San Qi (三七) — TCM Herb for Bleeding, Trauma, Blood Stasis & Heart Protection

At a Glance

Herb: San Qi
Chinese name: 三七 (Sān Qī)
Latin name: Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma
Nature: Warm
Taste: Sweet / Slightly Bitter
Meridian: Liver / Stomach
Category: Herbs that Stop Bleeding
Introduction: 三七 (Sān Qī, Pseudoginseng Root) is the dried root and rhizome of Panax notoginseng, a perennial herb in the Araliaceae family cultivated almost exclusively in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. The name 三七 refers to the plant’s characteristic growth — three branches bearing seven leaves each. Harvested in summer (before flowering, for higher saponin content) or autumn, the roots are dried in the sun to yield the characteristic hard, grey-brown knobby pieces.
In TCM theory, San Qi stops bleeding and invigorates blood, reduces swelling and relieves pain. It is unique among hemostatic herbs: it simultaneously stops bleeding AND invigorates blood, meaning it stops bleeding without causing stasis. The classical description ‘止血不留瘀，化瘀不伤正’ captures this perfectly: ‘stops bleeding without leaving stasis; disperses stasis without injuring the upright qi.’ This dual action makes San Qi the preferred hemostatic for traumatic bleeding where stasis is also present.

Li Shizhen praised San Qi as the ‘gold standard herb for blood’ (血中圣药). Modern research validates its extraordinary cardiovascular and hemostatic properties, making it one of China’s highest-value medicinal herbs and the primary ingredient in Yunnan Baiyao (云南白药).

Stops bleeding and invigorates blood (止血化瘀): For all types of bleeding — internal and external — especially with accompanying blood stasis; traumatic haemorrhage, haematemesis, epistaxis, haematuria, uterine bleeding.
Reduces swelling and relieves pain (消肿止痛): For traumatic injury with swelling, bruising, and pain — sprain, fracture, contusion.
Tonifies and replenishes (补益强壮): Nourishes blood and qi when used regularly in small amounts; classical post-trauma and post-surgery tonic.
Cardiovascular protection (modern): Reduces platelet aggregation, improves coronary blood flow, protects against ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Clinical Application:
Traumatic bleeding (external): Powder applied directly to wound — classical battlefield herb
Internal bleeding (haematemesis, haematuria): 3–6g powder swallowed, or decocted with other hemostatics
Post-trauma pain and swelling: With Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Xue Jie
Coronary artery disease: With Dan Shen in Fu Fang Dan Shen formulas
Post-partum blood stasis: Small doses with Yi Mu Cao, Chuan Xiong
Tonic use: 1–3g powder daily mixed in food or warm water for blood/qi tonic
Dosage: 3–9g in decoction; 1–3g powder (preferred for hemostatic and tonic use — swallowed directly or in capsule). Raw for invigorating blood; stir-fried (熟三七) for tonifying blood.

Contraindicated in pregnancy — blood-invigorating action. Use with caution in patients on anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin) — additive antiplatelet effects may increase bleeding risk. Not appropriate for blood deficiency without stasis as primary indication. Distinguish raw San Qi (散血止血) from stir-fried San Qi (补血强壮) — different processing for different clinical goals. Very safe at standard doses; widely consumed as a food supplement in China.

Yunnan Baiyao (云南白药): San Qi as primary ingredient (exact formula protected) — for traumatic bleeding, bruising, and pain.
Fu Fang Dan Shen Pian (复方丹参片): Dan Shen, San Qi, Bing Pian — angina and coronary artery disease.
San Qi Hua Rui Shi San (三七花蕊石散): San Qi, Hua Rui Shi — traumatic haemorrhage.

San Qi + Dan Shen: Stops bleeding, invigorates blood, protects heart; the premier cardiovascular pair. Source: Fu Fang Dan Shen Pian (复方丹参片).
San Qi + Hua Rui Shi: Stops bleeding from trauma; powerful hemostatic combination for traumatic haemorrhage. Source: Hua Rui Shi San (花蕊石散).
San Qi + E Jiao: Stops bleeding while nourishing blood; for bleeding from blood deficiency. Source: Modern haematology formula.
San Qi + Ru Xiang + Mo Yao: Invigorates blood, reduces swelling, relieves traumatic pain. Source: Yunnan Baiyao formulation basis.
San Qi + Ren Shen: Tonifies qi and blood simultaneously; for qi-blood deficiency with weakness after blood loss or surgery. Source: Classical tonic combinations (San Qi and Ren Shen share the genus Panax).

Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Stops bleeding, disperses blood, and settles pain; for metal blade and arrow wounds, falls, beatings, and sores with incessant bleeding — chew and apply, or powder and dust on — the blood immediately stops. Also governs hematemesis, nosebleed, rectal bleeding, blood dysentery, flooding and incessant menstruation, postpartum malign blood not descending, blood dizziness and blood pain, red eyes and carbuncles, tiger bites and snake bites. This herb is sweet-bitter in flavor and qi; it is a blood-aspect medicinal of the Yang Ming and Jue Yin channels — therefore able to treat all blood diseases.’