11 Homeostatic and Astringent
Hemostatics Drugs whose principal effects are to stop internal and external bleeding are called hemostatics. Drugs covered in this chapter have respectively the effects of stopping bleeding by removing Heat from the Blood, by astingency, by resolving Blood stasis, or by warming the channels. They are indicated for various kins of hemorrhage, such as hemoptysis, epistxis, hematemesis, hematuria, hemafacia, metrorrhagia and metrostxis, prupura and traumatic bleeding. Proper hemostatics should be selected according to the different causes of bleeding and actual syndromes, and they should be dispensed with other compatible drugs. -In cases of bleeding due to invasion of blood by noxious Heat, drugs for clearing away pathogenic Heat from the Blood should be added. -For bleeding with blood stasis, drugs for promoting circulation of blood and Qi should be added. -For Bleeding of Cold and Xu nature, drugs capable of warming up YANG and dispelling Cold should be added. -For Bleeding due to the failure of QI in keeping the blood within the vessels, tonics for reinfocing Qi and activating the Spleen should be given as well. When hemostatics are used, see that the side effect of hemostasis are avoided. Should there be any sign of Blood stasis, never use drugs for removing Heat from Blood or astringent hemostatics alone.