Zong Lü Tan 棕榈炭 — Chinese Herbal Medicine

Zong Lü Tan (棕榈炭) At a Glance

• Herb: Zong Lü Tan
• Chinese name: 棕榈炭 (Zong Lü Tan)
• Latin name: Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus
• Nature: Neutral
• Taste: Sweet
• Meridian: Pericardium
• Category: Astringent hemostatic

Zong Lü Tan is the carbonized petiole fiber of Trachycarpus fortunei, a palm native to central and eastern China. Charring transforms the raw fiber into a potent hemostatic agent, deepening its astringent quality while moderating its thermal nature to neutral. Entering the Pericardium meridian, it consolidates and restrains bleeding without introducing heat or cold, making it especially suited to chronic hemorrhage arising from deficiency.

Actions & Therapeutic Effects

• Astringes and stops bleeding (收敛止血) — the primary action; contracts tissues and arrests hemorrhage across multiple organ systems 2. Consolidates the Chong and Ren vessels to arrest uterine flooding (崩漏) and persistent spotting 3. Restrains the Intestines to check bloody stool and rectal bleeding 4. Consolidates the Lower Jiao to arrest hematuria 5. Checks hemoptysis and epistaxis through its ascending astringent quality

Clinical Applications in TCM

• Uterine flooding and spotting (崩漏): combined with Hai Piao Xiao and Mu Li to reinforce consolidation • Bloody stool and hemorrhoidal bleeding: paired with Di Yu and Huai Hua • Hematuria: combined with Xiao Ji and sheng Pu Huang • Hemoptysis from Lung deficiency: used with Bai Ji and Ou Jie • Postpartum hemorrhage with qi deficiency: combined with Huang Qi and Dang Shen • External traumatic bleeding: applied topically as fine charred powder

Precautions & Safety

• Dosage: 3–9 g in decoction; 1.5–3 g as powder taken with warm water • Contraindicated where bleeding arises from excess heat patterns — astringency may trap pathogenic heat; prefer Di Yu or Ce Bai Ye in such cases • Use with caution in early-stage bleeding with active pathogenic factors; premature astringency may prolong the underlying condition

Classical TCM Formulas

• Zong Lü Tan San (棕榈炭散): Zong Lü Tan single herb powder — for uterine bleeding. Shi Hui San (十灰散): Da Ji, Xiao Ji, He Ye, Ce Bai Ye, Bai Mao Gen, Qian Cao Gen, Da Huang, Zhi Zi, Zong Lü Tan, Mu Dan Pi — cools Blood and stops bleeding. Source: Shi Yao Shen Shu.

Herb Combinations

• Zong Lü Tan (棕榈炭) + Guan Zhong (贯众) + Di Yu (地榆): the haemostatic triad for uterine bleeding. Zong Lü Tan (棕榈炭) + Bai Mao Gen (白茅根) + Ce Bai Ye (侧柏叶): stops bleeding for haemoptysis and haematemesis. Zong Lü Tan (棕榈炭) + Pu Huang (蒲黄) + San Qi (三七): stops bleeding and dispels stasis simultaneously.

Pharmacology & Research

Hemostatic: Shortens bleeding time and clotting time; promotes platelet aggregation. Astringent: Tannin compounds reduce vascular permeability and mucosal secretion. Antimicrobial: Mild inhibitory activity against select gram-positive bacteria in vitro.

Classical Descriptions

• “棕榈，烧灰用之，最能收脱止血。” — Li Shizhen, Bencao Gangmu (本草纲目, 1578)