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.
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Vomiting 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 vomiting 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 vomiting of blood is often associated with epistaxis, abdominal pain and dark clots in menstrual blood in the pattern “Liver Blood Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause vomiting of blood.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of vomiting of blood 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 vomiting of blood.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause vomiting of blood
In Chinese Medicine vomiting of blood is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple sides
Liver Blood Stagnation usually develops from Qi Stagnation, Cold and Heat. It has great influence over the Directing and Penetrating Vessels and thus the menstruation functions.
In addition to vomiting of blood, other symptoms associated with Liver Blood Stagnation include epistaxis, abdominal pain and dark clots in menstrual blood.
Liver Blood Stagnation is often treated with Xiao Yao San, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Bupleurum Roots - Chai Hu - as a key herb). Xiao Yao San belongs to the category of "formulas that harmonize liver-spleen", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
In addition to vomiting of blood, other symptoms associated with Stomach Blood Stagnation include bloody stools, nausea and vomiting.
Stomach Blood Stagnation is often treated with Shi Xiao San, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Cattail Pollen - Pu Huang - as a key herb). Shi Xiao San 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 Blood".
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the king ingredient for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat victorious agitating Blood
Heat victorious agitating Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to vomiting of blood, other symptoms associated with Heat victorious agitating Blood include epistaxis, bloody stools and blood in urine.
Heat victorious agitating 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".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Fire Blazing
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
In addition to vomiting of blood, other symptoms associated with Liver Fire Blazing include epistaxis, dizziness and irritability.
Liver Fire Blazing is often treated with Long Dan Xie Gan Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Chinese Gentian - Long Dan Cao - as a key herb). Long Dan Xie Gan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from the organs", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to vomiting of blood, other symptoms associated with Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire include epistaxis, dizziness and irritability.
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire is often treated with Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Saiga Antelope's Horns - Ling Yang Jiao - as a key herb). Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that pacify and extinguish internal wind", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Cools the Liver".
Read more about Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire here
Five herbal formulas that might help with vomiting of blood
Xiao Yao San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen. Relieves Liver Qi stagnation. Nourishes the Blood.
Why might Xiao Yao San help with vomiting of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Blood Stagnation' of which vomiting of blood is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Blood Stagnation include epistaxis, abdominal pain and dark clots in menstrual blood.
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 vomiting of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Blood Stagnation' of which vomiting of blood is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Stomach Blood Stagnation include bloody stools, nausea and vomiting.
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 vomiting of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat victorious agitating Blood' of which vomiting of blood is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heat Victorious Agitating Blood include epistaxis, bloody stools and blood in urine.
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Source date: 1682 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.
Why might Long Dan Xie Gan Tang help with vomiting of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Fire Blazing' of which vomiting of blood is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Fire Blazing include epistaxis, dizziness and irritability.
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Source date: Qing dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Cools the Liver. Extinguishes Wind. Increases Fluids. Relaxes the sinews.
Why might Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang help with vomiting of blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire' of which vomiting of blood is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Wind Agitating Internally Due To Liver Fire include epistaxis, dizziness and irritability.
Acupuncture points used for vomiting of blood
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat vomiting of blood
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with vomiting of blood?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of blood as a symptom, like Xiao Yao San or Chai Hu Shu Gan San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with vomiting of blood?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of blood as a symptom, like Dang Gui Long Hui Wan or Xiao Yao San 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 Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with vomiting of blood?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of blood as a symptom, like Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang or Chai Hu Shu Gan San 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 Bupleurum Root (Chai Hu) help with vomiting of blood?
Because Bupleurum Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of blood as a symptom, like Xiao Yao San or Chai Hu Shu Gan San for instance.
Bupleurum Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Harmonizes exterior and interior. Smoothes the Liver and upraises the Yang.
Why might Red Peony Root (Chi Shao) help with vomiting of blood?
Because Red Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of blood 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.
Other symptoms often associated with vomiting of blood
Nosebleed Epistaxis Abnormal uterine bleeding Sores Bloody sputum Hematochezia Hematuria Traumatic bleeding Dizziness Irritability