Treatment Methods for Flooding and Spotting
Written By Jun Heo(許浚, 1539~1615), Translated by Namil Kim, Wung Seok Cha et al., Published by Ministry of Health & Welfare (Korea)Buy vitamins and supplements.
15 Flooding and Spotting 血崩血漏 붕루
➀ Inner Classic (內經) has stated that, “Deficiency in the yin meridians and contention in the yang meridians is called flooding.” An Annotation quotes, “When the eum meridians are deficient and yang meridians stir vigorously, it leads to internal flooding and downward blood flowing.”
➁ Excessive sadness causes the uterine collateral vessel to be severed and eventually leads to an internal stirring of yang. A convulsion will make the heart collapse downward and cause requent hematuria.
➂ Sadness pulls the heart system and lifts the pulmonary alveoli lobes, blocking the upper energizer. This makes it impossible for nutrient and defense to flow and heat is kept inside. Eventually, the uterine collateral vessel is severed and yang stirs internally which then leads to convulsions, a downward collapse of the heart and frequent hematuria. ‘Downward collapse of the heart’ signifies the bloody discharge caused by the internal collapse of the pericardium.
➃ There are different types of unexpected bloody discharge. Bloody discharge in the form of dribbles is called spotting, and a sudden discharge of blood resembling the collapse of a mountain is known as flooding.
➄ There are three cases in which the flooding and spotting does not end. The first case is when deficiencies of the spleen and stomach descend towards the kidneys and join the ministerial Fire. The dampness-heat pushes downward and the flooding and spotting does not stop. A dark red color, a meat-decaying stench during summer, the presence of white vaginal is charge and a sunken, fine, racing, rapid or sunken, string-like, surging, large pulse beating all point to the presence of heat. Sometimes there is pain in the back or below the navel. It is necessary to greatly tonify the spleen and stomach and lift up the blood and qi.
➅ The second case is when someone used to have a high rank but is now devoid of power or was once rich but no longer is. The shortage of heart qi leads to an excessive flourishing of the heart-Fire within the blood vessels. Also, it becomes difficult to ingest food properly but the complexion stays healthy. This is a heart illness. Without asking, it can be assumed that menstruation comes unexpectedly, stops in midstream or pours out suddenly. First, prepare the patient’s mind by telling her that in the worst case, it can lead to death and use medicines that greatly tonify the qi and blood to lift up the spleen and stomach qi. Then add a bit of heart-Fire suppressing herbs to tonify eum and purge the yang and the menstruation will naturally stop.
➆ The third and last case is when excessive sadness has caused the uterine collateral vessel to be severed. This has been explained already.
16 Treatment Methods for Flooding and Spotting 崩漏治法 붕루 치료법
➀ Blood flooding is the overflowing and wandering around of mixed menstrual blood. If stopped abruptly, blood can accumulate and form masses, and if it isn’t stopped, it might cause dizziness. One must first take 1 don of Trogopterorum Faeces (五靈脂) powder [also called Garden Cress Powder (獨行散)] mixed with warm wine. This can both allow the blood to flow freely and at the same time stop the bleeding. Subsequently, one should take 1 or 2 packages of Five Types of Accumulation Powder (五積散). [See the chapter on Cold for the prescription]. With Saposhnikoviae Radix (防風) and Schizonepetae Spica (荊芥), mixed with vinegar. Take some Trogopterorum Faeces (五靈脂) powder once again to get rid of the old blood and produce new blood. If blood flooding is still unstopped, use Fivefold Ashes Powder, Tenfold Ashes Pill, or Tenfold Ash Powder. [See the chapter on Blood for the prescription].
➁ Blood flooding caused by too much sadness can be treated with Equip Metal Powder or Four Processed Cyperus Pill [prescription has been aforementioned].
➂ Sexual intercourse during menstruation damages the thoroughfare vessel and conception vessel and causes the blood to pour out suddenly during menstruation. A Warm the Menstruation Decoction [prescription has been aforementioned] should be used.
➃ When dampness-heat pushes downward and causes flooding of the blood with a dark red color and decaying stench, one should use a Four Ingredients Decoction to Resolve Toxin, Rehmannia Cool Blood Decoction or Stabilize Channels Pill.
➄ Blood flooding in someone who is depressed or was once rich but is now poor can be treated with Relieve Depression Four Substances Decoction. ➅ When stomach qi sags and causes blood flooding, a Raise Yang and Regulate Channels Decoction, Augment Stomach and Raise Yang Decoction [see the chapter on Internal Damage for the prescription], Raise Yang and Eliminate Dampness Decoction or Bupleurum Regulate Channels Decoction can be used.
➆ Acute blood flooding has to be treated through the tip so an Angelica Root Decoction mixed with Fulvis Fumi Carbonisatus powder can be taken. In severe cases, one can first take ashes from Trachycarpi Petiolus (棕櫚), ashes of a canine skull or Trogopterorum Faeces (五靈脂) (half raw and half stir-fried) powder all mixed in wine, and then take a Four Substances Decoction with Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Coptidis Rhizoma (黃連), Ginseng Radix (人參), Astragali Radix (黃芪), Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子), and Zingiberis Rhizoma (乾薑).
➇ When a woman over 40 years feels too sad and the blood flows out of control to cause flooding of the blood, one must not use medicines with dryness-heat properties. One should first use a Coptis Detoxification Decoction [see the chapter on Cold for the prescription] and then control with a Triple Harmonies Decoction (三和湯) [prescription has been aforementioned].
➈ Blood flooding in an unmarried woman who has deeply thought about men is extremely difficult to treat. A Four Substances Decoction (四物湯) with Bupleuri Radix (柴胡) and Scutellariae Radix (黃芩) or Augmented Wander Free Powder (加味逍遙散) [see the chapter on Gynecology for the prescription] should be used.
➉ When the blood flooding is caused by coldness, Terba Flava Usta Powder or Cloves and Ass Hide Gelatin Decoction are used and when it is caused by heat, a Rehmannia Cool Blood Decoction or Resolve Toxicity Four Ingredients Decoction are used. An Angelica and Peony Decoction, Amazing Effect Four Substances Decoction, or Boiled Aconite Pill [prescription has been aforementioned] are also widely used.
⑪ A Four Substances Decoction with Schizonepetae Spica (荊芥) and Scutellariae Radix (黃芩) (thin and cold inside) is very effective in stopping bleeding.
⑫ Medicines black in color can stop bleeding, so Fivefold Ashes Powder, Tenfold Ashes Pill [see the chapter on Blood for the prescription], Holy Effect Powder, or Instant Effect Powder should be used.
⑬ Dizziness caused by severe blood flooding should be treated with a Rehmannia, Scutellaria, and Coptis Decoction [see the chapter on Blood for the prescription] or Complete Decoction to Promote Blood Circulation.
- Equip Metal Powder 備金散 비금산: ➀ It can treat incessant blood flooding. 4 nyang of Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (stir-fried black), 1.2 nyang of Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸) (fine roots), and 1 nyang of Trogopterorum Faeces (五靈脂) (stir-fried). Grind up these herbs, add 2 don to water mixed with vinegar, and take on an empty stomach. ➁ This is also called Commission Metal Powder.
- Resolve Toxicity Four Ingredients Decoction 解毒四物湯 해독사물탕: ➀ It treats flooding accompanied by a yellowish complexion and stomachache. 1 don each of Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Coptidis Rhizoma (黃連), Phellodendri Cortex (黃柏), Gardeniae Fructus (梔子), Rehmanniae Radix (生乾地黃), Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥), and Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎). Grind up these herbs and decoct in water as 1 package. ➁ This prescription is a combination of a Coptis Detoxification Decoction and a Four Substances Decoction.
- Rehmannia Cool Blood Decoction 凉血地黃湯 양혈지황탕: It treats flooding. This condition is caused by a deficiency of kidney fluid or eum which then fails to protect the ministerial Fire and eventually leads to the collapse of blood. 1 don each of Osterici Radix (羌活), Saposhnikoviae Radix (防風), and Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), 5 pun each of Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (生地黃) and Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), 3 pun each of Nemertean Rhizoma (知母), Phellodendri Cortex (黃柏), Schizonepetae Spica (荊芥), Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma (細辛), Viticis Fructus (蔓荊子), Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎), Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix (藁本), Coptidis Rhizoma (黃連), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (升麻), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), and 1 pun of Carthami Flos (紅花). Cut up these herbs, decoct in water, and take as 1 package.
- Stabilize Channels Pill 固經丸 고경환: It treats excessive menstruation. 1 nyang each of Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), and Testudinis Plastrum (龜板), 7 don of Cortex Toonae Sinensis (椿根白皮), 3 don of Phellodendri Cortex (黃柏) (stir-fried), and 2.5 don of Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (soaked in children’s urine and dried by the fire). Grind up these herbs and knead with wine-added paste to form pills as big as the seed of a royal foxglove tree. Take 50~70 pills at a time with boiled water.
- Relieve Depression Four Substances Decoction 開鬱四物湯 개울사물탕: It treats flooding. This flooding is generally caused by a heart qi problem. Having once been important in the past but powerless now, or rich in the past but having become poor can all be causes. 1 don each of Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (stir-fried), Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸) (body part), Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥) (soaked in wine and stir-fried), Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (熟地黃), and Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), 5 pun each of Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎), Astragali Radix (黃芪), Typhae Pollen (蒲黃) (stir-fried), Sanguisorbae Radix (地楡), and Ginseng Radix (人參), and 3 pun of Cimicifugae Rhizoma (升麻). Cut up these herbs, decoct, and take as 1 package.
- Raise Yang and Regulate Channels Decoction 升陽調經湯 승양조경탕: It treats sudden incessant blood flooding caused by the sinking of middle qi due to internal damage. 1 don each of Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), Osterici Radix (羌活), Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), and Astragali Radix (黃芪), 7 pun each of Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), Saposhnikoviae Radix (防風), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (升麻), Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix (藁本), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), 5 pun of Viticis Fructus (蔓荊子), and 3 pun of Araliae Continentalis Radix (獨活). Cut up these herbs, decoct in water as 1 package, and wash down with a meal after administration.
- Augment Stomach and Raise Yang Decoction 益胃升陽湯 익위승양탕: It treats sudden bleeding with blood aggregation clots accompanied by watery diarrhea. This is because the concrete blood in the anterior eum and posterior eum has been depleted at the lower energizer. Adding qi in the cases of blood depletion is a method of the wise ancestors. This reflects the growth of eum through the birth of yang. [See the chapter on Internal Damage for the prescription.
- Raise Yang and Eliminate Dampness Decoction 升陽除濕湯 승양제습탕: It treats incessant flooding. The blood flooding is due to the deficiency of the spleen-stomach and problems in the pericardium. 1 don each of Astragali Radix (黃芪), Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), and Osterici Radix (羌活), 7 pun each of Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (升麻), Saposhnikoviae Radix (防風), Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix (藁本), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草) (roasted), 5 pun of Viticis Fructus (蔓荊子), and 3 pun each of Araliae Continentalis Radix (獨活) and Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸). Cut up these herbs, decoct in water, and take as 1 package.
- Bupleurum Regulate Channels Decoction 柴胡調經湯 시호조경탕: ➀ It treats the aforementioned condition. 1.5 don of Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), 1 don of Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), 7 pun each of Osterici Radix (羌活), Araliae Continentalis Radix (獨活), Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix (藁本), and Cimicifugae Rhizoma (升麻), 5 pun each of Puerariae Radix, Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), and 2 pun of Carthami Flos (紅花). Cut up these herbs and decoct in water as 1 package. ➁ The 4 prescriptions previously mentioned are all medicines that have ascending and lifting properties. First take an Augment Stomach and Raise Yang Decoction, and if the flooding still does not stop, take the latter 2 prescriptions. Lifting greatly [大擧․ 大升] means treating the sinking caused by the dampness of the spring and summer.
- Terba Flava Usta Powder 伏龍肝散 복룡간산: It treats flooding caused by the deficiencies of the thoroughfare and conception vessels, and the consequent coldness and pain around the navel. 1.5 don each of Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎) and Artemisiae Argyi Folium (艾葉), 1 don of Terba Flava Usta (伏龍肝), 7 pun each of Halloysitum Rubrum (赤石脂) and Liriopis Tuber (麥門冬), and 5 pun each of Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), Zingiberis Rhizoma (乾薑), Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (熟地黃), Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (肉桂), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草). Cut up these herbs and decoct with 2 Zizyphi Fructus (大棗) as 1 package. Or grind into powder and mix 2 don with thin rice gruel.
- Cloves and Ass Hide Gelatin Decoction 丁香膠艾湯 정향교애탕: It treats incessant flooding with the dripping of fluid resembling that from a straw hut, and there is white vaginal discharge and ice-like coldness below the navel. 1.5 don of Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), 1.2 don of raw Artemisiae Argyi Folium (艾葉), 7 pun of Asini Corii Colla (阿膠珠), 5 pun each of Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎) and Syzygii Flos (丁香), and 4 pun each of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (熟地黃) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥). Cut up these herbs, decoct in water, and take as 1 package.
- Angelica and Peony Decoction 當歸芍藥湯 당귀작약탕: It can treat fatigue caused by weak qi and incessant metrostaxis. This is because middle qi has weakened to the point of sagging severely. 1.5 don each of Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), Atractylodis Rhizoma (白朮), Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥). 1 don of Astragali Radix (黃芪), 5 pun each of Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (陳皮), and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (熟地黃), 3 don each of Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草) (roasted) and Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (生地黃), and 2 pun of Bupleuri Radix (柴胡). Cut up these herbs and decoct in water as 1 package.
- Amazing Effect Four Substances Decoction 奇效四物湯 기효사물탕: This prescription is wonderfully efficacious for blood flooding. Add Asini Corii Colla (阿膠珠), Artemisiae Argyi Folium (艾葉), and Scutellariae Radix (黃芩) to a Four Substances Decoction (四物湯) to make a total of 7 don. Cut up these herbs, decoct in water with 5 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma (生薑), and take as 1 package.
- Holy Effect Powder 如聖散 여성산: It stops flooding. 1 nyang each of Trachycarpi Petiolus and Mume Fructus Praeparatum (烏梅), and 1.5 nyang of Zingiberis Rhizoma (乾薑). Burn these herbs together with their medicinal natures intact and grind into powder. Take 2 don of the powder, mix with Mume Fructus Praeparatum (烏梅)-decocted water or Mume Fructus Praeparatum (烏梅) wine, and take on an empty stomach.
- Instant Effect Powder 立效散 입효산: It treats flooding. 1 nyang each of Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸), Nelumbinis Stamen (蓮實), cottonseed, Carthami Flos (紅花), and Imperatae Flos (茅花). Cut up these herbs, wrap up in paper and cover with salty mud. Then heat with fire making sure their medicinal natures are intact and grind into powder. Add a bit of musk, mix 2 don with warm wine, and take on an empty stomach.
- Complete Decoction to Promote Blood Circulation 全生活血湯 전생활혈탕: It treats dizziness, loss of consciousness, and dimming eyesight resulting in the inability to recognize all caused by severe blood flooding. This is because blood has disappeared all of a sudden. Without blood, it is impossible to nurture the heart spirit, and with the sudden damage of qi and blood, how can one live a long life? Only by tonifying, lifting up and helping the yang, can the eyes be opened and the spirit stabilized. This prescription was made to tonify and nurture the blood and to tonify the deficiencies of the pericardium meridian and liver meridian by making blood and helping the yang. 1 don each of Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥) and Cimicifugae Rhizoma (升麻), 7 pun each of Saposhnikoviae Radix (防風), Osterici Radix (羌活), Araliae Continentalis Radix (獨活), Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), Angelica Gigantis Radix (當歸) (body part), Puerariae Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), 5 pun each of Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix (藁本) and Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎), 4 pun each of Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (生地黃) and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (熟地黃), 3 pun each of Viticis Fructus (蔓荊子) and Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma (細辛), and 1 pun of Carthami Flos (紅花). Cut up these herbs, decoct in water, and take as 1 package.
