Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuanxiong)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Radix Chuanxiong |
| Botanical Name: | Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort. |
| Common Name: | Chuanxiong Rhizome Szechuan Lovage Root |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The rhizomes are dug in late May. The fibrous roots are soaked and cut into slices are dug in late May. |
| Properties and Taste: | Pungent and warm |
| Meridian: | Liver, gall bladder, and pericardium |
| Functions: | To invigorate blood and promote qi circulation To expel wind and stop pain |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Blood and qi stagnation: a) Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea. *Use with Chinese angelica root (Danggui), Red peony (Chishao), Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu) and Motherwort (Yimucao). b) Difficult labor. *Use with Cyathula root (Niuxi) and Tortoise plastron (Guiban). c) Postpartum abdominal pain. *Use with Motherwort (Yimucao), Peach seed (Taoren) and Safflower (Honghua). d) Hypochondric pain. *Use with Bupleurum root (Chaihu), Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu) and Curcuma root (Yujin). e) Numbness of the limbs. *Use with Red peony (Chishao), Earthworm (Dilong) and Spatholobus stem (Jixueteng). 2. Headache: a) Wind-cold headache. *Use with Dahurian angelica root (Baizhi) and Asarum herb (Xixin) in the formula Chuanxiong Cha Tiao San. b) Wind-heat headache. *Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua), Gypsum (Shigao) and White-stiff silkworm (Baijiangcan) in the Formula Chuanxiong San. c) Wind-damp headache. *Use with Notopterygium root (Qianghuo), Ligusticum root (Gaoben) and Ledebouriella (Fangfeng) in the formula Qianghuo Shengshi Tang. d) Headache due to blood stagnation. *Use with Red peony (Chishao), Red sage root (Danshen) and Safflower (Honghua). e) Headache due to deficient blood. *Use with Chinese angelica root (Danggui) and White peony root (Baishao). 3. Wind-damp obstruction syndrome (painful joint). *Use with Notopterygium root (Qianghuo), Pubescent angelica root (Duhuo), Ledebouriella (Fangfeng) and Mulberry twigs (Sangzhi). |
| Dosage: | 3-10 g |
| Cautions: | This herb is contraindicated during hemorrhagic diseases and during profuse menstrual flow. |