Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Strengthening Blood
                        
                                      
                   7.2. Herbal Formula  for Strengthening Blood

Herbal formulae for strengthening blood are used for syndromes of deficiency of blood. Blood dominates moisture and
nourishment. It is one of the basic substances to maintain the life activities. Insufficiency of blood may lead to deficiency"
syndrome, which is caused mainly by the loss of blood, insufficient generation of blood, or blood stasis. Because the
heart dominates the blood vessels, the liver stores the blood, and the spleen controls the blood, deficiency syndrome of
blood, is closely related to them. Insufficiency of heart blood may results in malnourished heart spirit, flat blood vessels,
manifesting as palpitation, insomnia, pale complexion, pale lips and nails, a thread and asthenic pulse. Deficiency of liver
blood brings about malnourishing of the upper part of the body marked by dizziness, vertigo. Insufficiency of the blood
sea may give rise to scanty menstruation, amenorrhea. In these cases, strengthening blood therapy should be used. The
commonly used herbs with sweet in flavor and warm in nature are Shu Di Huang (prepared rehmannia root), Dang Gui
(Chinese angelica root), Bai Shao (white peony root), He Shou Wu ( fleecefloer root), and E Jiao (donkey-hide
gelatin), etc. Since blood originates from the spleen and stomach and is transformed by qi. Sometimes, the herbs for
replenishing qi and generating blood such as Hong Shen (ginseng), Huang Qi (astragalus root) can be used as principal
herbs.
If insufficiency of heart-blood leads to palpitation, insomnia, herbs for nourishing blood and tranquilizing the mind such
as Suan Zao Ren (wild jujula seed), Fu Shen (poria with hostwood), Yuan Zhi (polygala root), and Long Yan Rou
(longan aril) can be added. If syndrome of blood deficiency is complicated by symptoms of qi stagnation and blood
stasis, the herbs for activating qi and removing stagnation such as Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong rhizome),  Dan Shen (red
sage root), Tao Ren (peach kernel), Hong Hua (safflower), Xiang Fu (cyprus), Mu Xiang (aucklandia root), etc. can  
be added to remove stasis. If syndrome of blood deficiency with yin impairment is marked by deficient vexation, and
night sweating, Mai Dong (ophiopogan root), Xuan Shen (scrophlaria root), etc., can be added to nourish yin and clear
heat. If syndrome of blood deficiency is marked by a knotted and slow regular intermittent pulse, Zhi Gan (liquorice),
Gui Zhi (cinnamon twig) is added to the formula to warm yang and activate pulse. The representative formulae to
strengthening blood are Si Wu Tang ( Four Herbs Decoction), Gui Pi Tang (Back to the Spleen Decoction), Zhi Gan
Cao Tang (Roasted Licorice Decoction), etc.