Pregnant woman bleeding for 12 days — which herb to use?

• A. Bai Shao
• B. Dang Gui
• C. Gui Zhi
• D. Xian He Cao

Answer: (D)

The key idea is to choose an herb that directly stops bleeding, especially in a pregnant patient, without promoting uterine activity or depleting necessary energy.

Xian He Cao acts as an astringent and hemostatic, helping to arrest vaginal bleeding and stabilize the pregnancy. It specifically targets the leakage of Blood and is well indicated for gynecological bleeding, including scenarios resembling threatened abortion.

In contrast, Bai Shao nourishes Blood and preserves Yin but doesn’t rapidly stop active hemorrhage. Dang Gui invigorates Blood and moves Blood, which can be risky in pregnancy by potentially promoting contractions or disturbing the pregnancy. Gui Zhi is warming and releases the exterior, not useful for stopping internal bleeding.

So the best choice for stopping the bleeding in this pregnancy scenario is Xian He Cao.