Nature: sweet, astringent, neutral

Enters: Liver, Pericardium, Spleen, Heart

Actions: Promotes blood circulation, dispels blood stasis; stops bleeding by astringing; slightly promotes urination.

Indications:

• Blood stasis pain: chest, abdominal, menstrual , including postpartum abdominal pain. Recently for angina pectoris.
• Bleeding: hemoptysis, hematemesis, hemafecia, hematuria (slightly promotes urination for bloody urine due to heat in the bladder), epistaxis, uterine bleeding, hematochezia, heavy menstrual bleeding, subcutaneous bleeding, external trauma. For dysmenorrhea, often combined with Wu Ling Zhi.
• Can contract the uterus: to stop abnormal uterine bleeding and for severe postpartum abdominal pain.
• Lowers cholesterol.
• Probably decreases thrombin time and increases platelet count.
• Use the herb raw to dispel blood stasis and relieve pain.
• Use the herb toasted / charred to stop bleeding.
• If the herb is to be decocted, it should be placed in a tea bag.
• Can be used externally or internally.
Chen & Chen in Chinese Medical Herbology & Pharmacology: Useful for peptic ulcer. Research shows anti-inflammatory effect; increases intestinal peristalsis, relieves enteritis; raises HDL, lowers total cholesterol (also lowered triglycerides in one study of 30g/day in divided doses; improves flow to coronary arteries;  One study showed relief of eczema and its itching by applying Pu Huang powder to it daily. It’s possible that this herb’s antiplatelet action may cause it to interfere with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.
Hong-Yen Hsu (Oriental Materia Medica): Strong anti-tubercular effect; diuretic.

Dose: 4.5-12g