What Chinese herbs can help heal bone fractures quickly?
After a fracture, traditional Chinese medicines such as *Drynariae Rhizoma* (Gusuibu), *Dipsaci Radix* (Xuduan), *Angelica sinensis* (Danggui), *Carthami Flos* (Honghua), and *Pyritum* (Ziran Tong) may be used under medical guidance to promote healing. These herbs aid callus formation by promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, strengthening the kidneys, reinforcing bones, and reducing swelling and pain. However, they must be prescribed according to individual syndrome differentiation.
If severe pain, increased swelling, or abnormal movement occurs after a fracture, prompt medical evaluation is recommended to clarify the fracture status.
1. Drynariae Rhizoma (Gusuibu): Warm in nature and bitter in taste, it tonifies the kidneys, strengthens bones, mends injuries, and relieves pain. It promotes callus growth and enhances bone resilience, making it suitable for tendon and bone repair during the middle and late stages of fracture recovery. It is often combined with Xuduan to enhance bone-healing effects and alleviate soreness and weakness at the fracture site.
2. Dipsaci Radix (Xuduan): Slightly warm in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, it excels at tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening tendons and bones, and healing fractures. It accelerates blood circulation at the fracture site, promoting tissue repair, and supports bone and tendon healing throughout the recovery period. It is appropriate for regulation during all stages of fracture healing.
3. Angelica sinensis (Danggui): Warm in nature, sweet and pungent in taste, it nourishes and activates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, and alleviates pain. It helps resolve blood stasis at the fracture site, reduces swelling and pain, and provides essential qi and blood support for bone repair, preventing delayed healing due to blood stagnation.
4. Carthami Flos (Honghua): Warm in nature and pungent in taste, it invigorates blood circulation, unblocks meridians, disperses blood stasis, and relieves pain. It is particularly effective for treating swelling and bruising in the early stage of fracture by promoting the dissipation of stagnant blood, reducing local pain and inflammation, and creating favorable conditions for subsequent callus formation. Dosage should be carefully controlled to avoid excessive use.
5. Pyritum (Ziran Tong): Neutral in nature and pungent in taste, it effectively disperses blood stasis, relieves pain, promotes bone union, and treats traumatic injuries. It facilitates calcium deposition at the fracture ends and accelerates callus formation, making it ideal for the mid-phase of fracture healing when reconnecting bones and tendons. It is commonly used in combination with other herbs to enhance therapeutic effects and must be processed before use to reduce irritation.
Fracture-healing herbal formulas should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner following proper syndrome differentiation; self-medication should be avoided. During the initial phase of fracture, a light diet is recommended. In the middle and later stages, adequate intake of calcium and protein should be ensured. Appropriate rehabilitation exercises are also important to prevent muscle atrophy from prolonged bed rest and to support overall bone recovery.
