Luan Fa 乱发 — Chinese Herbal Medicine

Luan Fa (乱发) At a Glance

• Herb: Luan Fa
• Chinese name: 乱发 (Luan Fa)
• Latin name: Crinis Carbonisatus
• Nature: Neutral
• Taste: Bitter
• Meridian: Liver
• Category: Promote blood circulation and stop bleeding

Luan Fa (乱发), prepared from calcined human hair, is a classical hemostatic herb in the category of herbs that both stop bleeding and invigorate blood. Its bitter flavour descends and astringes, making it effective for a wide range of bleeding disorders where stasis underlies the haemorrhage. It additionally opens the water passages, broadening its clinical application beyond simple haemostasis.

Actions & Therapeutic Effects

• Stops bleeding and restrains haemorrhage
• Disperses blood stasis and prevents blood from pooling
• Promotes urination and unblocks the water passages
• Nourishes and consolidates Liver Blood

Clinical Applications in TCM

• Haematemesis or epistaxis due to heat in the blood — combine with Ce Bai Ye (侧柏叶) and Ai Ye (艾叶) as in Si Sheng Wan
• Haematuria or blood in the stool from stasis-heat — pair with Hua Shi (滑石) and Zhi Zi (栀子)
• Metrorrhagia and metrostaxis where stasis obstructs the Chong vessel — use with San Qi (三七) and Pu Huang (蒲黄)
• Traumatic bleeding and open wounds — apply calcined powder topically or decoct internally
• Difficult urination with blood-tinged urine — combine with Deng Xin Cao (灯心草) and Mu Tong (木通)
• Alopecia and premature hair greying attributed to Liver-Blood deficiency — use with He Shou Wu (何首乌)

Precautions & Safety

• Typical internal dose: 6–10 g as Xue Yu Tan (calcined); 1.5–3 g as powder taken with water
• Use with caution in patients without blood stasis; excess use may over-consolidate and obstruct
• Not appropriate as a standalone herb in cases of pure deficiency bleeding without any stasis component
• Avoid in pregnancy unless under specialist supervision

Classical TCM Formulas

• Xue Yu Tan San (血余炭散): carbonised hair powder — for various bleeding conditions.
• Shi Hui San (十灰散) uses Zong Lü Tan; Xue Yu Tan is used similarly.
• Xue Yu Tan topical: powder applied directly to bleeding wounds.

Herb Combinations

• Xue Yu Tan (血余炭, carbonised Luan Fa) + San Qi (三七) + Pu Huang (蒲黄): stops bleeding and dispels stasis for haematuria and uterine bleeding.
• Xue Yu Tan (血余炭) + Bai Mao Gen (白茅根) + Ou Jie (藕节): stops bleeding for epistaxis and haemoptysis.
• Xue Yu Tan (血余炭) + Di Yu (地榆) + Huai Hua (槐花): stops bleeding for haemorrhoids and intestinal bleeding.

Pharmacology & Research

Hemostatic: Shortens clotting time by activating platelet aggregation and the intrinsic coagulation pathway.
Anti-inflammatory: Aqueous extracts demonstrate suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in murine models.
Diuretic: Mild promotion of urinary output observed in animal studies, consistent with classical water-passage action.

Classical Descriptions

• “Hair is the surplus of blood; when calcined it returns to the blood and stops bleeding.” — Bencao Gangmu (本草纲目), Li Shizhen, 1596