K. Medicines that Move Blood
Anticoagulants, Vasodilators, Emmenagogues, Analgesics, Antitumor
These medicines promote the flow of blood and clear obstruction of circulation.
There are 2 main types of Blood Stagnation:
1. Obstruction of Circulation: bleeding, stagnancy of blood, bruising, trauma, thrombosis, ischemia
2. Proliferation of Tissues or Cells: denaturing of local tissues, necrosis; also irregular cells including cancer.
Blood Stagnation may be caused by:
1. Cold and Yang deficiency
2. Phlegm and Damp
3. Heat
4. Wind or Qi stagnation
5. Trauma
Three main categories of Blood-Moving medicines:
1. Blood-Regulators: these medicines gently increase the flow of blood, smooth and regulate the circulation of blood. They gently promote menstruation. (Dang Gui, Peony, Mistletoe, Rosemary, and small doses of Calendula, Saffron or Safflower are in this class)
2. Blood-Movers: these medicines work more strongly than the last, promoting the circulation of blood and removing stagnant blood through vasodilatory or anticoagulant effect. These more strongly promote Menstruation and effectively relieve pain. (Motherwort, Myrrh, Frankincense, Turmeric, and moderate doses of Calendula, Saffron and Safflower are examples)
3. Blood-Breakers: these medicines aggressively break-up masses, destroy irregular and fast-growing cells, and have a disintergrating and absorbing effect. They are usually anti-tumor medicines and are used for Hematoma, Adhesions, Fibroids, Cancer etc. They force menstruation and cause abortion if used during pregnancy. (Peach kernel, Zedoary, Savin, large doses of Calendula, Saffron or Safflower, as well as various Invertebrates including Pill Millipede, Bee, and Leech also break blood)
Of course, strong blood movers used in small dose are mild, while mild blood moving medicines taken in large dose can act as Blood-breaking medicines.
Blood moving medicines are extremely important medicines in chronic disease, chronic inflammations and in disorders of old age.
These medicines are usually combined with other medicines:
a. with Blood Tonics such as Dang Gui or Peony root to regulate the blood system
b. with Qi-movers to more strongly move the Blood, and strengthen the effect of easing pain
c. with medicines that Stop Bleeding to both clear stagnation and stop bleeding. (ie. after Trauma)
d. with medicines that Clear Heat to strengthen anti-inflammatory effects.
e. with medicines that Warm the Kidneys (ie. Cinnamon) to promote labor.
f. with medicines to treat the Nerves and stop Wind after Cerebrovascular Accident.
TCM:
Red Peony Chi Shao Yao, Leonurus seed Chong Wei Zi, Liquidamber Lu Lu Tong, Lycopus Ze Lan, Artemisia anomala Liu Ji Nu, Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng, Sargentodoxa Hong Teng, Campsis, Ling Xiao Hua
Pangolian scales Chuan Shan Jia,
Chinese Classification