Hemostatic

Abuta’s bleeding use is traditional and mainly internal. It is the Amazonian “midwives’ herb”: the vine or root is taken to stop uterine bleeding after childbirth and for heavy menstrual bleeding and uterine hemorrhage, and Kichwa communities drink a vine-and-bark tea for heavy periods ^{1Reference 1Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

Peruvian healers toast the seeds into a tea for internal and external bleeding ^{1Reference 1Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}. In Yunnan, where it is called xi sheng teng, it is a trauma herb taken internally and applied as a powder or poultice to stop bleeding ^{2Reference 2Hu et al. · 2008Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) Forman — genus and variety description, distribution and varieties — floraView study →}.

No mechanism for this use is known, and its astringent chemistry has not been described. A dengue study found no adverse effect on platelet counts ^{3Reference 3Sood et al. · 2015In vitroCissampelos pareira Linn: Natural source of potent antiviral activity against all four dengue virus serotypes — in vitro and in vivo mouse modelView study →}.

Abuta is avoided in pregnancy except under an experienced practitioner.

In Chinese medicine huang qin, the dried root, is listed as stopping bleeding, alongside clearing heat ^{25,26,27Reference 25Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patientReference 26Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 96-98)Reference 27Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}. Its name joins “huang”, yellow, with “qin”, a herb that stops bleeding ^{28Reference 28Wang et al. · 2018ReviewA comprehensive review on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and flavonoid biosynthesis of Scutellaria baicalensisView study →}.

It is taken internally, almost always as a decoction within a formula, for conditions that include coughing up blood ^{25,29,26Reference 25Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patientReference 29Barnes et al. · 2007Herbal medicines (3rd ed.)Reference 26Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 96-98)}. The use is traditional, and no research has looked at bleeding.

The Tibetan wound use is of a different species, S. barbata, applied as juice ^{30Reference 30Buhner · 2013Herbal antivirals: Natural remedies for emerging resistant and epidemic viral infections}.

The root flavonoids act on the COX and LOX pathways, which pulls the other way.

The attribution comes from a single review, which lists hemostatic among a long run of the wood’s properties ^{16Reference 16Kaushik et al. · 2013ReviewEthnobotany and phytopharmacology of Pinus roxburghii Sargent: a plant review — reviewView study →}.

No preparation or route for bleeding is recorded, and no research has addressed bleeding.

The resin’s wound use is a separate, topical vulnerary one ^{17Reference 17Satyal et al. · 2013In vitroVolatile constituents of Pinus roxburghii from Nepal — analytical / in vitroView study →}.

Lesser periwinkle’s bleeding use is old European practice, both internal and topical, as recorded by Grieve ^{18Reference 18Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}. Culpeper wrote that periwinkle stops bleeding at the mouth and nose when chewed, and that the small periwinkle can take the place of the greater ^{18Reference 18Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

In domestic medicine a tea was drunk for bleeding and an ointment of the bruised leaves was applied to bleeding piles. A homeopathic tincture of the fresh leaves is given for internal bleeding ^{18Reference 18Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

All of the plant’s research concerns the alkaloid vincamine and its derivatives, and none of it bears on bleeding. No astringent constituent has been named.

The hemostatic use belongs to the pollen only, song hua fen, and it is topical. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists its actions as astringing and stopping bleeding, and it is dusted onto bleeding wounds and onto weeping, eroded skin ^{19Reference 19Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission · 2015ReviewChinese Pharmacopoeia Commission (2015). 松花粉 Songhuafen (Pini Pollen) — monograph: source species (Pinus massoniana, P. tabuliformis or several other pines), taste, channels, actions, indications and external use. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, 2015 ed., Vol. I, p. 205. https://www.drugfuture.com/Pharmacopoeia/CP2015-1/205-206.pdfView study →}.

Li Shizhen also recorded that it stops bleeding ^{20Reference 20Liang et al. · 2020Clinical trialThe potential effects and use of Chinese herbal medicine pine pollen (Pinus pollen): a bibliometric analysis of pharmacological and clinical studies — bibliometric review of 239 publications, inclView study →}. The 37 Chinese clinical studies of topical pollen concern bedsores, diaper dermatitis, eczema and mucositis, not bleeding ^{20Reference 20Liang et al. · 2020Clinical trialThe potential effects and use of Chinese herbal medicine pine pollen (Pinus pollen): a bibliometric analysis of pharmacological and clinical studies — bibliometric review of 239 publications, inclView study →}.

The dusting powder has not been studied at the level of a molecular target, and no bleeding outcome has been measured.

The bark and its proanthocyanidin extract do not carry this use.

Greater periwinkle was the more widely used periwinkle in European herbal medicine. It was taken internally as an astringent and tonic for menorrhagia and other bleeding, and made into an ointment for piles ^{18Reference 18Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

Its astringency is attributed to tannins, though their amount is not recorded. No study has looked at bleeding.

The research is on alkaloids, mostly from the other species, Vinca minor.

The rhizome paste is used for piles and nosebleed, and flower preparations are taken for heavy menstrual bleeding ^{21,22,23Reference 21Kumar K et al. · 2017Acute and sub-acute toxicological evaluation of lyophilized Nymphaea × rubra Roxb. ex Andrews rhizome extract — animal studyView study →Reference 22Kamdem BP et al. · 2022ReviewEthnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of the genus Nymphaea L.: a reviewView study →Reference 23Sahu A et al. · 2026Taxonomy, diversity, ethnobotany and phytochemical properties of family Nymphaeaceae Salisb. of Odisha, India — ethnobotanical surveyView study →}.

The support is ethnobotanical only. No research has measured its effect on bleeding or clotting.

Red lotus is avoided in pregnancy.

The hemostatic use belongs to the uncured root, sheng di huang, taken internally in formulas. Chinese medicine uses it as a hemostatic that removes heat from the blood, for bleeding from heat in the blood ^{24Reference 24Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy (2nd ed.)}.

The prepared root is used for metrorrhagia within its role in regulating menstruation ^{24Reference 24Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy (2nd ed.)}. No coagulation, platelet or bleeding-time work has been done, and its blood-related research covers blood formation (hematopoietic), not stopping bleeding.

Curing changes the chemistry, so uncured and prepared root are not interchangeable.

Its tannins precipitate proteins at the capillary surface, the same chemistry behind its astringent use. “Minor bleeding” appears in its pharmacopoeial indications ^{31,32Reference 31Dauer A et al. · 2003Polymeric proanthocyanidins from the bark of Hamamelis virginiana — phytochemical analysisView study →Reference 32European Medicines AgencyReviewCommunity herbal monograph on Hamamelis virginiana L., cortex / folium — regulatory monograph (traditional-use registration for minor skin inflammation, haemorrhoids and minor injury)}.

The effect is confined to superficial capillary ooze. No hemostatic study exists, and no bleeding endpoint has been measured.

Witch hazel is used topically only, with no support for internal or significant bleeding. The tannin-free retail distillate does not carry this action ^{33,34Reference 33Wójciak M et al. · 2025ReviewHamamelis virginiana L. in skin care: a review of its pharmacological properties and cosmetological applications — reviewView study →Reference 34Skowrońska W et al. · 2025In vitroChemical composition, skin microbiota metabolism, antimicrobial potential and anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel bark (Hamamelis virginiana L.) — in vitro/ex vivoView study →}.