About This Herb*
Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties
Herb Description*
Di Yu (Sanguisorba root) is a cooling, astringent herb best known for stopping bleeding, especially in the lower body such as rectal bleeding, hemorrhoids, and bloody stool. It is also widely used externally for burns, scalds, and eczema, where it reduces pain and promotes healing. Its cool and bitter nature makes it most suited for bleeding and skin conditions caused by excess Heat.
Herb Category*
Main Actions*
- Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
- Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity
- Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores
How These Actions Work*
'Cools Blood and stops bleeding' means Di Yu clears Heat from the Blood level, which helps stop hemorrhaging caused by Heat driving Blood out of the vessels. Its cool, bitter, and astringent nature makes it descend and settle in the lower body, which is why it is especially effective for bleeding in the lower parts of the body: rectal bleeding, bloody dysentery, hemorrhoidal bleeding, and uterine bleeding. The bitter flavour clears Heat while the sour and astringent flavours contract the vessels and hold Blood in place.
'Clears Heat and resolves toxins' means Di Yu can address toxic Heat conditions, particularly in the intestines. This applies to conditions like bacterial dysentery and infected wounds where Heat and toxins cause inflammation and tissue damage. Its antimicrobial tannins contribute to this action in biomedical terms.
'Astringes sores and promotes healing' refers to Di Yu's external application for burns, scalds, eczema, and skin ulceration. When ground into fine powder and mixed with sesame oil, it forms a protective layer over burned or damaged skin that reduces fluid leakage, eases pain, and speeds healing. There is a well-known saying in Chinese medicine that translates roughly as: 'If you have Di Yu bark at home, you need not fear burns.' It is considered one of the most important herbs for treating thermal burns and scalds.
Patterns Addressed*
In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Di Yu is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.
The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.
Why Di Yu addresses this pattern
Di Yu is bitter, sour, astringent, and slightly cool in nature, entering the Liver and Large Intestine channels. It directly clears Heat from the Blood level in the lower body. When Heat invades the Blood, it forces Blood to leave the vessels, causing bleeding. Di Yu's cool nature counteracts this Heat, its bitter flavour descends and drains Fire, and its sour and astringent flavours constrict the vessels to stop bleeding. This makes it one of the primary herbs for Blood Heat bleeding in the lower body.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Bright red blood in stool, especially before or after bowel movements
Bleeding hemorrhoids with red blood
Blood mixed with stool from intestinal Heat
Uterine bleeding due to Blood Heat
Why Di Yu addresses this pattern
When Damp-Heat lodges in the Large Intestine, it damages the intestinal lining and blood vessels, producing bloody dysentery with mucus, abdominal pain, and a burning sensation at the anus. Di Yu enters the Large Intestine channel directly, where its cool and bitter nature clears Damp-Heat, its astringent quality helps control diarrhea and bleeding, and its toxin-resolving action addresses the infectious component. Its descending nature means it reaches the lower intestines where this pathology resides.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Bloody dysentery with mucus and pus in stool
Diarrhea with blood, burning sensation at anus
Cramping abdominal pain with urgency
Why Di Yu addresses this pattern
Fire Toxin on the skin produces burns, scalds, infected sores, and inflamed eczema. Di Yu clears Heat and resolves toxins while its astringent tannin-rich nature creates a physical barrier that protects damaged tissue, reduces fluid exudation, and contracts exposed surfaces. Used externally as a powder mixed with oil, its Liver channel affinity also helps with skin conditions since the Liver governs the sinews and connective tissues.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
First- and second-degree burns and scalds
Weeping eczema with redness and itching
Skin ulceration with discharge
TCM Properties*
Slightly Cool
Bitter (苦 kǔ), Sour (酸 suān), Astringent (涩 sè)
Root (根 gēn)
This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.