Field Guide
TCM — Blood Stasis
When Blood does not move freely, it stagnates — producing fixed, sharp pain and dark, clotted flow. Often follows long-standing Qi stagnation, cold, or trauma.
The clinical picture
Symptoms, causes & labs
Common symptoms
- Fixed, stabbing pain (headaches, menstrual cramps)
- Dark, clotted menstrual flow
- Purple-tinged tongue or lips
- Visible spider veins, easy bruising
Possible root causes
- Long-standing Qi stagnation
- Cold exposure, trauma or surgery
- Chronic inflammation
Labs a practitioner may consider
- TCM pulse and tongue diagnosis
- Coagulation panel, hs-CRP, iron studies (as Western correlates)
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Medical disclaimer
This page is educational only. It is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not self-treat based on the information here. If you have symptoms, consult a licensed healthcare professional.