Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang血府逐瘀汤
Drive Out Stasis from the Mansion of Blood Decoction
Ingredients11 herbs
Indications
Blood stasis in the chest with constrained Liver qi: qi that will not move lets blood congeal, and congealed blood in turn blocks qi, so the formula addresses both sides of the loop at once.
Clinical Manifestations
- Fixed, stabbing chest pain that is worse at night
- Long-standing headache in one unchanging spot
- Persistent hiccup or dry heaves with no clear cause
- Insomnia with restlessness, vivid dreams and irritability
- Palpitations with chest oppression
- Painful or absent periods with dark clotted blood
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Chest pain severe — add Yan Hu Suo 延胡索 and Yu Jin 郁金
- Qi constraint pronounced — add Xiang Fu 香附, Qing Pi 青皮 or Chuan Lian Zi 川楝子
- Dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea from stasis — omit Jie Geng and add Yi Mu Cao 益母草 and Ze Lan 泽兰
- Palpable mass below the ribs — add Dan Shen 丹参 and Yu Jin 郁金
- Stasis lodged in the collaterals, pain fixed and stubborn — add Di Long 地龙, or San Leng 三棱 with E Zhu 莪术 for a stronger breaking action
Contraindications
Contraindicated in pregnancy. Do not use during active bleeding, in a bleeding disorder, or where the blood is deficient rather than stagnant. The standard caution for strongly blood-invigorating formulas applies with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs such as warfarin — tell the prescribing clinician the formula is being taken, and stop it before surgery.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy. Tao Ren, Hong Hua and Niu Xi all move blood strongly and Niu Xi drives it downward; the formula is not used at any stage of pregnancy.
Related Formulas
References
Source Yi Lin Gai Cuo 《医林改错》 · Qing
「立血府逐瘀汤，治胸中血府血瘀之症。」
- Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
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）— pattern analysis cross-checked.
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.