Free nationwide delivery - Minimum order amount: R900 (Gauteng) & R1400 (Nationwide)
Description
血府逐瘀汤 / Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Treats the following symptoms:
Tags: absence of Menstruation (amenorrhoea), acne, chronic headache and migraine, circulation disorders, contusion in the chest, dysmenorrhoea and irregular menstruation in clots or clotty and dark coloured menses, headache with a dull tongue colour and purple spots in border, pain in the chest, period pain (dysmenorrhoea), prostatitis, psoriasis, tumour
Expel Stasis is originated from the “Correction on Errors in Medical Classics” by Wang Qingren from Qing Dynasty in 1830 AD. It has the effect of promoting Blood circulation and removing Blood Stasis, moving Qi and relieving pain. Wang Qingren’s formulation was originally intended to treat cardiovascular system disorders.
However, due to its remarkable effect of promoting Blood circulation and removing Blood Stasis, it is widely used in various Blood Stagnation disorders by Chinese medicine principle. It shows very good results in the treatment of gynaecological problems like amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation endometriosis, uterine fibroids and also for prostatitis and pelvic inflammatory disease. Moreover, it is suitable to treat fixed chronic headache and migraine but more specific for chest pain, sequelae of brain trauma, circulation disorders and even skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. Promoting Blood circulation and removing Blood Stasis is also an important method for Chinese medicine to fight cancer and eliminate tumours.
Contra-indicated in pregnancy.
ACNE
Disease description:
Acne is the most common skin disease globally. It is primarily a hormone-related condition of the sebaceous glands which occurs mainly in adolescents during puberty and has various degrees of severity. Common acne symptoms are oily skin with pimples, pustules and blackheads that develop over time and persist, unlike normal pimples. They can also leave small red spots or scars. Acne occurs mainly on areas of the body with a particularly large number of sebaceous glands, such as the face, chest, neck, upper arms and back.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Teenagers, full of life vitality, have more chance to build up imbalance of Yin and Yang or Stagnation and Heat in the Lungs, Liver and Blood from fatty food or stress. The Heat blocks the surface of the face and body, which leads to symptoms of acne rash.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Kidney Yin Deficiency Heat
Red pimples, red face, hot feeling.
Recommended formulas to use:
Liver Stagnation and Yin and Yang imbalance
This pattern is similar to the one caused by Kidney Yin Deficiency Heat. The main difference is that acne worsens before or during menstrual periods or stress. Patient is also easily angry.
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Patients usually suffer from red skin pimples with pustules and abscesses.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood Stagnation
Long-lasting acne rash leading to Qi and Blood Stasis with symptoms of dark red pimples that are thick-walled and leave scars.
Recommended formulas to use:
CHRONIC HEADACHE AND MIGRAINE
Disease description:
A migraine attack can cause pulsating and throbbing headaches, lasting between a few hours and up to three days. They are usually on one side of the head and accompanying symptoms are nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, as well as sensitivity to light, noise and smell. Migraines can occur with or without the so-called “aura”. This precedes the headaches and is usually caused by visual disturbances. A combination of factors such as lifestyle, diet and family predisposition can lead to a migraine attack with intense headaches.
Chronic headaches due to excessive muscle tension can be caused by persistent incorrect strain or psychological factors. Tension headaches are more likely to cause pulling pain or pressure pain, severe restrictions in everyday life and high psychological stress, as well as high internal tension.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine says that “head is the meeting place of all Yang meridians”, “the brain is the sea of the marrow”, it means that all Internal Organs send Essence and Blood to the head. Because of this close relationship, factors that imbalance organs can be the cause of headaches. Although the symptoms are in the head, it is closely related to Liver, Spleen and Kidney. Headache can also be a cause of External Wind or Invading Cold. To be summarized there are two types of headache, the External caused and Internal caused.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Wind-Cold Headache
For headaches with an unclear cause, Wind-Cold can be the reason with signs of headaches and stiffness on the occiput, stiff back and neck, body aches, aversion to cold, runny nose, headache worse when exposed to wind or when the season/ weather changes.
Recommended formulas to use:
Liver Yang Rising
Intense, severe, throbbing, expanding pain; pulsating and pounding in the Gallbladder Meridian, temples, eyebrows or behind one or both eyes; better sitting up, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, ‘flashing lights’, dizziness, dry throat, insomnia, irritability.
Clear Hyperyang alternatively Relieve Interior Wind
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood Stagnation
Blood Stagnation let the patient feel severe, intense, stabbing, fixed pain.
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Retention
Damp prevents Clear Yang from rising to brighten the sense orifices, turbid Yin fails to descend: head feels ‘wrapped in a towel’; dull, heavy, difficulty thinking, affecting whole head or forehead, sinusitis, nausea, chest fullness.
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Deficient Qi fails to ascend, Blood fails to nourish brain and patient feels a dull headache on whole head or forehead, better for rest, worse for overwork, better lying down, poor appetite, tired, loose stools, poor concentration.
Recommended formulas to use:
CIRCULATORY DISORDERS OF THE LIMBS
Disease description:
The cause of a circulatory disorder is usually deposition in the vessels, furthermore, injuries as well as inflammatory diseases, vascular blockages are the reason for this disease. If the blood can no longer flow sufficiently through the limbs (arms, hands, legs, feet) that are farthest from the body, nutrients and oxygen also can’t reach the cells. This is often indicated by the fact that the affected areas feel cold. Paleness and numbness, tingling or pain (especially when being stressed) can also occur.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that circulatory disorders of the limbs are caused by the poor Qi and Blood Flow of the limbs. The function of Qi is to push Blood to circulation, so Qi can play its promoting role, this also depends on the warming of Yang. If there is Qi Deficiency and Yang decline, impaired blood circulation will occur and symptoms such as cold hands and feet will appear. Qi and Blood Stasis is treated with the method of invigorating Qi and nourishing Blood and warming Yang if the colour of hands and feet are bluish purple. The promoting of blood circulation will remove Blood Stasis.
Symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders, such as tingling, ant travel, dampness and vibration feeling in hand and feet, are also classified as dysfunction of Qi and Blood. It is due to the Deficiency of Kidney Yin and the Deficient Fire interferes with the circulation of Qi and Blood. It is treated with nourishing the Yin and clearing the Heat.
Chronic poor Qi and Blood circulation for a long time will cause Blood Stasis and Cold Stagnation. The cold colours of hands and feet appear bluish-purple, blackened or even necrotic, with severe pain. It can even form gangrene. Doctors are required to give specific treatment.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Yang Deficiency and Cold Invasion
Failure of Yang to reach and warm the extremities or an Invasion of Cold to the body which causes cold, pale painful hands and feet, Raynaud’s syndrome.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood Stagnation
Circulation obstruction caused by Blood Stagnation, with the symptoms of purple, painful fingers and toes.
Recommended formulas to use:
Yin Deficiency and Heat
This pattern is characterized by burning or tingling feelings in the fingers and toes, ant walking and vibration.
Recommended formulas to use:
DIABETES (NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES)
Typical symptoms:
diabetes, dry mouth, fatigue, loss of energy, thirst, wound or ulcer healing slowly or with difficultyDisease description:
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases which are characterized by a chronically elevated blood sugar level. Most common are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which usually begins in childhood or adolescence, where the immune system attacks the body. As a result, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas die and lead to an absolute deficiency of the body’s hormone insulin. Without insulin, blood sugar levels rise, and patients become insulin-dependent and have to inject it.
About 90% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes, they are non-insulin-dependent, but in later stages can become insulin-dependent. Overweight, unhealthy nutrition and too little exercise increases the risk of disease and can lead to diabetes in genetically predisposed individuals. Type 2 diabetics have an elevated sugar level in the blood due to insulin resistance, meaning the body’s cells react less well to insulin. Insulin is responsible for transferring sugar molecules from the blood into the cells. If the insulin resistance is too high – the sugar accumulates in the blood vessels. Elevated blood sugar levels are mainly indicated by fatigue, lack of drive, increased thirst and urination, a tendency to catch infections and poorly healing wounds, as well as dry or itching skin. Acute complications are infections, severe high sugar level up to sugar coma. Complications arising in the large and small blood vessels and nervous system can lead to heart, eye and kidney disease, as well as diabetic foot syndrome.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that diabetes, known as Xiao-Ke Syndrome (emaciation and thirst), is caused by improper diet as well as emotional depression which are leading to Lung, Kidney and Yin Deficiency and Spleen and Stomach Heat. Symptoms of Lung Yin Deficiency are excessive thirst or hunger, Kidney Yin Deficiency and Endogenous Deficiency fire can cause excessive or an abnormally large production or passage of urine. So, the root cause of diabetes is Yin Deficiency and Heat is the appearance.
Xiao-Ke is commonly classified into three types according to the Chinese medicine theories: Upper, Middle and Lower Jiao. The Upper type is characterized by excessive thirst, the Middle by excessive hunger, and the Lower by excessive urination.
Due to the prolonged course of diabetes, Yin Deficiency and Dry Heat will consume Yang, so the problem often develops into Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome. If it is further extended for a long time, Stasis Syndrome will appear with symptoms like fundus disease or diabetic foot.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Beginning Stage in middle and upper Jiao with Lung and Stomach Heat and Yin Deficiency
Heat consumes body fluids: thirst, dry mouth, possibly frequent urination, hunger, elevated blood glucose
Recommended formulas to use:
Later Stage in lower Jiao: Kidney Yin Deficiency
Prolonged diabetes consumes Yin and causes Kidney Yin Deficiency : frequent and excessive urination, cloudy/ milky urination, dryness, red tongue, rapid pulse, eye symptoms.
Recommended formulas to use:
Later Stage in lower Jiao: Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Prolonged diabetes consumes Yin and causes Kidney Yin and Yang Deficiency : frequent and excessive urination, cloudy/ milky urination, darkened face, dryness, low back and knee pain, aversion of cold, low libido, pale tongue and white coating, weak pulse
Recommended formulas to use:
Blockage and Stagnation of Meridians / Diabetic Foot Syndrome
Yin Deficiency and Empty Heat blocking Meridians and causing nerve inflammation:
tingling feeling in the hands and feet
Formula to use: Clear Root Fire + Diabetic Herbs
Heat creates a local Blood Stagnation:
hot feeling gangrenes, painful, red, burning
Formula to use: Clear Toxic Heat + Expel Stasis + Diabetic Herbs
Yin and Yang Deficiency creating Blood Stagnation and Yang can not reach limbs:
cold feeling gangrenes, painful, dark color
Formula to use: Warm Cold Limbs + Diabetic Herbs
Recommended formulas to use:
PROSTATITIS
Disease description:
Prostatitis is defined as the inflammation of the prostate gland. The chestnut-sized prostate lies below the bladder and produces a fluid secretion which is released via the urethra during ejaculation, where it mixes with the sperm to form the actual sperm. Prostatitis can lead to different symptoms, typically pain in the perineal area and problems urinating.
Pain in the pelvic area for more than three months in the last six months is called a chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CCPS), the most common form of prostatitis, often the cause is unknown.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that there are three pathological changes in chronic prostatitis and enlarged prostate.
- Damp and Heat accumulation. Symptoms are characterized by urinary tract irritation or even haematuria.
- Qi and Blood Stasis. Symptoms are characterized by enlarged prostate, as well as perineum or lower abdomen and sometimes lumbosacral pain.
- Deficiency of Kidney Yin or Kidney Yang. Symptoms are characterized by waist and knee soreness, fatigue, weakness, impotence and premature ejaculation.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Kidney Deficiency, Stagnation and Heat
Enlarged prostate, chronic, dribbling after urination, incomplete urination, frequent urination, unfirm erection and pain.
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Damp Heat blocks the flow of Qi and Blood causing prostate swelling, difficulty urinating, burning sensation when urinating, brown coloured, smelly urine, scrotal dampness.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood Stagnation
Trauma, prolonged sitting, prolonged Damp Heat can lead to pain in the lower abdomen, testes and lumbus.
Recommended formulas to use:
PSORIASIS
Typical symptoms:
psoriasisDisease description:
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, hereditary skin disease that can be provoked by internal and external triggers. This disease can occur at any age but often manifests itself for the first time during puberty or at between the age of 40 to 50. Normally the first layer of skin renews itself within 28 days, but for psoriatic patients, this only takes three to four days. The course of psoriasis varies but appears mostly in phases with inflammatory, reddened, scaly skin areas that often itch and burn. When carefully scraping off a scale, a thin skin remains underneath and if one also loosens this, the spot bleeds lightly. The areas where the skin changes most often include the hairy scalp and the areas behind the ears, elbows, knees and the region around the sacrum.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Exogenous Wind, Damp and Heat Invading and struck in the skin. The long-standing Stagnation results in Heat generating. They further cause Heat in Blood, Blood Dryness or Blood Stasis. Emotional stress or scratching can induce more Heat and Stasis and make the problem worse.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Blood-Heat
Bright or dark red papules all over the body or focused on the trunk and limbs. New lesions are covered by silvery-white scales that shed easily when dry or that bleed when the underlying, moist layer is disturbed (Auspiz’s sign).
Fire or heat toxin: Erythematous or pustular lesions covered by fine scales that shed easily, itching, burning, pain.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood-Stasis
Dark red or hyperpigmented lesions covered by thick, hard, adherent scales. Lichenification (when skin becomes thick and leathery) may develop, as well as fissures in large lesions.
Recommended formulas to use:
SHINGLES
Typical symptoms:
shinglesDisease description:
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster-virus, which lies dormant long after you’ve had chickenpox. The place where there is shingles rash, redness, blisters and pain typically occur. Although shingles can occur anywhere on the body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of the torso.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Shingles have an acute onset, severe herpes and severe burning pain, so the pathogenic factor is Toxic Damp-Heat. Because the rash is usually distributed around the lumbar ribs and around the eyes, which is the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians covered area. So, it is the Damp-Heat that attacks the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians. In the acute phase, Damp-Heat is flourishing and is treated with the principle of purging Toxic Damp-Heat, followed by nourishing Yin and clearing Heat. Acupuncture has the best effect and assists with Chinese herbal medicine.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp-Heat
Severe burning pain in the affected area precedes the rash. After about one to four days a painful, itchy red rash of small blisters filled with turbid fluid appears. Over the next few days up to two weeks, the blisters dry out, scab over and drop off.
Recommended formulas to use:
Deficiency Heat
After the skin rash disappears a burning or pain remains in affected area.