Article 26: Blood-tonifying herbs (Angelica sinensis, Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygonum multiflorum, Lycium barbarum, donkey-hide gelatin, mulberry, black sesame)

III. Blood-tonifying medicine

The main function of blood-tonifying medicine is to nourish and generate blood. It is mainly suitable for blood deficiency syndrome, with symptoms such as sallow complexion, pale lips and nails, dizziness, palpitations, delayed menstruation with scanty and pale menstrual flow, or even amenorrhea, and pale tongue.

Blood-tonifying drugs can promote hematopoietic function, enhance immune function, and have anti-aging effects. Some drugs also have effects such as improving heart function, lowering blood lipids, anticoagulation, improving stress resistance, anti-tumor, liver protection, and sedation.

Blood-tonifying medicines are mostly sticky and greasy, so they are not suitable for those with dampness and turbidity obstructing the middle jiao, causing abdominal distension, poor appetite, and loose stools. Those with weak spleen and stomach should use them together with spleen-strengthening and digestive-aiding medicines to avoid affecting their appetite.

Angelica sinensis

This product is the root of Angelica sinensis, a plant belonging to the Apiaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, pungent, warm.

[Functions] ① It nourishes blood, promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation and relieves pain. It is used to treat blood deficiency syndrome, various gynecological and obstetric conditions, various pain syndromes, carbuncles and sores; ② It moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement. It is used to treat constipation due to blood deficiency and intestinal dryness; ③ It stops cough and relieves asthma. It is used to treat chronic cough and asthma.

[Pharmacological Actions] Antiplatelet aggregation, antithrombosis, promotes hematopoiesis, antiarrhythmia, antimyocardial ischemia, dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, improves microcirculation, lowers blood lipids, anti-atherosclerosis, antioxidant, immune enhancement, regulates uterine smooth muscle, antitumor, anti-radiation, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, choleretic, sedative, antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypoxic, anti-vitamin E deficiency.

[Modern Applications] Coronary heart disease, hypertension, cerebral arteriosclerosis, ischemic stroke, arrhythmia, thromboangiitis obliterans, peptic ulcer, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic hepatitis, constipation, acute intestinal obstruction, anemia, chronic bronchitis, viral pneumonia, acute nephritis, impotence, menstrual disorders, malposition of the fetus, muscle and joint pain, neuralgia, cervical spondylosis, anal fissure, herpes zoster, alopecia areata, eczema, urticaria, rhinitis, sinusitis, sudden deafness.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 5-15 grams. For nourishing blood and moistening the intestines, it is best used raw; for promoting blood circulation, it is best stir-fried with wine.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with dampness and fullness in the middle jiao (abdominal distension) or loose stools.

Rehmannia glutinosa

This product is a processed product made from the tuberous root of Rehmannia glutinosa, a plant of the Scrophulariaceae family, after steaming and drying.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, slightly warm.

[Functions] ① Tonifies blood, used to treat blood deficiency and chlorosis, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, irregular menstruation, and metrorrhagia; ② Nourishes yin, used to treat liver and kidney yin deficiency, dizziness, tinnitus, lower back pain, seminal emission, and diabetes.

[Pharmacological Actions] Promotes hematopoiesis, anticoagulation, immunomodulation, hypotension, positive inotropic effect, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-hyperthyroidism, reduces blood testosterone levels, sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory.

[Modern Applications] Hypertension, Kashin-Beck disease, severe esophageal epithelial hyperplasia, gray hair, pruritus.

[Usage]Decoct and take orally, 10-30 grams.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, loose stools, or those experiencing chest tightness, epigastric fullness, and abdominal distension due to phlegm and dampness obstruction.

He Shou Wu

This product is the tuberous root of Polygonum multiflorum, a plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Bitter, sweet, astringent, slightly warm.

[Functions] ① Nourishes blood and yin, used to treat dizziness, palpitations, and insomnia due to blood deficiency, as well as soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, tinnitus, seminal emission, and premature graying of hair due to liver and kidney yin deficiency; ② Moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement, used to treat constipation due to blood deficiency and intestinal dryness; ③ Interrupts malaria and detoxifies, used to treat chronic malaria, carbuncles, and scrofula.

[Pharmacological effects] Promotes hematopoiesis, enhances immunity, lowers blood lipids, resists atherosclerosis, anti-aging, protects the liver, antibacterial, dilates peripheral blood vessels, resists myocardial ischemia, strengthens the heart, anticoagulates, promotes adrenal cortex function, promotes memory, sedates, has a mild laxative effect, aids weight loss, and improves cold resistance.

[Modern Applications] Hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, neurasthenia, schizophrenia, pertussis, malaria, vulvar leukoplakia, skin tags, gray hair, alopecia areata, athlete's foot, enuresis.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 10-20 grams. For nourishing blood, replenishing essence, and nourishing yin, it is best used processed; for treating malaria, detoxifying, and moistening the intestines, it is best used raw.

[Caution]Use with caution if you have loose stools or severe phlegm and dampness.

Goji berries

This product is the fruit of *Lycium barbarum*, a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, neutral.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the kidneys and replenishes essence, used to treat liver and kidney deficiency, lower back pain and seminal emission; ② Nourishes the liver and improves eyesight, used to treat liver and kidney yin deficiency, dizziness, blurred vision, and cataracts; ③ Promotes the production of body fluids and quenches thirst, used to treat diabetes; ④ Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, used to treat yin deficiency and consumptive cough.

[Pharmacological effects] Enhances immunity, promotes hematopoiesis, has anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-aging, lowers blood lipids, protects the liver, resists genetic damage, resists hypoxia, and lowers blood sugar.

[Modern Applications] Chronic atrophic gastritis, obesity, infertility, pregnancy vomiting, chronic liver disease, burns, psoriasis, and decreased immune function in the elderly.

[Usage]Decoct and take orally, 10-15 grams.

[Caution]Use with caution if you have spleen deficiency and loose stools.

donkey-hide gelatin

This product is a solid glue made from the skin of the donkey, an animal of the Equidae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, neutral.

[Functions] ① Tonifies blood, used to treat blood deficiency with sallow complexion, dizziness, and palpitations; ② Stops bleeding, used to treat hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia; ③ Nourishes yin and moistens dryness, used to treat dry cough due to lung yin deficiency, irritability and insomnia due to heart yin deficiency, and wind-related eczema due to liver yin deficiency; ④ Nourishes blood, stops bleeding, and calms the fetus, used to treat bleeding during pregnancy and fetal restlessness.

[Pharmacological effects] Promotes hematopoiesis, stops bleeding, resists radiation, enhances immunity, resists hypoxia, resists cold, resists fatigue, improves calcium balance, resists muscle atrophy, resists shock, promotes diuresis, improves male and female fertility, promotes growth and development, resists aging, and has anti-inflammatory effects.

[Modern Applications] Aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, ulcerative colitis, epidemic hemorrhagic fever, threatened abortion, habitual abortion, ulcerative cervical lymph node tuberculosis.

[Usage] Dissolve and mix with water or fry the pearls and decoct for oral administration, 5-10 grams.

[Caution] Use with caution if you have a weak spleen and stomach, indigestion, or phlegm-dampness retention.

Mulberry

This product is the fruit spike of the mulberry plant (Morus alba), a member of the Moraceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, sour, cold.

[Functions] ① Nourishes Yin and replenishes blood, used to treat Yin deficiency and blood deficiency, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, insomnia, seminal emission, and premature graying of hair; ② Promotes body fluid production and quenches thirst, used to treat thirst due to fluid depletion and diabetes; ③ Moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement, used to treat constipation due to intestinal dryness caused by deficiency of body fluid and blood.

[Pharmacological effects] Enhances immunity, improves stomach health, reduces Na+, K+-ATPase activity, promotes hematopoietic cell growth, and increases white blood cell count.

[Modern Applications] Aplastic anemia, neurasthenia, hypertension, constipation and sleep disorders in the elderly.

[Usage] Take 10-15 grams by decoction or paste.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency and loose stools.

Black sesame

This product is the mature black seed of sesame, a plant belonging to the Pedaliaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, neutral.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the liver and kidneys and nourishes the blood, used to treat insufficient liver and kidney essence and blood, dizziness, blurred vision, premature graying of hair, and dry skin; ② Moistens dryness and lubricates the intestines, used to treat constipation due to deficiency of body fluids and blood.

[Pharmacological effects] Inhibits adrenal cortex function, lowers blood lipids, lowers blood sugar, anti-aging, stimulates the uterus, promotes bowel movement, increases hematocrit, anti-inflammatory, and nutritious.

[Modern Applications] Diabetes mellitus, thrombocytopenic purpura, peptic ulcers, constipation, nipple fissures, hair loss, gray hair, and common warts.

[Usage]Decoct or stir-fry and chew, 9-15 grams. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with loose stools or diarrhea.

(The following are articles 27 through 36. Each article contains custom content.)