Nature: bitter, acrid, neutral

Enters: Liver, Spleen

Actions: Strongly promotes blood and Qi circulation, and dispels blood stasis; relieves pain; dissolves accumulations.

Indications:
• Blood stasis: amenorrhea with abdominal pain, post-partum abdominal pain, abdominal masses, dysmenorrhea.
• Food retention and stagnant Qi: (severe) distending pain in the epigastrium and abdomen.
• Often combined with E zhu. Liu says San leng is stronger than E Zhu at promoting Qi circulation, but weaker than E zhu at promoting blood circulation. Bensky/Gamble says just the opposite.
• Used with E zhu in oncology (useful in hepatic carcinoma in one study).
• Kamto: San leng + E zhu is great combination for depression.
HF: An important herb in anti-Gu therapy to move Qi (xing Qi) and break accumulation (po ji).
DY: With E zhu to strongly and effectively break both the Qi and blood, regulate and rectify the Qi and blood, stop pain, and reduce food accumulation. For specific indications and notes on this combination, see E zhu in this category.

Dose: 3-9g