Drive Out Blood Stasis Below the Diaphragm Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
English Translation: Drive Out Blood Stasis Below the Diaphragm Decoction
Formula Type: Invigorate Blood and Dispel Blood Stasis
Actions: Invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, promotes the movement of qi. & alleviates pain
Indications: For blood stasis in the area below the diaphragm with palpable abdominal masses accompanied by fixed pain, or abdominal masses that are visible when lying down. It is important to remember that other pathologies can also cause palpable abdomnal masses. Also for chronic diarrhea & daybreak diarrhea. This formula is also commonly used to treat amenorrhea & painful periods.
Contraindications: Unknown.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Wu Ling Zhi |
Flying Squirrel Feces | 9g |
view: Dang Gui |
Angelica Sinensis | 9g |
view: Chuan Xiong |
Sichuan Lovage Rhizome / Ligusticum Wallichi | 6g |
view: Tao Ren |
Peach Seed | 9g |
view: Mu Dan Pi |
Moutan Root Bark | 6g |
view: Chi Shao |
Red Peony | 6g |
view: Wu Yao |
Lindera Tuber | 6-12g |
view: Yan Hu Suo |
Corydalis | 3g |
view: Gan Cao |
Licorice | 9g |
view: Xiang Fu |
Cyperus | 4.5g |
view: Hong Hua |
Safflower Flower | 9g |
view: Zhi Ke |
Bitter Orange, Ripened | 4.5 g |
Wu Ling Zhi / Flying Squirrel Feces | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Disperses blood stasis & alleviates pain: for a variety of disorders caused by blood stasis, including amenorrhea, post partum abdominal pain, & epigastric pain.2. Transforms stasis & stops bleeding: for uterine bleeding & lochioschesis due to blood stasis. 3. Also used for childhood nutritional impairment with focal distention. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy & in cases with weak Spleen & Stomach qi. This herb was traditionally considered to be antagonized by ren shen. |
Dang Gui / Angelica (Chinese) Root | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage3-15g |
Actions1. Tonifies the blood & regulates the meses: for patterns of blood deficiency with such symptoms as a pallid, ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, & palpitations. Also very commonly used fro blood deficiency associated with menstrual disorders such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, etc.2. Invigorates & harmonizes the blood & disperses cold: an important herb for stopping pain due to blood stasis. Commonly used for abdominal pain, traumatic injury, & carbuncles due to blood stasis, especially when there is also cold from deficiency. Also used in the treatment of blood deficiency with chronic wind-damp painful obstruction. 3. Moistens the Intestiones & unblocks the bowels: for dry Intestines due to blood deficiency. 4. Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, & alleviates pain: used in treating sores & abscesses where its ability to both tonify & invigorate the blood leads to improvement. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of diarrhea or abdominal distention due to damp obstruction. Contraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Chuan Xiong / Lovage Root (Ligusticum) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage3-6g, up to 9g for irregular menstruation |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & promotes the movement of qi: for any blood stasis pattern. This is an important herb in gynecology & is used for such problems as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, difficult labor, or lochioschesis. It is also indicated for patterns of stagnant qi & blood stasis with pain & soreness in the chest, flanks, & hypochondria.2. Expels wind & alleviates pain: a leading herb for any externally contracted wind disorder characterized by headache, dizziness, or painful obsstruction. Also used for a variety of skin problems caused by wind. 3. Headaches: moves the qi upward & alleviates pain. Depending with which other herbs it is combined, it can be used for headaches due to wind, heat, cold, or blood deficiency. |
MeridiansLiver, Gallbladder, Pericardium |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, headaches due to ascendant Liver yang, qi deficiency, or excessive menstrual bleeding. Vomiting & dizziness may occur from overdosage. May antagonize shan zhu yu & huang qi, may counteract hua shi & huang lian, & may be incompatible with li lu. |
Tao Ren / Peach Kernel (Seed) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Breaks up blood stasis: an important herb used in resolving many kinds of problems associated with blood stasis, including menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, traumatic inury, flank pain, Lung abscess, & Intestinal abscess with immobile abdominal mass.2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: for constipation due to dry Intestines. 2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: for constipation due to dry Intestines. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Lung |
Cautions |
Mu Dan Pi / Moutan root bark - tree peony root bark | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Cool • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage6-12g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: for heat entering the blood level during a warm-febrile disease with such symptoms as nosebleed, blood in the sputum or vomit, or subcutaneous bleeding. Also for frequent & profuse menstruation due to heat in the blood.2. Clears fire from deficiency: for yin deficiency patterns such as steaming-bone disorder, particularly in the aftermath of a warm-febrile disease. Most suitable in the absence of sweating. 3. Invigorates the blood & dispels blood stasis: for Liver blood stasis patterns with amenorrhea, abdominal masses, lumps, or bruises due to traumatic injury. 4. Clears ascending Liver fire: for such symptoms as headaches, eye pain, flank pain, flushing, & dysmenorrhea. 5. Drains pus & reduces swelling: used topically for firm non-draining sores or internally for Intestinal abscess. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated for cold disorders, during pregnancy or excessive menstruation, & for yin deficiency with excessive sweating. May counteract the effects of tu si zi, bei mu, & da huang, & should be avoided when using garlic. |
Chi Shao / Peony (Red) Root | |||
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Taste: Sour, Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Invigorate the blood & dispels blood stasis: for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, abdominal pain & immobile abdominal masses. Also for the swelling & pain associated with traumatic injury, & the early stages of abscesses & boils.2. Clears heat & cools the blood: for heat entering the blood level with fever, purple tongue, skin blotches, & bleeding due to the reckless movement of hot blood. Also for gynecological problems associated with hot blood. 3. Clears Liver fire: for red, swollen, painful eyes. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of blood deficiency. |
Wu Yao / Lindera Root | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Promotes movement of qi & alleviates pain: for a stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, & epigsatric & abdominal pain & distention due to cold constraint & qi stagnation. This herb warms & disperses, & is effective in spreading & unblocking the qi mechanisms. It thereby smoothens the flow of qi, facilitates the middle, disperses cold, & stops pain in many areas. It is also used when cold accumulation & qi stagnation manifest in lower abdominal pain, hernial disorder, or menstural pain.2. Warms the Kidneys: for frequent urination or urinary incontinence due to insufficiency of Kidney yang & cold from deficiency of the Bladder. |
MeridiansBladder, Kidney, Lung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicatd in cases of qi deficiency or interior heat. |
Yan Hu Suo / Corydalis Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & alleviates pain: for pain due to blood stasis & traumatic injury. Especially useful for dysmenorrhea.2. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviated pain: for stagnant qi that manifests with such symptoms as chest pain, abdominal pain, menstrual pain, hernial disorders, & especially epigastric pain. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated during pregnancy. |
Gan Cao / Licorice Root (Chinese) | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral (raw root) • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |
Xiang Fu / Cyperus Rhizome "Nut-grass" | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Spreads & regulatew Liver qi: for constrained Liver qi patterns with hypochondriac pain & epigastric distention, as well as disharmony between the Liver & Spleen. The neutral property of this herb together with its ability to dispers & harmonize account for its widespread use.2. Regulates menstruation & alleviates pain: used to facilitate the flow of Liver qi in gynecological disorders with such signs as dysmenorrhea or irregular menstruation. |
MeridiansLiver, Triple Burner |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of qi deficiency without stagnation, & yin deficiency or heat in the blood. |
Hong Hua / Safflower Flower (Carthamus) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage3-9g, 0.9-1.5g when harmonizing blood |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & unblocks menstruation: for blood stasis patterns with amenorrhea, abominal pain, post partum dizziness, lochioschesis, & abdominal masses.2. Dispels blood stasis & alleviates pain: for blood stasis wounds & pain, nonsuppurative sores, carbuncles, & dark purplish erythema. Also for incomplete expression of the rash of measles or painful obstruction of the chest due to blood stasis. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated during pregnancy. |
Zhi Ke / Orange (Bitter), ripened fruit | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cool • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
ActionsSee zhi shi. Milder in action than zhi shi, zhi ki is used to move the qi & reduce distention & pressure. It is especially appropriate when the patient is deficient or weak. If there is constipation, zhi shi is a more approoppriate choice. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy, or in cases where the normal qi is weak or there is Stomach cold from deficiency. |