Crinis Carbonisatus (Xueyutan)

Naming
Xue Yu Tan (Crinis Carbonisatus)-Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

Origin
The burning substance of human hair.

Location
Everywhere.

The actual smell and taste
Scorched smell when burning and bitter taste.

Best quality
Black, lustrous and light.

Processing
Collected, purified, washed by base solution and clean water, dried in the sun; calcined and ground into powder.

Property
Bitter, astringent, neutral; liver and stomach meridians entered.

Actions
Astringe and stop bleeding.

Indications
Bleeding

This herb is bitter and astringent. It is used in charcoal. It can astringe and stop bleeding with the combining action of resolving stasis. It has the feature of stopping bleeding without remaining stasis and is indicated for all kinds of bleeding. It is used both externally and internally. For nasal bleeding and gum bleeding, it is used alone externally. For hemoptysis or hematemesis, it is usually combined with stasis-resolving hemostatics. For instance it is combined with Hua Rui Shi, Radix Notoginseng (Sanqi), in Hua Xue Dan from Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu. For hematochezia due to fire of large intestine, it is combined with herbs that can clear fire of intestine and cool blood to stop bleeding. For instance it is combined with Radix Sanguisorbae (Diyu), and Huai Hua in San Hui San from Lei Zheng Zhi Cai.

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 6~10g; take its powder l.5~3g. Proper dose for external application.