Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Regulate Blood
Pattern: Blood stasis due to injury (Die Da)
Key Symptoms: Swelling and pain
Ingredients
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Su Mu
| 70g | |
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Pinyin: Su Mu
Chinese: 苏木
Pharmaceutical: Lignum Sappan
English: Sappan Wood / Indian Redwood |
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Tastes: Sweet, salty, pungent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart and Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Invigorates Blood circulation, dispels Blood Stasis, reduces swellings, opens the channels and alleviates pain
Blood Stasis such as postpartum abdominal pain and amenorrhea Pain and swelling due to Blood Stasis from fall, fractures, contusions or sprains
- Stops bleeding
Excessive postpartum bleeding
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Bai Jiu
| 650ml | | |
Pinyin: Jiu
Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine |
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Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
- Warms Yang and Expels Cold
All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
- Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
Temporary low mood, celebration
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Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.
The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire. |
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Subsitutions:
Bai Jiu (white alcohol) traditionally means distilled rice wine but can be substituted with any clear 40% spirit.
Preparation: Grind into a fine powder and soak with 650ml of alcohol and 650ml of water. Boil down to 650ml and divide into three portions.
Actions: Invigorates Blood and alleviates pain, disperses stasis and swelling.
Contraindications: Pregnancy.
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
