Blood stagnation assistant

Five herbs serve as assistants. Dan Shen cools the blood and disperses the blood stagnation, which are the common accompanying pathological changes when there is heat at the Yin level. Dan Zhu Ye and Huang Lian can clear heat and calm the mind. Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao can vent the heat to the Qi level as they are aromatic herbs. They clear heat that has been vented from the Ying level in order to eliminate the heat from... 

Dan Shen can be used as assistant in the formula of clearing heat from the Heart. When heat injures the Yin and consumes the blood of the Heart, it makes the blood thicker than normal. At the same time, heat can force the blood to move erratically ( like a river in a storm ). Both of these conditions may cause blood stagnation. Dan Shen can cool the blood, promote the blood circulation and remove the congealed blood, enabling recovery of the normal condition of blood and its circulation. 

Sheng Jiang and Gui Zhi together with rice wine are assistants. They stimulate the Heart-Yang, and promote the Qi movement and blood circulation so as to treat the palpitations which are partially caused by the Qi and blood stagnation. 

He Ye, like Mu Dan Pi, serves as both helping and corrective assistant. The partially charred He Ye, like other herbs, can stop bleeding. However, its light fragrant smell can also disperse the Qi and blood stagnation caused by the astringent herbs and the cold herbs. 

Dang Gui is often used as a helping assistant to tonify the blood and promote blood circulation. It treats a syndrome where blood stagnation and blood deficiency coexist. It also serves as a corrective assistant. It nourishes the blood that has been consumed by pungent and warm herbs that promote Qi and blood in the formula. 

Dang Gui serves as corrective assistant to tonify the blood and stimulate the blood circulation to prevent blood stagnation caused by the cold herbs. 

Dan Shen and Chi Shao Yao are bitter and cold herbs. They can cool the blood, reduce the heat from the Liver and the Heart, prevent generation of congealed blood and remove the congealed blood that has already been formed. They can be selected as assistants in the formula to treat a condition where the heat enters the blood, consumes the blood and leads to blood stagnation. 

Lastly, eliminating the stagnation of blood, food, dampness and phlegm may also assist the movement of the Qi and reduce Qi stagnation. 

Since there are a number of astringent substances that may cause stagnation, Qian Cao Gen is used as corrective assistant. It can stop bleeding yet promote blood circulation. At the same time, it can also remove congealed blood. 

Chuan Xiong is used as assistant. It can activate the blood circulation, which stagnates or has the tendency to stagnate in the condition of disturbance of the Heart-shen. It also brings balance to the formula where many downward-moving herbs are used. 

Bai Shao Yao is the most commonly used herb to soften the Liver. It is sour, bitter and slightly cold. It is able to nourish the Yin and blood of the liver, and its cold and bitter nature can reduce heat, which is caused by deficiency of blood and stagnation of the Liver-Qi. It is often used in a formula to treat Liver-Qi stagnation, which is caused by Yin and blood deficiency. Besides the common symptoms of Qi stagnation, a thready and wiry pulse is the indication for using this herb in the formula. Moreover, Bai Shao Yao is also often used as corrective assistant. In the treatment, since the herbs that stimulate Qi may injure the blood and cause further stagnation of the Qi, it is necessary to nourish the blood in order to spread the Liver-Qi. 

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