Tonics: Tonify Blood

Question 1

Si Wu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction)

Answer 1

Tonifies the blood and regulates the Liver

Blood deficiency with Blood stagnation: Dizziness, blurred vision, lusterless complexion and nails, general muscle tightness, irregular menstruation with little flow or amenorrhea, periumbilical or lower abdominal pain; also menorrhagia, hard abdominal masses with recurrent pain, restless fetus disorder, or lochioschesis with firm and painful abdomen and sporadic chills and fever

T: pale

P: thin, wiry or thin, choppy

NOTE: This formula is focused on LV Blood deficiency, rather than on HT Blood

• Shu Di Huang
• Bai Shao
• Dang Gui
• Chuan Xiong

Question 2

Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang (Peony and Licorice Decoction)

Answer 2

Blood deficiency with injury to the fluids: Spasms of the calf muscles, irritability, slight chills

T: pale, no coat

P: thin

NOTE: Also for spasmodic pain in the other parts of the body, particularly the abdomen

• Bai Shao
• Zhi Gan Cao

Question 3

Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (Tangkuei Decoction to Tonify the Blood)

Answer 3

Tonify Qi and generates blood

Blood and Qi Deficiency with floating Yang: Sensation of heat in the muscles, red face, irritability, thirst with desire to drink warm beverages, loss of appetite, emaciation

T: pale

P: surging, big, empty

NOTE: Also for fever/headache from acute blood loss or Yin-type ulcers

• Huang Qi
• Dang Gui