2.1.2 Activating Blood Circulation and Removing Stasis, Cooling the Blood and Stopping Bleeding

2.1.2 Activating Blood Circulation and Removing Stasis, Cooling the Blood and Stopping Bleeding

Professor Pei believes that the key to TCM treatment of aplastic anemia is strengthening the spleen and kidneys, followed by activating blood circulation and removing stasis, and that grasping this point is the gateway to effective treatment. "Qi is the commander of blood, and blood is the mother of qi," so activating blood circulation must be accompanied by replenishing qi to achieve synergy. Chaihu, Muxiang, Danggui, Chuanshan Jia, Jixueteng, Danshen, Honghua, Chishao, and other herbs are essential. Strengthening the spleen and kidneys ensures abundant qi and blood, while activating blood circulation ensures that the medicinal effects reach the site of the disease, and the two complement each other. However, when infection or bleeding occurs, the condition is often urgent, with most cases showing symptoms of intense internal fire and excessive heat pressing on the blood (a small minority are cases of qi deficiency unable to control the blood). In such situations, Professor Pei advocates clearing heat, draining fire, and cooling the blood, or using these methods in conjunction with the previous ones. He highly appreciates Tang Rongchuan's view that "the heart is the emperor of fire, generating blood; blood is the soul of fire, and fire is the soul of blood. When fire rises, blood rises; when fire falls, blood falls. Knowing that blood is born from fire, and fire is controlled by the heart, means that draining the heart is equivalent to draining fire, and draining fire is equivalent to stopping bleeding." For acute bleeding and infection in "aplastic anemia," he often chooses the San Huang Xie Xin Tang, believing that this formula is the first choice for draining fire and stopping bleeding in "aplastic anemia." This formula is strongly bitter and cold, directly extinguishing real fire while embedding the action of stopping bleeding within the act of draining fire. Adding 20 grams of Shengdi aims to cool the blood, enhancing its ability to stop bleeding; adding 30–60 grams of Shengshi aims to strengthen the fire-draining effect, as Professor Pei says, "Shengshi has a mild taste and a heavy nature; mildness allows it to enter the qi, while heaviness enables it to reach the blood. For fevers caused by blood conditions, nothing else can resolve them." "Treat gently by strengthening the spleen and kidneys, treat urgently by draining fire and cooling the blood" is Professor Pei's incisive summary of the treatment of this disease based on long-term clinical observation.