Cough of blood 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.
Cough of blood 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 cough of blood 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 cough of blood is often associated with bloody sputum, bloody stools and bloody urine in the pattern “Heat in the Blood”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of cough of blood we’ve identified four 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 cough of blood.
Heat in the Blood, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause cough of blood
In Chinese Medicine cough of blood is a symptom for the pattern "Heat in the Blood". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the king ingredient for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat in the Blood
Heat in the Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue color: Red
Heat in the Blood (or Blood-Heat) refers to a condition whereby Heat, as a so-called "Pernicious Influence", entered the Blood. This invasion tends to accelerate Blood flow (leading to a faster pulse) and to manifest itself in various types of bleeding as well as other symptoms.
In addition to cough of blood, other symptoms associated with Heat in the Blood include bloody sputum, bloody stools and bloody urine.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Heat in the Blood is associated with health issues such as Early Menstruation or Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.
Heat in the Blood is often treated with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system".
Four herbal formulas that might help with cough of blood
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with cough of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' of which cough of blood is a symptom.
Gu Jing Wan
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin . Clears Heat. Stops bleeding. Stabilizes the menses.
Why might Gu Jing Wan help with cough of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' of which cough of blood is a symptom.
Shi Hui San
Source date: 1348g
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Cools the Blood and . Stops bleeding. Clears Heat and drains Fire.
Why might Shi Hui San help with cough of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' of which cough of blood is a symptom.
Bai He Di Huang Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Moistens the Lungs. Enriches the Body Fluids. Clears Heat and cools the Blood .
Why might Bai He Di Huang Tang help with cough of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' of which cough of blood is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for cough of blood
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat cough of blood
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with cough of blood?
Because Unprepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cough of blood as a symptom, like Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang or Bai He Di Huang Tang for instance.
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with cough of blood?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cough of blood as a symptom, like Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang or Shi Hui San for instance.
Mudan Peony Bark is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis.
Why might Tortoise Plastron (Gui Ban) help with cough of blood?
Because it is a key herb in Gu Jing Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' (a pattern with cough of blood as a symptom)
Tortoise Plastrons is a Cool herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: 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.
Why might Japanese Thistle (Da Ji) help with cough of blood?
Because it is a key herb in Shi Hui San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' (a pattern with cough of blood as a symptom)
Japanese Thistle is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the blood to stop bleeding, removes blood stasis, and disperses swelling
Why might Lily Bulb (Bai He) help with cough of blood?
Because it is a key herb in Bai He Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' (a pattern with cough of blood as a symptom)
Lily Bulbs is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and stops cough due to either Lung Yin Deficiency or Lung-Heat. Clears Heat from the Heart and calms the Spirit (Shen).
Other symptoms often associated with cough of blood
Bloody sputum Bloody stools Bloody urine Vomiting of blood Heavy periods Fever Anxiety Insomnia Irritability Itching