Xue Yu Tan
English Name: charred human hair
Literal Translation: “charred excess of the blood”
Pharmaceutical Name: Crinis Carbonisatus
Medica Category: Stop-Bleeding Herbs
Properties: Xue Yu Tan enters the Liver and Stomach channels; it is bitter in nature and neutral in temperature.
What is Xue Yu Tan?:
The Chinese Herb Xue Yu Tan is human hair that has been fully charred to ashes. It is used in powdered form as well as decocted when used medicinally to stop bleeding and disperse stagnation (see actions below).
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Xue Yu Tan:
Xue Yu Tan can be used internally or externally to stop bleeding without creating stagnation. Manifestations of bleeding that this herb addresses include: bleeding gums, nosebleeds, coughing up blood, vomiting up blood, blood in the urine, hematochezia, and hemorrhoidal bleeding.
Xue Yu Tan tonifies yin and promotes urination. It enters the xue (blood) level of the body to address various manifestations of dysuria in which blood stagnation is also a component of the person’s pattern.