Liu Ji Nu is a bitter, warm herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to invigorate blood, reduce pain, promote digestion, and treat trauma-related disorders. It is especially known for its strong action in resolving blood stasis, treating menstrual irregularities, and relieving pain from injury. Liu Ji Nu is often used in gynecology and trauma medicine and has a long history of folk use in southern China.
Though less common in classical formulas, Liu Ji Nu is highly valued in modern herbal practice for its ability to activate circulation and promote healing in conditions involving stasis and internal obstruction.
Functions & Benefits
Invigorates the Blood and Dispels Blood Stasis
• Treats pain from trauma, bruises, and swelling
• Breaks up stasis in gynecological conditions like irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, or retained lochia
• Used for fibroids or abdominal masses due to stasis
Alleviates Pain and Promotes Tissue Regeneration
• Reduces swelling and pain from sprains, contusions, or fractures
• Encourages healing of soft tissue and internal bleeding
• Relieves abdominal and chest pain due to stagnation
Promotes Digestion and Resolves Food Stagnation
• Used for indigestion with bloating, pain, or poor appetite
• Mildly stimulates the Spleen and promotes transformation of food and fluids
Stops Bleeding (when Charred)
• Charred form used to stop bleeding from trauma or uterine bleeding
• Regulates blood flow and prevents excessive bleeding in gynecological conditions
Indications (Who Can Benefit from It?)
✔ Individuals with traumatic injury, swelling, or bruising
✔ Women with irregular menstruation or retained lochia after childbirth
✔ People with abdominal or chest pain from internal blood stasis
✔ Those with indigestion, bloating, or food retention
✔ Patients recovering from surgery or tissue damage
Tongue & Pulse Diagnosis in TCM
Tongue: Dark or purple tongue with spots (indicating stasis), greasy coat if food stagnation
Pulse: Choppy or wiry (blood stasis), or slippery (food retention)
Related TCM Patterns
Blood Stasis – Fixed stabbing pain, dark clots in menses, palpable masses
Food Stagnation – Fullness, bloating, poor digestion, belching
Postpartum Blood Stasis – Retained lochia, abdominal pain, dark bleeding
Traumatic Injury – Bruising, swelling, or pain due to impact or fall
Clinical Applications (For Reference Only)
Menstrual Disorders – For irregular periods, pain, or clotted bleeding due to stasis
Postpartum Abdominal Pain – Helps discharge retained lochia and relieve cramping
Trauma and Injury – Applied internally or externally to reduce swelling and pain
Abdominal Masses – Used for uterine fibroids or palpable stasis-related growths
Digestive Support – Treats bloating, poor appetite, and food retention with pain
Common Herbal Formulas with Liu Ji Nu
• Liu Ji Nu San – A powdered form used for trauma and pain
• Modified Tao Hong Si Wu Tang – For fibroids or blood stasis in menstruation
• Home-prepared formulas for bruises and digestive complaints (folk use)
Precautions & Contraindications
Not suitable during pregnancy due to strong blood-invigorating action
Avoid in cases with excessive bleeding or blood-heat without stasis
Use with caution in very deficient patients or those with weak digestion
Charred form should be used when the primary goal is to stop bleeding
Lifestyle & Dietary Recommendations
✔ Eat blood-moving foods like turmeric, garlic, and dark leafy greens
✔ Avoid greasy and stagnant foods that worsen digestion or internal dampness
✔ Use warm compresses and gentle massage to support tissue healing
✔ Rest well after trauma or childbirth to assist blood movement and tissue repair
Conclusion
Liu Ji Nu (Artemisia anomala) is a warming and invigorating herb used to relieve pain, resolve blood stasis, and support recovery from trauma or gynecological stasis. It has a wide range of applications, particularly in menstrual health, injury recovery, and digestive discomfort due to stagnation. Though lesser known in classical texts, it remains a practical and effective herb in modern TCM for conditions involving internal obstruction and pain.
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