Chen Shiduo's "Sanyu Zhishen Decoction" for Post-Fracture Thrombosis

Thrombosis may form after a fracture, so TCM orthopedics and traumatology in treating fracture patients often emphasize activating blood and resolving stasis (huoxue huayu).

In volume 13 of Chen Shiduo's Dongtian Aozhi (Secret Lore of the Grotto Heaven), there is a formula specifically for severe traumatic injuries, "Sanyu Zhishen Decoction" (Extremely Effective Stasis-Resolving Decoction). Its composition is: Notoginseng Radix (Sanqi) three qian, Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) no qian (i.e., an amount of no qian), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) five qian, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang) three qian, Moutan Cortex (Danpi) three qian, Aurantii Fructus (Zhiqiao) one qian, Persicae Semen (Taoren) 14 pieces, Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi) five qian, Cirsii Japonici Herba (Daji) three qian, Cirsii Herba (Xiaoji) three qian, Carthami Flos (Honghua) one qian; decoct in water and wine, half and half, to eight-tenths of a cup and take.

This formula is further annotated: if there is pain after a long time, or pain without broken skin, add Hirudo (Shuizhi), chopped into rice-sized pieces, stir-fried over a fierce flame until black, and ground into powder; decoct the above herbs, and after the decoction is ready add the Hirudo powder and swallow it.

Chen Shiduo lived in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties; according to the weights and measures of that time, one qian in this formula can be converted to 4 g today.

From the perspective of modern pharmacology, Chen Shiduo's formula is a potent blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicine with a strong thrombolytic effect, and its indication is precisely thrombosis occurring after fracture.

But the efficacy of this formula is not limited to treating post-fracture thrombosis; thrombosis caused by other diseases can also be treated with this formula.