Herbs That Tonify Blood

Herbs That Tonify Blood:

  • Symptoms of Blood Deficiency - pallid face and lips, dizziness, vertigo, diminished vision, lethargy, palpitations, dry skin, menstrual irregularities, pale tongue, fine pulse.
  • Heart and liver are the most affected.
  • Biomedicine - not always associated with anemia, but may arise from psychosomatic disorders, heart failure, chronic hepatitis; most herbs do not directly stimulate production of red blood cells, but perform this task indirectly.
  • Not very effective when used alone - also needs herbs which tonify the yin and qi.
  • Overuse may lead to indigestion - add herbs which tonify the stomach.

Section Herbal Summary:

  • He Shou Wu, Shu Di Huang - similar actions.
  • E Jiao - more moistening than Shu Di Huang, good for blood deficiency with concurrent blood loss.
  • Dang Gui, Bai Shao - pain and blood deficiency patterns.
    • Dang Gui
      • Slightly warm and invigorates blood; appropriate for blood deficiency w/cold.
      • Invigorates blood and moves qi.
    • Bai Shao
      • Retains yin and cool; appropriate for blood deficiency w/heat.
      • Retains yin and comforts the liver.

TCM Herbal Sources and More Information

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were used within this section:

  • Jin, Yan Ping: New England School of Acupuncture, CHM Pharmacopoeia I and II, Formulas I and II Lecture Notes

For a complete list of valuable resources, see our Herbal Medicine Resources section. The most recommended texts are below: