Clearing heat and activating blood circulation (QRHX)

Clearing heat and activating blood circulation (Qingre Huoxue) is a foundational therapeutic principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rather than a single molecular target or receptor. It is a pharmacological strategy designed to address 'heat' (associated with acute inflammation, fever, and oxidative stress) and 'blood stasis' (associated with thrombosis and impaired microcirculation) simultaneously. In modern clinical research, this principle is often applied via herbal formulas that contain a mixture of flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids that exert synergistic effects on the vascular and immune systems. Rather than hitting a single protein, this approach modulates complex biological networks, particularly those involved in the cytokine storm and the coagulation cascade. It is extensively utilized in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, sepsis-induced coagulopathy, and various inflammatory dermatological conditions.

Other names

Qing-Re-Huo-XueQingre HuoxueRemoving heat and promoting blood circulationClearing heat and resolving stasisInvigorating blood and clearing heat

This strategy acts through a multi-component, multi-target mechanism that simultaneously downregulates pro-inflammatory signaling pathways (such as NF-κB and MAPK) and modulates the hemorheological system by inhibiting platelet aggregation and promoting fibrinolysis (PubMed: 30635441).