Blood stagnation deficiency

These therapies are mainly used for cancer treatment and are considered as heat-toxin in TCM. When the cancer cells are killed, the body is severely injured too. The Yin and the Qi in particular are seriously depleted and weakened by the extreme heat. Moreover, these therapies can cause further disturbances in the body such as deficiency of Kidney-essence and blood, blood stagnation, bleeding,... 

Ji Xue Teng is bitter, slightly sweet and warm, and enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It is a special herb for tonifying the blood as it is also able to promote the blood circulation and relax the tendons. It is therefore selected in formulas to relieve stiffness, tingling, numbness, pain and an uneasy feeling in the body, such as in Bi syndrome and in restless leg disorder due to blood deficiency with Qi and blood stagnation. 

Yu Jin is pungent, bitter and cold, and enters the Liver, Heart and Lung meridians. It can promote the Qi movement and blood circulation. It is suitable for treating tenderness of the breasts, hypochondriac pain and distension, irritability and irregular menstruation in the condition of Liver-Yin deficiency with Liver-Qi and blood stagnation. 

Liver-Yin deficiency with blood stagnation use Yu Jin (Curcumae radix) and Mu Dan Pi (Moutan cortex) to promote blood circulation. 

The formulas that stabilize and bind are only used in deficiency conditions. There should be no exterior pathogenic factors or phlegm, dampness or blood stagnation in the body. Otherwise, they may retain the pathogenic factors in the body. 

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. 

Hei Zhi Ma and E Jiao can tonify the blood and Yin, and moisten dryness. They are used to treat dry skin, fragile nails and brittle hair due to blood stagnation and blood deficiency. 

Chronic bleeding of small amount and with a pinkish color indicates deficiency of Qi. Purple-red or dark-red color of the blood with pain indicates blood stagnation or cold in the blood. 

Ji Xue Teng is bitter, slightly sweet and warm, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It can tonify the blood and promote blood circulation. As it is the vine of the plant, it has the function of opening up the meridians and collaterals. It can treat stiffness and numbness of limbs due to blood deficiency and blood stagnation. It can be used in the formula for treating Yin-type Yong Yang syndrome, especially when the muscles and joints are stiff and... 

The drugs for treating hypertension can quickly descend the Qi and Yang of Liver, but they may suppress the Liver-Qi. They may also slow down water metabolism and blood circulation. Therefore the syndrome can change into one of Liver-Qi stagnation with Kidney-Yin and Liver-Yin deficiency, or Liver-Qi stagnation with dampness accumulation in the Middle-Jiao. 

Mu Dan Pi is bitter, pungent and slightly cold, and enters the Heart, Liver and Kidney meridians. It is particularly selected in the formula to cool the blood, reduce the empty-heat, dissolve the congealed blood and invigorate the blood. It is used when there are symptoms such as low-grade fever, warm palms and soles, heavy menstruation due to the heat in the blood, or amenorrhea due to Liver-Yin deficiency with stagnation of the blood. 

Herbs that tonify the Spleen-Qi and nourish the Liver-blood and Liver-Yin are selected when deficiency of these organs leads to stagnation of the Liver-Qi. 

Since the Liver stores blood, which is the basis of free flow of the Liver-Qi, deficiency of blood can cause stagnation of Liver-Qi. However, as stimulating the Qi in treatment 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. 

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. As well as the common symptoms of Qi stagnation, a thready and wiry pulse is often an indication for using this herb in the formula. 

Since each of the three aspects - deficiency of blood, deficiency of Spleen-Qi and stagnation of Liver-Qi - can be the cause or the consequence of each other, the roles and the dosages of the three groups of herbs that tonify the blood, tonify the Spleen and disperse the Liver-Qi can be changed according to the syndrome. 

The Liver-Yin and blood are very important in maintaining the function of the Liver. When they are strong, the person sleeps well, feels calm and satisfied, has a sense of humor and moves in a quick and harmonious manner. When the blood and Yin are deficient, the Liver-Qi stagnates and the sleep becomes restless and disturbed by dreams, the person easily feels irritation, anger and frustration, or loses relaxation and flexibility in character. Moreover, Liver is the mother organ of the Heart. Liver-Qi stagnation and up-flaring of Liver-fire can quickly influence the Heart and cause restlessness of the Heart-shen. 

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