Dampness blood stagnation

When Qi, Yang, fire and wind are ascending in an acute pathological condition, herbs that move Qi, blood or Yang upwards and outwards should be used with caution. Relevant formulas here are those which treat Bi syndrome or exterior syndrome caused by wind, damp and cold, formulas that disperse and spread the Liver-Qi and formulas that treat headache caused by Qi and blood stagnation. 

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. 

Wind, dampness and cold that lodges in the meridians can also cause blood stagnation, as... 

As well as the above-mentioned functions, this herb has other functions that can be used as a reference in selecting herbs in a formula. It is an aromatic herb, and is able to penetrate damp-heat, clear damp-heat and promote bile secretion. It can be used as deputy in a formula when there is damp-heat in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao, the symptoms of which are fullness in the chest and epigastric region, jaundice and reduced appetite, such as in malaria and hepatitis. In addition, Yu Jin can spread the Liver-Qi, clear the Liver-heat and eliminate irritability. It can be selected to treat headache and a tight sensation in the chest caused by Qi and blood stagnation and damp-heat obstruction. 

Yu Jin primarily enters the Liver meridian, on which its function focuses. It is pungent, bitter and cold, and is able to invigorate the Liver-blood at a high speed. As it can also clear damp-heat, it is often used for hypochondriac pain caused by blood, dampness, Qi stagnation and heat accumulation. 

In chronic Bi syndromes, blood stagnation often presents with wind, damp, cold or heat in the syndrome. Because wind, dampness and cold can block the Qi and blood circulation, they should be removed in order to improve the blood circulation. 

When blood stagnates, the Qi is also obstructed. If it fails to accelerate the digestion and the water metabolism, dampness, phlegm and food may accumulate. Herbs that eliminate these pathological products can also reduce the causes of blood stagnation and therefore improve the condition of the blood. 

These substances are all able to promote the perforating process of boils or carbuncles. When pus has been formed, pain becomes less severe. They can activate the Qi movement, open up the obstruction of dampness and phlegm, break up blood stagnation and thus activate perforation so as to clean up the wound. 

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

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. 

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