Chinese Herbal foot soaks for Blood Stasis
For the body to remain healthy it must be constantly moistened, detoxified and nourished, by an abundant supply of fresh, clean blood. When the blood does not circulate freely, (known in Chinese Medicine as blood stasis), the body starts to show signs of disease. These signs can include, but are not limited to the following: a stabbing pain that is worse when pressed upon, , dark complexion, rough scaly dry skin,fixed masses on the surface of the body, dry hair, a purple cast to the lips and finger nails, a dark purple tongue with possible signs of bruising, and a sluggish feeling pulse.
There are two different kinds of blood stasis manifestation in the body which include and blood that has stagnated in the meridians (channels that transport energy and blood throughout the body) and blood that has leaked from the vessels and is lodged in the tissues.The location of the blood stasis will determine the kinds of symptoms that the person will experience. For example, according to Chinese Medicine theory blood that has stagnated in the liver will present as a stabbing pain and an abdominal mass. In the heart stagnation can show up as chest pain and palpitation. In the stomach it can cause a blackish looking stool and possible vomiting of blood, and in the lung as chest pain and the possibility of coughing up of blood. These are all extreme versions of blood stagnations as presented in the classics of Chinese Medicine.Here at the Clinic we see much milder cases such as sports injuries, migraine headaches, painful menstruation and cramps . Cases that are as severe as the ones described above are best to seek care from their doctor and utilize Chinese medicine as a complimentary therapy.
Blood stasis that is accompanied by heat symptoms such as fever that is worse at night, bloody nose,bleeding gums coughing blood, rectal bleeding, etc., it is called blood heat with blood stagnation. According to theory there are two types; one in which the internal heat of the body “burns” the blood causing it to thicken and become sluggish, and the second in which the stagnation of blood results in the formation of internal heat. The type is determined by the progression of the symptoms. The first is more often seen in cases of disease with high fever leading to signs of stasis and bleeding, while the second comes on after long term blood stasis.
When blood stasis signs are accompanied by cold limbs, which get better when warmed up, this is called cold invading the meridians causing blood stasis. This can also show up as painful menstrual period, delayed menstruation with dark purple clots, pale tongue, and a pulse that feels deep and slow. In this case the cold has caused the blood to congeal and become sluggish. This leads to pain and the other symptoms mentioned above.
The Chinese have been using natural herbal formulations for thousands of years to treat health problems, and blood stasis is no exception.The treatment of almost any kind of blood-related disease starts out with the theory that in order to treat the blood you must ensure that it is plentiful and circulating properly. In cases of blood stasis, other herbs are often added to increase the formula’s action in stimulating circulation. Two of the most popular choices are Tao Ren (Prunus Persica, peach seed) and Hong Hua (Flos Carthami, safflower.) When these two ingredients are added you get a new formula known as Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (Peach Kernel and Saflower with Four Substances formula).This formula has been changed to create numerous of formulas for treating everything from angina, migraine headaches, infertility,painful period and many other disorders.
Some of the herbal foot solutions that the Chinese use for blood stasis
Ginger foot bath
Material: ginger, safflower 1 grams, salt.
Process: Pat flat ginger with a knife, safflower and placed in the water to a boil with gauze bag, add a spoon of salt to soak the foot.
Efficacy: cold cold feet.
Saffron feet
Materials: Safflower 1 grams, a little salt.
Process: the safflower into boil in the water, add a spoonful of salt, first smoked feet feet
Efficacy: promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, cure lumbar pain.
Baking soda to soak the foot
Materials: baking soda, salt.
Process: water and salt pan, then add baking soda water, soak the foot.
Efficacy: blood pressure lowering
Magnolia flower of Xanthium feet
Materials: 20 grams of magnolia flower, Xanthium 20 grams, angelica 15 grams, 10 grams, 10 grams of Platycodon root, dragon with five claws, mint 10 grams, 60 grams of 10 grams.
Process: take several medicines added to the water to boil, bubble.
Efficacy: the stuffy nose, improve the nasal congestion, runny nose.
Prunella mulberry feet
Materials: selfheal, mulberry 30 20, 20, 20, Caulis Polygoni Multiflori Radix Paeoniae Alba Guizhi 30 teeth, 30, a little oyster.
Process: put all materials into the water boil bubble open.
Efficacy: improve insomnia
