Blood Stasis – Herbs That Help To Improve Circulation

Blood stasis occurs when blood that flows throughout the body actually slows down or is blocked. This is a pathological syndrome and is often the basic cause of many illnesses. Chinese medicine can help relieve Blood Stasis with herbs that help to improve circulation.

Blood Stasis from a Chinese medical point of view

Chinese doctors believe that if your blood is flowing freely, you will rarely suffer from pain; whereas the body part that suffer from blockages is likely to experience pain. In the case of blood stasis, pain is felt at specific body parts. If blood stasis occurs in or around the heart, you may experience palpitations, pain in the chest, tightness in the chest and your lips and nails may turn purplish, you may also experience emotional disturbances.

If blood stasis occurs in the lungs, you may suffer some chest pain and possibly cough up blood. If blood stasis occurs in the digestive system you may experience dark coloured stools or vomiting of blood.

Women suffering blood stasis in the uterus may experience abdominal pain, dark blood clots in the menstrual blood, irregular or painful menstruation, or heavy menstrual flow. Therefore, blood stasis can happen anywhere in the body and it is often characterized by some form of discomfort or aches and pains.

Blood stasis – herbs you can take to improve circulation

Chinese medicinal herbs used for improving blood flow and removing blood stasis are called blood activating herbs. These herbs can help clear blockages present in the blood circulation, hence relieving rheumatism and swelling, also alleviate pain and accelerate the healing of wounds. They also help to relieve numbness, blood clots and treats bleeding with dark coloured blood and clotting.

When treating blood stasis it is vital to first determine the cause of the blood stasis in order to prescribe the correct type of  herbs and dosages for the desired results; that is to promote blood flow, invigorate qi and promote yang, warm the interior and dissipate cold, treat blood deficiency, remove phlegm, nourish yin, remove pathogenic wind and internal heat.

Common aches related to blood stasis and beneficial herbs used:

Headache resulting from illness, injury

• Twotoothed Achyranthes Root – it acts on the kidneys and liver channels. When used raw, it has the effects of dispersing, promoting the circulation of Qi and lowering the upward flow of Qi by its bitterness, and promoting blood circulation to restore menstruation.
• Safflower (Hong Hua) -  coughs, tumors, blood stasis, painful menses, purgative, stimulant, bronchial conditions,  pain, blood invigoration, amenorrhea, stimulating menstruation, coronary heart disease, chest pain, traumatic injuries, inducing sweating, purgative, stimulant, as a laxative,  antiperspirant and expectorant.
• Peach Seed -  Invigorates the blood, moistens intestines, removes stasis.
• Szechuan lovage rhizome tea with rock sugar – Assists in improving  blood circulation and relieves headaches.
• Motherwort congee -  Exceptionally beneficial in treating painful, belated or suppressed menstrual cycle,  also provides relief during child birth if it is  taken on a regular basis, say three times a day during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
• Chrysanthemum tea – Is known for its stimulating properties and is used to alert the senses and refresh the brain and a good energizer.

Chest Pain

If you experience sharp chest pain that usually occurs at night or heart palpitation due to blood stasis it is advisable to seek the help of your doctor.  The above mentioned herbs as well as other herbs will help with blood stasis by improving blood circulation.

• Red sage root drink -  Helps promotes blood circulation,  treats irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea,  removes heat from the blood (to relieve inflammation), and is a natural tranquilizer. It is often used in combination with other herbs, such as Chinese angelica,  peony, turmeric and sandalwood to enhance its qualities.
• Liquorice Root – Helps relieve depression, colds and flu, coughs, baldness,  chronic fatigue,  dandruff, emphysema, gingivitis and tooth decay, gout, prostate enlargement and arthritis, heartburn, viral infections, HIV, fungal infections, ulcers, liver problems, menopause, psoriasis, shingles, sore throat, tendinitis, Lyme disease, tuberculosis, body odor, bursitis, canker sores, ulcers, yeast infections.

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