Ligusticum chuanxiong, Chuan Xiong 川芎

Sichuan Lovage
Chuan Xiong (TCM)
Picture Picture Sichuan Lovage Chuan Xiong whole and sliced root (Adam 2017)

Botanical name:


Ligusticum chuanxiong (syn. L. wallichi, L. striatum)

Parts used:


Root

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Pungent

Classifications:


K. Medicines which Move the Blood

Uses:


1. Moves Blood and Qi, Eases Pain:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-difficult Labor; retained Lochia
-pain in the Chest, Flank or Hypochondria

2. Moves the Blood, Settles Wind, Eases Pain:
-special herb for Headache from Wind, Cold, Damp or Blood stagnation (depending on the herbs it is used with)
-Dizziness
-various types of pain associated with Wind and Blood stagnation (fixed, sharp stabbing pain)
-skin conditions associated with Wind; itchiness, dryness


Dose:


Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–2 grams, taken with wine to move the Blood

Preparation:


1. The root is usually steamed with alcohol, then dried. This makes it stronger to move the Blood.

Main Combinations:


Ligusticum Chuan Xiong is often used with Dang Gui to nourish and move the Blood. This combination is very useful for Menstrual and Gynecological disorders, as well as Headache, Anemia etc. Also for Rheumatic pain from Cold-Wind-Damp and Blood deficiency. In addition they are used for chronic wounds or ulcers from Qi and Blood stagnation with Blood stasis.

Blood, Blood Stasis
1. Nourish the Liver and Blood, and regulate Menstruation, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao and Rehmannia Shu Di Huang (as in Si Wu Tang). This is a foundation formula used in many gynecological disorders and disorders associated with Blood stasis.
2. To clear Blood stasis, to the preceding (Si Wu Tang) add Peach kernel (Tao Ren) and Safflower (Hong Hua). This moves the Blood, clears stasis, and eases pain from Blood stasis. Used for menstrual pain with clotting, and for chronic pain of a fixed, stabbing nature (blood stasis).

Obstetrics:
3. Abdominal pain during Pregnancy, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Artemisia Ai Ye (Chinese Mugwort), Licorice, Donkey-hide Glue (E Jiao). (as in Jiao Ai Tang is from Jin Gui Yao Lue [Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer])
4. Threatened Miscarriage with abdominal pain and vaginal discharge, Astragalus Huang Qi, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong cooked with glutinous rice (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
5. Postpartum stasis, with pain, combine Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Leonurus Yi Mu Cao and Peach kernel (Tao Ren).
6. Postpartum retention of Lochia, and to restore the Uterus following Childbirth, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Dang Gui, Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Stir-fried Ginger (Pao Jiang), Honey-fried Licorice root (Zhi Gan Cao) (as in Sheng Hua Tang)

Head
7. Headache:
i. general combination for Headache, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Angelica Bai Zhi
ii. Acute Wind, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng
iii. Acute Wind, with Vertigo, running nose, hoarse voice, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Schizonepeta Jing Jie, Peppermint (Bo He), Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Saposhnikovia Fang Feng and Green Tea (as in Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San)
iv. Acute Wind-Cold, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben, Angelica Bai Zhi
v. Acute Wind-Heat, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong.
vi. from Liver Heat, with Paeonia Bai Shao, Scutellaria Huang Qin, Chrysanthemum Jua Hua
vii. from Blood stagnation, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Dang Gui, Salvia Dan Shen, Safflower (Hong Hua)
8. Dizziness, Vertigo, Migraine:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with equal parts Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (as in Tian Ma Wan from Prescriptions of Universal Relief).
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Paeonia Bai Shao, Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng)
9. Insomnia with Irritability:
i. Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren with Anemarrhena Zhui Mu, Poria Fu Ling, Licorice

Other:
10. Wind-Damp joint pain, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Gastrodia Tian Ma, Notopterygium Qian Huo, Dang Gui (as in Qin Jiao Tian Ma Tang)
11. Stroke with Hemiplegia, Numbness, loss of Speech, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong with Dang Gui, Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Safflower (Hong Hua), Earthworm (Di Long), Scorpion (Quan Xie)  (as in Zhong Feng Hui Chu Wan)

Major Formulas:


Bu Gan Tang
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
Dang Gui Shao Yan San
Dang Gui Yin Zi
Die Da Wan
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Qin Jiao Tian Ma Tang
Qu Feng Zhi Bao Dan
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Shang Zhong Xia Tong Yong Tong Feng Wan
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Sheng Hua Tang
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Si Wu Tang
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Tai Shan Pan Shi San
Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang
Wen Jing Tang
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Zai Zao San

Cautions:


1. Use with caution during Pregnancy, generally not more than 3 grams in decoction.
2. Bleeding disorders; heavy Menstrual Bleeding
3. Yin deficient Fire; red tongue with dry mouth.

Drug Interactions:


1. Antagonizes Cornus Shan Zhu Yu and Astragalus Huang Qi; Counteracts Coptis Huang Lian; Incompatible with Veratrum Li Lu.
2. Use with care in people taking Warfarin and other Blood thinners.

Main Preparations used: