Xia Yu Xue Tang下瘀血汤
Drive Out Stasis Decoction
Ingredients3 herbs
Indications
Dried blood lodged below the navel, most often after childbirth. The blood has left the vessels and hardened, so it cannot move on its own and the pain stays fixed.
Clinical Manifestations
- Postpartum abdominal pain from retained dried blood
- Persistent lower abdominal pain with fixed tenderness
- Amenorrhoea or scanty periods from stasis
- Retained lochia that has not resolved with gentler treatment
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Cold predominant — add Pao Jiang 炮姜 to warm as the stasis is moved
- Patient weak after delivery — prefer Sheng Hua Tang first; use this formula only if the gentler approach fails
- Heat with constipation and thirst — consider Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, which carries Mang Xiao for the heat-bound case
Contraindications
Not for a weak postpartum patient who can be helped by a gentler formula, and never where haemorrhage or retained placental tissue is suspected — that is an obstetric emergency. Contraindicated with active bleeding, ulcer disease, low platelets or anticoagulant medication. Insect medicinals can provoke allergic reactions. Given for one or two doses under supervision, not as an ongoing course.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. Da Huang, Tao Ren and together break blood and purge, and the formula is designed to bring blood down — in a pregnant patient that means bleeding and miscarriage. It is a postpartum prescription and even then is used only briefly, once a clinician has excluded haemorrhage and retained tissue. has antithrombotic activity, so the formula should not be combined with warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.
Related Formulas
References
Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han
「产妇腹痛，法当以枳实芍药散；假令不愈者，此为腹中有干血著脐下，宜下瘀血汤主之。」
- Classical source (public domain) — 《金匮要略·妇人产后病脉证治》, Eastern Han, Zhang Zhong-jing.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— appended alongside 桃核承气汤 in 理血剂 · 活血祛瘀.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.