Herbs that Improve Circulation and Promote Healing
Proper blood flow is essential to healing from chronic injuries and pain, trauma, sprains, strains and other musculoskeletal problems. There are many Chinese herbs that improve circulation and promote healing. This article will teach us why blood flow slows or gets blocked, what happens when blood stagnates and what can be done to prevent blood stagnation.
When blood flow begins to slow more than normal — due to blockage by pathogenic factors, Qi dysfunctions or other mechanical impediments — quick action should be taken to restore normal blood circulation. If no action is taken and no improvement is made, the blood flow will actually stagnate. It can begin to accumulate, and, in more severe cases, the blood can congeal and form masses, swelling, and/or tumors. When the blood stagnates in this way without intervention, blood and phlegm masses can form, especially in late-stage degenerative conditions with bony spurs.
There are three general degrees of the elimination of blood stasis. It is important to match the strength of the method used to stimulate blood circulation with the level of stagnation experienced. Choosing a method that is too strong can cause an excess response or waste of blood, yin, fluids and Qi.
So, let's take a closer look at the degrees or levels for the treatment of blood stasis:
Level 1 Blood Stasis
The first level involves the activation of the blood, promotion of circulation, regulation of Qi and elimination of stasis. It is the least aggressive method for treating blood stasis. This level is applied to issues of poor posture, or where tissues are stressed or excessively stretched for prolonged periods and have become painful. These are overuse/underuse conditions where underuse has caused slowed circulation and poor nourishment of the sinews or where overuse has caused excessive demand. These conditions are not chronic and are usually the easiest to treat.
Herbs that improve circulation — Level 1
- Chuan Xiong — Activates the Qi within the blood; very important herb for treating pain.
- Yan Hu Suo — Activates the Qi within the blood; very important herb for treating pain and can be used for all types of pain. (Read our article on Yan Hu Suo for low-level chronic pain.)
- Dan Shen — Slightly cold; can clear heat, cool the blood and calm the mind; promotes circulation; reduces pain; useful for helping to heal bone fractures.
- Hong Hua — Promotes circulation; breaks congealed blood; reduces pain; anti-inflammatory.
- Hu Zhang — Activates blood circulation; anti-inflammatory.
- Jiang Huang — Breaks blood stasis; promotes circulation; relieves pain; important for shoulder or upper limb pain.
- Yu Jin — Activates the Qi within the blood; slightly cold; sometimes used in traumatic bleeding.
Level 2 Blood Stasis
The second level is to further activate the blood, but, more importantly, to dispel stasis. The goal of level 2 treatment is to dispel the blood stasis first. This is accomplished by dissolving and dissipating congealed blood, opening the channels and network vessels, thinning the blood, and increasing microcirculation.
Dispelling the blood stasis in this way allows the blood to penetrate and nourish the tissues. This level should be applied to those who awake with pain and stiffness, but feel better after some movement, and to those who report their backs being "out" and require frequent spinal adjustments. The conditions at this level have become chronic.
Herbs that improve circulation — Level 2
- Ji Xue Teng — Invigorates the blood; promotes circulation; tonifies the blood; opens collateral/network vessels; reduces pain; often used in the elderly.
- Chi Shao — Clears excess heat from the blood; invigorates the blood; anti-inflammatory.
- Si Gua Lao — Expels wind; invigorates blood; clears damp-heat; especially useful for treating painful sore muscles and sinews or acute injury of the chest or lumbar area.
- Ru Xiang — Penetrates and regulates Qi; promotes Qi and blood circulation; relaxes the sinew; analgesic, anti-inflammatory; used for stiff, swollen and painful joints or soft tissues, sprains, strains and fractures.
- Mo Yao — Breaks congealed blood; treats hard masses (spurs), traumatic sprains, strains and fractures as well as stiff, swollen and painful joints.
- Lu Lu Tong — Opens all the channels and network vessels; promotes movement of Qi and blood; eliminates wind-dampness; especially useful for pain of the lower back; anti-inflammatory.
- Xue Jie — Dispels blood stasis; alleviates pain from sprains, strains, contusions, fractures and arthritic pain.
- Chuan Shan Jia — Can penetrate the entire body; disperses blood stasis; reduces swelling; expels wind-dampness. Note: this is an animal product from an endangered species. Plum Dragon Herbs does not use or supply this substance.
Level 3 Blood Stasis
The third level is to resolve substantial stagnant blood situations. The goal is to break stasis and disperse masses. At this level there are usually palpable masses, nodes or spurs on x-rays. The pain is not necessarily related to movement, but more related to the location of the mass and whether it impinges on the nerves or whether there is severe congestion.
Herbs that improve circulation — Level 3
- Tao Ren — Breaks blood stasis and masses; used for many kinds of pain due to traumatic causes or due to chronic blood accumulation.
- Shui Zhi — Penetrates masses to dissolve and drive out blood stasis; used for acute traumas; slightly toxic.
- Tu Bie Chong — Penetrates masses to dissolve and drive out blood stasis; aids in healing of sinews and bones; often used for trauma and acute lumbar strain.
- E Zhu — Removes congealed blood and dissolves masses; strongly moves Qi; often used for older injuries with accumulations and bony spurs.
- San Leng — Removes congealed blood and dissolves masses; often used for older injuries with accumulations and bony spurs.
Blood Generation
There is another situation in which blood moving herbs are used — when cases of blood stasis are hindering the body's generation of fresh blood. These herbs are often useful during recuperation from injuries where the generation or growth of healthy new tissues or blood is desired. They are often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, in weak patients during recuperative periods, and for fractures. The herbs used for these situations often have vitalizing and tonifying effects on the blood.
Herbs used for blood generation
- Dang Gui — Tonifies and invigorates the blood; reduces swelling; alleviates pain and "generates flesh"; used for chronic and acute disorders.
- Niu Xi — Strengthens the sinews and bones; often used for headaches and chronic disorders, especially low back ache, weakness of waist and knees and difficulty walking.
- Chuan Niu Xi — Moves blood; strengthens sinews and bones; often used for headaches, dizziness, musculoskeletal pains from traumatic injuries, and chronic weakness and pain of the low back and knees.
- Liu Ji Nu — Dispels blood stasis; unblocks channels; sometimes used in trauma to dispel swelling.
- Zi Ran Tong — Dispels blood stasis; unblocks the channels; renews the sinews; often used for traumatic injuries with swelling and pain, inflammation and bruising, as well as bone fractures.
- Ze Lan — Dispels blood stasis; treats blood deficiency, edema and joint swelling; often used for back and other joint pains from traumatic injuries as well as chronic arthritic pains with swelling.
Which Plum Dragon Formula Is Right for Your Level?
Plum Dragon Herbs provides Dit Da Jow formulas that address all three levels of blood stasis using the herbs described above. Here's a quick guide to which formula fits which situation:
- Bruise Juice — A powerful formula for Level 3 concerns, incorporating most of the herbs on the Level 3 list above.
- Ho Family Dit Da Jow — A highly effective balance of herbs from all three levels; excellent for most chronic injury situations and powerful natural pain relief.
- JKD Dit Da Jow — Combines herbs from Levels 1 and 2 with a strong dose of Level 3 herbs; ideal for serious training injuries and conditioning.
Still not sure which formula is right for your situation? Our Formula Finder Quiz asks a few simple questions about your pain and points you toward the best match — take the quiz here.
If you've tried mainstream over-the-counter pain formulas like Icy Hot, Biofreeze or Tiger Balm and found them underwhelming, you're not imagining it. These products rely on menthol and capsaicin to create a sensation of cooling or warmth — but they don't actually address the underlying blood stagnation or tissue damage causing your pain.
Dit Da Jow works differently, and at a fundamentally deeper level. We put together a detailed page that breaks down exactly what's inside each formula and why the difference matters for real, lasting pain relief.
Dit Da Jow vs. Tiger Balm — See the Difference →Dit Da Jow — literally "hit fall wine" in Cantonese — is a traditional Chinese herbal liniment with roots in the martial arts world. For centuries, practitioners have used these hand-crafted formulas to recover from injuries, relieve pain, and condition the body. Today, athletes, acupuncturists and anyone seeking a natural alternative to over-the-counter pain relief have discovered what martial artists have known for generations.
If you're curious about how it works, which formula is right for you, and how to use it — we've put together a full guide just for you.
Read: What is Dit Da Jow? →We actually read every email — just reach out.
Explore all remedies at plumdragonherbs.com →
Proper blood flow is essential to healing from chronic injuries and pain, trauma, sprains, strains and other musculoskeletal problems. There are many Chinese herbs that improve circulation and promote healing. This article will teach us why blood flow slows or gets blocked, what happens when blood stagnates and what can be done to prevent blood stagnation.
When blood flow begins to slow more than normal — due to blockage by pathogenic factors, Qi dysfunctions or other mechanical impediments — quick action should be taken to restore normal blood circulation. If no action is taken and no improvement is made, the blood flow will actually stagnate. It can begin to accumulate, and, in more severe cases, the blood can congeal and form masses, swelling, and/or tumors. When the blood stagnates in this way without intervention, blood and phlegm masses can form, especially in late-stage degenerative conditions with bony spurs.
There are three general degrees of the elimination of blood stasis. It is important to match the strength of the method used to stimulate blood circulation with the level of stagnation experienced. Choosing a method that is too strong can cause an excess response or waste of blood, yin, fluids and Qi.
So, let's take a closer look at the degrees or levels for the treatment of blood stasis:
Level 1 Blood Stasis
The first level involves the activation of the blood, promotion of circulation, regulation of Qi and elimination of stasis. It is the least aggressive method for treating blood stasis. This level is applied to issues of poor posture, or where tissues are stressed or excessively stretched for prolonged periods and have become painful. These are overuse/underuse conditions where underuse has caused slowed circulation and poor nourishment of the sinews or where overuse has caused excessive demand. These conditions are not chronic and are usually the easiest to treat.
Herbs that improve circulation — Level 1
- Chuan Xiong — Activates the Qi within the blood; very important herb for treating pain.
- Yan Hu Suo — Activates the Qi within the blood; very important herb for treating pain and can be used for all types of pain. (Read our article on Yan Hu Suo for low-level chronic pain.)
- Dan Shen — Slightly cold; can clear heat, cool the blood and calm the mind; promotes circulation; reduces pain; useful for helping to heal bone fractures.
- Hong Hua — Promotes circulation; breaks congealed blood; reduces pain; anti-inflammatory.
- Hu Zhang — Activates blood circulation; anti-inflammatory.
- Jiang Huang — Breaks blood stasis; promotes circulation; relieves pain; important for shoulder or upper limb pain.
- Yu Jin — Activates the Qi within the blood; slightly cold; sometimes used in traumatic bleeding.
Level 2 Blood Stasis
The second level is to further activate the blood, but, more importantly, to dispel stasis. The goal of level 2 treatment is to dispel the blood stasis first. This is accomplished by dissolving and dissipating congealed blood, opening the channels and network vessels, thinning the blood, and increasing microcirculation.
Dispelling the blood stasis in this way allows the blood to penetrate and nourish the tissues. This level should be applied to those who awake with pain and stiffness, but feel better after some movement, and to those who report their backs being "out" and require frequent spinal adjustments. The conditions at this level have become chronic.
Herbs that improve circulation — Level 2
- Ji Xue Teng — Invigorates the blood; promotes circulation; tonifies the blood; opens collateral/network vessels; reduces pain; often used in the elderly.
- Chi Shao — Clears excess heat from the blood; invigorates the blood; anti-inflammatory.
- Si Gua Lao — Expels wind; invigorates blood; clears damp-heat; especially useful for treating painful sore muscles and sinews or acute injury of the chest or lumbar area.
- Ru Xiang — Penetrates and regulates Qi; promotes Qi and blood circulation; relaxes the sinew; analgesic, anti-inflammatory; used for stiff, swollen and painful joints or soft tissues, sprains, strains and fractures.
- Mo Yao — Breaks congealed blood; treats hard masses (spurs), traumatic sprains, strains and fractures as well as stiff, swollen and painful joints.
- Lu Lu Tong — Opens all the channels and network vessels; promotes movement of Qi and blood; eliminates wind-dampness; especially useful for pain of the lower back; anti-inflammatory.
- Xue Jie — Dispels blood stasis; alleviates pain from sprains, strains, contusions, fractures and arthritic pain.
- Chuan Shan Jia — Can penetrate the entire body; disperses blood stasis; reduces swelling; expels wind-dampness. Note: this is an animal product from an endangered species. Plum Dragon Herbs does not use or supply this substance.
Level 3 Blood Stasis
The third level is to resolve substantial stagnant blood situations. The goal is to break stasis and disperse masses. At this level there are usually palpable masses, nodes or spurs on x-rays. The pain is not necessarily related to movement, but more related to the location of the mass and whether it impinges on the nerves or whether there is severe congestion.
Herbs that improve circulation — Level 3
- Tao Ren — Breaks blood stasis and masses; used for many kinds of pain due to traumatic causes or due to chronic blood accumulation.
- Shui Zhi — Penetrates masses to dissolve and drive out blood stasis; used for acute traumas; slightly toxic.
- Tu Bie Chong — Penetrates masses to dissolve and drive out blood stasis; aids in healing of sinews and bones; often used for trauma and acute lumbar strain.
- E Zhu — Removes congealed blood and dissolves masses; strongly moves Qi; often used for older injuries with accumulations and bony spurs.
- San Leng — Removes congealed blood and dissolves masses; often used for older injuries with accumulations and bony spurs.
Blood Generation
There is another situation in which blood moving herbs are used — when cases of blood stasis are hindering the body's generation of fresh blood. These herbs are often useful during recuperation from injuries where the generation or growth of healthy new tissues or blood is desired. They are often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, in weak patients during recuperative periods, and for fractures. The herbs used for these situations often have vitalizing and tonifying effects on the blood.
Herbs used for blood generation
- Dang Gui — Tonifies and invigorates the blood; reduces swelling; alleviates pain and "generates flesh"; used for chronic and acute disorders.
- Niu Xi — Strengthens the sinews and bones; often used for headaches and chronic disorders, especially low back ache, weakness of waist and knees and difficulty walking.
- Chuan Niu Xi — Moves blood; strengthens sinews and bones; often used for headaches, dizziness, musculoskeletal pains from traumatic injuries, and chronic weakness and pain of the low back and knees.
- Liu Ji Nu — Dispels blood stasis; unblocks channels; sometimes used in trauma to dispel swelling.
- Zi Ran Tong — Dispels blood stasis; unblocks the channels; renews the sinews; often used for traumatic injuries with swelling and pain, inflammation and bruising, as well as bone fractures.
- Ze Lan — Dispels blood stasis; treats blood deficiency, edema and joint swelling; often used for back and other joint pains from traumatic injuries as well as chronic arthritic pains with swelling.
Which Plum Dragon Formula Is Right for Your Level?
Plum Dragon Herbs provides Dit Da Jow formulas that address all three levels of blood stasis using the herbs described above. Here's a quick guide to which formula fits which situation:
- Bruise Juice — A powerful formula for Level 3 concerns, incorporating most of the herbs on the Level 3 list above.
- Ho Family Dit Da Jow — A highly effective balance of herbs from all three levels; excellent for most chronic injury situations and powerful natural pain relief.
- JKD Dit Da Jow — Combines herbs from Levels 1 and 2 with a strong dose of Level 3 herbs; ideal for serious training injuries and conditioning.
Still not sure which formula is right for your situation? Our Formula Finder Quiz asks a few simple questions about your pain and points you toward the best match — take the quiz here.
If you've tried mainstream over-the-counter pain formulas like Icy Hot, Biofreeze or Tiger Balm and found them underwhelming, you're not imagining it. These products rely on menthol and capsaicin to create a sensation of cooling or warmth — but they don't actually address the underlying blood stagnation or tissue damage causing your pain.
Dit Da Jow works differently, and at a fundamentally deeper level. We put together a detailed page that breaks down exactly what's inside each formula and why the difference matters for real, lasting pain relief.
Dit Da Jow vs. Tiger Balm — See the Difference →Dit Da Jow — literally "hit fall wine" in Cantonese — is a traditional Chinese herbal liniment with roots in the martial arts world. For centuries, practitioners have used these hand-crafted formulas to recover from injuries, relieve pain, and condition the body. Today, athletes, acupuncturists and anyone seeking a natural alternative to over-the-counter pain relief have discovered what martial artists have known for generations.
If you're curious about how it works, which formula is right for you, and how to use it — we've put together a full guide just for you.
Read: What is Dit Da Jow? →We actually read every email — just reach out.
Explore all remedies at plumdragonherbs.com →
Net Orders Checkout
| Item | Price | Qty | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subtotal |
$0.00 |
|||
| Shipping | ||||
| Total | ||||
4 comments
What are herbs that can help with vertigo and migraine.
kamagra uk next day delivery paypal 306
viagra cialis online
Will like to know more about Chinese herbs