessitating a holistic approach to identify and rectify the root cause of disharmony. This perspective emphasizes not just the cessation of bleeding but also the restoration of balance to prevent future occurrences.

Causes of Acute Hemorrhages according to TCM

In TCM, acute hemorrhages are often linked to two main patterns of disharmony: Heat victorious agitating Blood and Heat in the Blood. These conditions highlight an excess Heat within the body that disrupts the stability and containment of Blood. Heat victorious agitating Blood describes a scenario where excessive Heat propels Blood out of its normal pathways, leading to bleeding.

Heat in the Blood refers to a state where Heat directly affects the Blood, causing it to exit vessels. Recognizing these patterns is critical in TCM, as it informs the selection of treatments aimed at cooling the Heat and stabilizing the Blood to address both the symptoms and the underlying imbalance.

TCM Herbal Formulas for Acute Hemorrhages

TCM employs specific herbal formulas to target the identified patterns contributing to acute hemorrhages. For conditions attributed to Heat victorious agitating Blood and Heat in the Blood, the focus is on formulas that cool the Blood and restore its proper function.

One such formula is Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, renowned for its ability to clear Heat from the Blood and stabilize it, preventing further bleeding. This formula, incorporating ingredients like Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao), exemplifies TCM's nuanced approach to treatment — aiming not only to stop the acute symptom of bleeding but also to address the deeper imbalance, thereby fostering a return to health and preventing recurrence.

See more details below about Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula used to address acute hemorrhages.

  • By Formula Type
  • Formulas that clear nutritive-level heat

TCM Herbs for Acute Hemorrhages

See more details below about Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao), a herb used to address acute hemorrhages.

  • By Herb Category
  • Herbs that cool the blood