Sān Qī (三七) is the most important single herb in Chinese trauma medicine. The name means "three-seven" — a reference either to the plant's three petioles bearing seven leaflets each, or to the traditional harvesting period of three to seven years after planting. The great herbalist Lǐ Shízhēn (李时珍) called it Jīn Bù Huàn (金不换, "Not Exchanged for Gold"), signifying its irreplaceable value. It is the primary active ingredient in Yúnnán Bái Yào (云南白药), one of the most famous patent medicines in China.

Botanical name: Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H. Chen (Family: Araliaceae)

Part used: Root

Nature: Warm

Flavor: Sweet, slightly bitter

Meridians entered: Liver, Stomach

Traditional Actions

Sān Qī stops bleeding, activates blood to resolve stasis, and reduces swelling and pain. It is remarkable in that it can both stop bleeding and move stagnant blood — seemingly contradictory actions that make it uniquely suited to trauma treatment. When bleeding is active, it promotes clotting. When blood is stagnated from injury, it breaks up the stasis. This dual capacity means it addresses the full cycle of traumatic injury.

The classical text Běncǎo Gāngmù Shíyí (本草纲目拾遗) stated that Sān Qī was the most effective herb for enriching the blood, as Rénshēn was for tonifying Qì. The Bǔ Fāng Gāngmù (补方纲目) described it as the sovereign herb for treating all types of wounds.

Connection to Yúnnán Bái Yào

Sān Qī is widely recognized as the principal ingredient in Yúnnán Bái Yào (云南白药, "White Medicine of Yúnnán"), a hemostatic patent medicine developed by the physician Qū Huàngzhāng (曲焕章) in the early 1900s in Yúnnán Province. The exact formula is protected as a state secret in China. Yúnnán Bái Yào gained international recognition during the Vietnam War, when it was carried by soldiers as an emergency remedy for traumatic bleeding. It remains widely used in both human and veterinary medicine.

Relevance to Martial Arts

Sān Qī is arguably the single most important herb for martial artists. Its capacity to address both active bleeding and blood stasis makes it directly applicable to training injuries at every stage — from fresh bruises and cuts to chronic old injuries with stagnation. It is a common ingredient in Diē Dá Jiǔ (跌打酒) trauma liniments and in internal formulas for injury recovery. Practitioners engaged in conditioning training (iron palm, iron body) traditionally use Sān Qī-containing preparations to support tissue healing.

Cautions

Sān Qī should be used with caution during pregnancy. Raw Sān Qī powder is stronger for moving blood and stopping bleeding; cooked Sān Qī is milder and more nourishing. It may interact with blood-thinning medications. This article describes traditional uses and does not constitute medical advice.