The present inventions includes a plurality of packed particles that contain interstitial pores, where the interstitial pores have a pore volume and a median pore diameter effective to provide improved absorption of physiological fluids or an aqueous media when placed in contact therewith, compared to a plurality of unpacked particles of the same material, where the particles are made of a biocompatible material and hemostatic agents and have an average diameter suitable for use in providing hemostasis to a site of a body of a mammal requiring hemostasis, hemostatic compositions containing such plurality of packed particles, methods of making such particles and compositions and medical devices suitable for delivering and containing the hemostatic plurality of particles and/or composition to a site of a body.
