Blood tonics — Chinese herbs that tonify the Blood (补血药)

Blood tonics (补血药, bu xue yao) are the principal herbs for treating Blood deficiency — the pattern of pale complexion, pale lips and nail beds, dizziness, dry skin, scanty pale menses, brittle nails, insomnia with vivid dreams, and the post-partum / chronic-illness depletion picture. Blood deficiency in TCM corresponds broadly to anaemia in Western medicine, but extends to a wider constitutional pattern of substance depletion.

Herbs in this category (5)

Clinical use and key formulas

The foundational formula Si Wu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) is built from four blood-related herbs — Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong — and is the parent of the great gynaecological formula family. For combined Qi-Blood deficiency, Ba Zhen Tang combines Si Wu Tang with Si Jun Zi Tang. For Heart-Spleen Blood deficiency with insomnia, palpitations and anxiety, Gui Pi Tang is the principal prescription. See also my blog post on blood-building herbs for the clinical and dietary angle on this category.

Cautions

Blood tonics are sweet, often warm and cloying. Use with care in patients with significant Damp accumulation or weak digestion — combine with Spleen-tonifying and Damp-resolving herbs to prevent the rich blood tonics from causing food stagnation.