Key Characteristics: Cools heat from either excess or deficiency, gently invigorates the blood without injuring the blood or yin, clears lurking fire from the blood
Properties:
Acrid, bitter, slightly cold
Meridian/Organs Affected:
Heart, Liver, Kidneys
Actions:
- clears heat and cools the blood: heat entering blood level with such symptoms like nose bleed, blood in sputum or vomit, subcutaneous bleeding or frequent and profuse menstruation due to heat in the blood
- clears fire from yin deficiency: patterns as steaming bone disorder, night sweats
- invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis: Liver blood stasis patterns with amenorrhea, abdominal masses, lumps or bruises due to injury
- clears ascending liver fire: for symptoms like headache , eye pain, flank pain, flushing and dysmenorrheal
- drains pus and reduces swelling: used topically for firm non draining sores or internally for intestinal abscess