Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang: A TCM Formula for Nourishing Blood, Stopping Bleeding, and Supporting Pregnancy
- Hongji Medical
- May 24
- 4 min read
Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang comes from the Han Dynasty’s Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shang Han Za Bing Lun), written by Zhang Zhongjing. This classic Chinese medicine formula is renowned for its ability to nourish blood, stop bleeding, regulate menstruation, and stabilize pregnancy.
The text states: “For women with continuous vaginal bleeding, persistent postpartum bleeding, or bleeding during pregnancy with abdominal pain due to uterine obstruction, Jiao Ai Tang is indicated.” This formula is primarily used for persistent vaginal bleeding, including postpartum or pregnancy-related bleeding, especially with abdominal pain.
Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang Formula Explanation
The ingredients of Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang are grouped according to the "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy" principle:
Monarch Herbs:
Jiao Ai (Donkey-Hide Gelatin): Nourishes yin, boosts blood, stops bleeding, and stabilizes pregnancy. As the monarch herb, it primarily nourishes yin blood and prevents bleeding.
Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf): Warms the uterus, stops excessive bleeding, regulates qi and blood, expels cold-dampness, relieves pain, and stabilizes pregnancy. As a minister herb, it supports Jiao Ai’s effects.
Minister Herbs:
Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis): Nourishes blood, supports the liver, clears stasis, and promotes new blood. It both nourishes and activates blood, assisting the monarch herbs.
Bai Shao (White Peony): Cools blood, clears heat, resolves stasis, promotes new blood, stabilizes pregnancy, and relieves pain. It supports the monarch and minister herbs in cooling blood and easing pain.
Assistant Herbs:
Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum): Promotes qi flow, relieves stagnation, activates blood, and clears stasis, assisting in blood circulation and pain relief.
Gan Di Huang (Dried Rehmannia): Generates and nourishes blood, supporting the monarch and minister herbs in boosting blood.
Envoy Herb:
Gan Cao (Licorice): Harmonizes the formula, moderates the herbs’ effects, and relieves urgency and pain, ensuring balanced action and alleviating abdominal discomfort.
Pathophysiology of Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang
The formula targets blood deficiency, poor blood flow, and weakness in the Chong and Ren meridians. The pathophysiology includes:
Blood Deficiency (Ying Xue Xu):
Blood deficiency occurs when blood is insufficient to nourish the body, caused by excessive blood loss, poor nutrition, or chronic illness.
This leads to liver undernourishment, causing dizziness and blurred vision, and heart blood deficiency, resulting in palpitations and insomnia.
Poor Blood Flow (Xue Xing Bu Chang):
Poor blood circulation, caused by qi stagnation, blood stasis, or cold, leads to abdominal pain or hardened masses.
Pulse signs like thin and choppy or thin and wiry indicate blood deficiency and poor circulation.
Chong and Ren Meridian Weakness:
The Chong (blood sea) and Ren (uterus-regulating) meridians are vital for menstruation and reproduction. Their weakness, combined with liver blood deficiency and poor circulation, causes irregular menstruation, scanty or pale periods, irregular cycles, or amenorrhea.
Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency:
Yin deficiency in the liver and kidneys leads to dizziness, blurred vision, dry and painful eyes, and sensitivity to light with tearing.
Blood deficiency closely affects the heart and liver, causing undernourishment (dizziness, blurred vision) and heart-spirit disturbance (palpitations, insomnia).
Manifestations of Blood Deficiency:
Blood deficiency results in pale complexion, lips, tongue, and nails due to lack of nourishment.
Pulse signs (thin, choppy, or wiry) reflect blood deficiency and poor circulation.
Effects of Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang
The primary effects of Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang are “nourishing blood, stopping bleeding, regulating menstruation, and stabilizing pregnancy.”
It nourishes yin blood, stops bleeding, and supports pregnancy, effectively treating excessive bleeding and pregnancy-related issues. Specific effects include:
Nourishing Blood and Stopping Bleeding: Jiao Ai and Ai Ye nourish yin blood and stop bleeding, stabilizing pregnancy.
Regulating Menstruation and Stabilizing Pregnancy: Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong, and Gan Di Huang nourish blood, cool heat, promote qi and blood flow, and resolve stasis, addressing irregular menstruation, pregnancy-related bleeding, and abdominal pain.
Modern Applications of Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang
In modern medicine, Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang is widely used for gynecological conditions related to blood deficiency and cold, including:
Threatened Miscarriage: Promotes absorption of uterine blood, relieves lower back pain, abdominal pain, and vaginal bleeding, and improves live birth rates.
Incomplete Postpartum Uterine Recovery: Supports postpartum uterine recovery, reducing persistent bleeding.
Functional Uterine Bleeding: Regulates clotting, boosts estrogen and progesterone levels, modulates immunity, and inhibits uterine contractions to stop bleeding.
Adenomyosis: Relieves dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation caused by adenomyosis.
Precautions
When using Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang, note the following:
Suitable for Blood Deficiency with Cold: The formula is for blood deficiency with cold, such as excessive menstruation or persistent bleeding. Avoid in cases of heat-induced bleeding or uterine stasis.
Syndrome Differentiation: Menstrual irregularities vary by constitution (e.g., blood stasis, qi deficiency, or liver qi stagnation), requiring tailored treatment.
Conclusion
Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang is a classic Chinese medicine formula for nourishing blood, stopping bleeding, regulating menstruation, and stabilizing pregnancy. Derived from Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases, it effectively treats blood deficiency with cold, excessive menstrual or postpartum bleeding, and pregnancy-related bleeding.
In modern medicine, it is used for threatened miscarriage, incomplete postpartum recovery, functional uterine bleeding, and adenomyosis. Proper syndrome differentiation, formula adjustments, and lifestyle changes are essential for optimal results.
