Black and tarry stools according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Black and tarry stools can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like black and tarry stools here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here black and tarry stools is often associated with chest fullness, chest pain and dark face in the pattern “Qi And Blood Stagnation”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of black and tarry stools we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat black and tarry stools.
Qi And Blood Stagnation, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause black and tarry stools
In Chinese Medicine black and tarry stools is a symptom for the pattern "Qi And Blood Stagnation". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a formula used for Qi And Blood Stagnation
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
In addition to black and tarry stools, other symptoms associated with Qi And Blood Stagnation include chest fullness, chest pain and dark face.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Qi And Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Menstrual Cramps, Absence Of Menstruation or Menopausal Syndrome.
Qi And Blood Stagnation is often treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates the Blood".
Five herbal formulas that might help with black and tarry stools
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.
Why might Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with black and tarry stools?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which black and tarry stools is a symptom.
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Unblocks painful obstruction. Relieves pain. Invigorate Qi. Dispels Blood Stagnation. Unblock Channels.
Why might Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang help with black and tarry stools?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which black and tarry stools is a symptom.
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.
Why might Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with black and tarry stools?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which black and tarry stools is a symptom.
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Eliminates Blood Stagnation below the diaphragm. Stops pain. Promotes Qi movement.
Why might Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang help with black and tarry stools?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which black and tarry stools is a symptom.
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.
Why might Chai Hu Shu Gan San help with black and tarry stools?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which black and tarry stools is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat black and tarry stools
Why might Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with black and tarry stools?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat black and tarry stools as a symptom, like Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang or Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Szechuan Lovage Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with black and tarry stools?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat black and tarry stools as a symptom, like Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang or Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Coco-Grass Rhizome (Xiang Fu) help with black and tarry stools?
Because Coco-Grass Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat black and tarry stools as a symptom, like Chai Hu Shu Gan San or Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Coco-Grass Rhizomes is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter, Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Liver, the Sanjiao and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Unblocks Stagnant Liver Qi and relieves pain. Regulates the Liver and Spleen. Assists the regulation of menses and relieves pain.
Why might Red Peony Root (Chi Shao) help with black and tarry stools?
Because Red Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat black and tarry stools as a symptom, like Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Red Peony Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Blood, relieves pain and reduces swelling. Cools the Blood and the Liver.
Why might Safflower (Hong Hua) help with black and tarry stools?
Because Safflower is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat black and tarry stools as a symptom, like Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang or Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Safflowers is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Stagnant Blood and regulates menses. Relieves pain caused by Blood Stasis.
Other symptoms often associated with black and tarry stools
Chest fullness Chest pain Dark face Purple lips Purple nails Irritability Mood swings Depression Blotchy skin Swelling of the feet