Xue Yu Tan
StarCrinis Carbonisatus (carbonized human hair; keratin char)
☯ TCM Properties
Astringes leakage of Blood and stops bleeding; Tonifies Yin and promotes urination; Eliminates Blood Stasis; Generates flesh and resolves sores
Traditional Chinese Uses
Xue Yu Tan (Crinis Carbonisatus), "blood-remainder charcoal," is prepared by carbonizing clean human hair. Bitter and neutral, entering the Heart, Liver, Kidney and Stomach channels, it is a Blood-regulating hemostatic that astringes leakage of Blood and stops bleeding while simultaneously eliminating Blood Stasis, so it is said to stop bleeding without retaining Stasis. This makes it broadly applicable to many bleeding patterns, including nosebleed, coughing or vomiting of blood, blood in the urine or stool, and uterine bleeding.
It additionally tonifies Yin and promotes urination, useful for painful, bloody urinary dribbling (Lin syndrome), and topically it generates flesh and helps resolve sores. It is given as a decoction (about 6–10 g) or, more commonly, powdered (roughly 1.5–3 g), and applied directly to bleeding surfaces such as gums and nose. Being an animal/human-derived charred substance, it should be properly processed.
Botanical Description
Xue Yu Tan, literally blood-remainder charcoal, is Crinis Carbonisatus, prepared by carbonizing washed clean human hair in a closed crucible until it forms shiny black brittle masses that retain the form of clumped hair. The processed material is broken into irregular pieces, light in weight, with a faint scorched odor and a slightly salty taste. The substance is classified in traditional Chinese medicine as a processed animal-derived medicinal, bitter and neutral in nature, entering the Liver and Stomach channels; it stops bleeding, dispels blood stasis, and promotes urination, and is used for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, hematochezia, uterine bleeding, and traumatic bleeding. It is typically applied topically as a powder or taken internally in pills and powders rather than decocted, often paired with other hemostatics.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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