Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong)
(Xiong, Hu, Xiangguo, Shanjuqiong)
Chuanxiong is the dried rhizome of the plant Ligusticum Chuanxiong, belonging to the Umbelliferae family. It is mainly cultivated in Sichuan Province, as well as in Guizhou, Yunnan, and Shaanxi. The original plant prefers a warm climate with abundant rainfall and sufficient sunlight, is somewhat drought-resistant, but is sensitive to shade and waterlogging. It grows best in deep, well-drained, neutral to acidic sandy loam. Its taste is pungent and its nature is warm. It enters the Liver (Gan), Gallbladder (Dan), and Pericardium (Xinbao) meridians. Its functions include invigorating blood circulation, promoting qi flow, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain. Clinical names include Chuanxiong and Jiu Chuanxiong.
【Bencao Huiyan】
According to the “Shennong Bencao Jing”: Xiong, with a pungent taste, is warm. It is indicated for wind stroke entering the brain, headaches, cold bi syndrome, muscle spasms, acute pain, traumatic injuries, and women’s blood stasis leading to infertility. It is harvested in the Chuan Valley.
“Wupu” states: Xiong (also referred to as Xiangguo), according to Shennong, Huangdi, Qibo, and Leigong: pungent, non-toxic; Bianque: sour, non-toxic; Li’s: raw is warm, cooked is cold; it can be found in Hu Wutao Mountain or Taishan (as noted in “Yulan”, it can also be found in Xiegu West Ridge or Taishan). The leaves are fragrant, dark green, and the flowers bloom red in May, with black fruits in July. The stem has leaves at both ends, and the roots have nodes resembling horse bits.
“Mingyi” states: it is also known as Hu and Xiangguo. Its leaves are called Miwu. It grows in the western ridge of Wugong, and the roots are harvested in March and April, then dried in the sun.
According to “Shuowen”: the term “Jian” refers to fragrant herbs. Xiong, as Sima Xiangru said, may derive from the bow; “Chunqiu Zuozhuan” mentions the existence of Shanjuqiong. Du Yu states that Juqiong is used to ward off dampness. “Xishan Jing” states: there are many Xiong herbs on the mountain. Guo Pu states: Xiong is also known as Jiangli.
According to “Fanzi Jiran”: Xiong grows in the beginning without, and the withered ones are good (with a missing character). “Sima Xiangru Fu” mentions Xiong. Sima Zhen cites Sima Biao stating that Xiong resembles the root; Guo Pu states that today Liyang calls it Jiangli.
According to “Bencao Jing Jizhu”: it has a pungent taste, is warm, and non-toxic. It is indicated for wind stroke entering the brain, headaches, cold bi syndrome, muscle spasms, traumatic injuries, and women’s blood stasis leading to infertility. It eliminates cold movement in the brain, alleviates facial wind, excessive tearing, and sudden dizziness, and treats various cold conditions, abdominal pain, sudden swelling, and side wind pain, warming the interior and dispelling cold.
According to “Mingyi Bielu”: it is non-toxic. It is indicated for eliminating cold movement in the brain, alleviating facial wind, excessive tearing, and sudden dizziness, and treats various cold conditions, abdominal pain, sudden swelling, and side wind pain, warming the interior and dispelling cold.
According to “Yaoxing Lun”: it can treat weakness in the waist and legs, hemiplegia, and assist in childbirth.
According to “Rihua Zi Bencao”: it is afraid of Huanglian. It treats all types of wind, qi, fatigue, and blood issues. It nourishes the five fatigues, strengthens muscles and bones, regulates various pulses, breaks up stagnant blood, nourishes new blood, promotes flesh growth, and treats nosebleeds, hematuria, hemorrhoids, abscesses, and pus discharge.
According to “Kaibao Bencao”: it has a pungent taste, is warm, and non-toxic. It eliminates cold movement in the brain, alleviates facial wind, excessive tearing, and sudden dizziness, and treats various cold conditions, abdominal pain, sudden swelling, and side wind pain, warming the interior and dispelling cold.
According to “Bencao Tujing”: it is effective when combined with honey in large pills, taken at night, for treating wind phlegm.
According to “Bencao Yanyi”: this herb is widely used today, especially for wind in the head and face, but it must be combined with other herbs. Shen Kuo stated: I had a relative who used Chuanxiong for a long time, and the doctor Zheng Shuxiong warned that Chuanxiong should not be taken for long, as it can lead to sudden death. Later, the relative died without illness. Another case involved Zhang Zitong’s wife, who suffered from wind stroke and took Chuanxiong for a long time, also dying suddenly. These are all observed cases. This is likely due to prolonged use alone, which disperses true qi. If combined with other herbs, it should not be taken for long; if the condition improves, it can be stopped.
According to “Zhenzhu Nang”: it disperses wind from the liver meridian and treats Shaoyang meridian headaches.
According to “Yaolei Faxiang”: it nourishes blood and is a holy medicine for treating blood deficiency headaches. For pregnant women with fetal movement issues for several months, add Danggui, with each herb weighing 1.5 qian or 2 qian, boil with two cups of water until reduced to one cup, and take it for miraculous effects.
According to “Tangye Bencao”: it is warm, has a pungent taste, is purely yang, and is non-toxic. It enters the hand and foot Jueyin meridians and is a fundamental medicinal herb.
According to “Diannan Bencao”: it is commonly known as celery. Chuan refers to Chuanxiong, and Li refers to Lixiong. It has a pungent taste and is warm. It enters the Liver and Lung meridians.
It disperses abscesses, attacks toxic sores, treats damp-heat, alleviates headaches, and dispels wind. In Yunnan, it is used as a vegetable, but consuming it can cause illness. Celery can be cooked with snail eggs; if snail eggs are unavailable, using snail tails is also acceptable, and it can be added to pepper.
According to “Bencao Huifai”: it is said that it nourishes blood and is a holy medicine for treating blood deficiency headaches. For pregnant women with fetal movement issues for several months, add Danggui, with each herb weighing 2 qian, boil with two cups of water until reduced to one cup, and take it for miraculous effects.
According to “Bencao Yanyi Supplement”: prolonged use can lead to qi depletion due to its pungent and warm nature. The “Jufang” states that using fragrant herbs like Chen, She, Tan, Nao, Ding, and Gui in decoctions is preferable to the dangers of Chuanxiong. Consider this: if used alone for too long, it can disperse true qi, leading to sudden death; even if combined with other herbs, it should not be taken for long, as it can lead to adverse effects.
According to “Bencao Mengquan”: it has a pungent taste and warm qi. It is a yang herb. It is non-toxic and specializes in treating unilateral headaches. Tai Xiong is from Taizhou, Zhejiang. It disperses wind and removes dampness; it opens the chest and relieves pressure. Other varieties are not suitable for medicinal use, but can be used for bathing. It is incompatible with Huangqi, Shanzhuyu, and Langdu, and should not be combined with Nizhu, as it can be harmful.
According to “Bencao Chengya”: Chuanxiong has a warm qi and is pungent. It is non-toxic and enters the Liver meridian, acting as a blood-moving herb. It is effective for treating wind stroke entering the brain, headaches, cold bi syndrome, muscle spasms, traumatic injuries, and women’s blood stasis leading to infertility.
According to “Bencao Gengmu”: Chuanxiong is a blood-moving herb. It is indicated for liver qi stagnation, as it disperses and invigorates blood. It is effective for treating wind stroke, headaches, and various blood-related conditions.
According to “Bencao Xinjian”: Chuanxiong has a pungent taste, is warm, and is non-toxic. It enters the hand and foot Jueyin meridians. Its primary function is to nourish blood. It treats headaches effectively, invigorates blood circulation, opens the Liver meridian, breaks up stagnant blood, and promotes the production of new blood. It is effective for treating hemoptysis, epistaxis, hematuria, hematochezia, and menorrhagia, and can also treat blood stasis.
According to “Bencao Bian”: it has a pungent taste and is warm. It enters the heart, liver, and gallbladder meridians. It nourishes the liver and alleviates dryness, and is a blood-moving herb. It promotes the upward movement of clear yang and opens various blockages, disperses wind, stops pain, and regulates menstruation.
According to “Bencao Zeyao Gangmu”: it is pungent and warm, and non-toxic. It is a floating and ascending herb. It is a key herb for treating wind stroke entering the brain, facial wind, and all types of qi and blood issues. It breaks up stagnant blood, nourishes new blood, and promotes flesh growth, and is effective for treating abscesses and pus discharge. It is essential for treating various blockages and is the only herb that can effectively treat blood stasis.
According to “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu”: it has a pungent, slightly bitter, and slightly sweet taste, with a fragrant aroma. Its nature is warm. It is effective for treating headaches caused by wind invasion, and it can also invigorate blood circulation and alleviate various conditions related to blood stasis.
According to “Yinpi Xincan”: it is yellowish-white, solid, and without holes. Its taste is pungent, fragrant, and slightly bitter. Its functions include invigorating blood circulation, dispelling wind, stopping pain, and regulating menstruation. The dosage ranges from 5 fen to 1 qian. It is used raw and is contraindicated for those with blood deficiency and internal heat.
According to “Yao Zheng”: in Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas, the use of Danggui and Chuanxiong is essential for treating blood-related conditions. However, it is important to note that not all formulas for treating blood conditions include these two herbs, as they are also used in formulas for other conditions, such as Bentun Decoction and Danggui Lamb Soup.
【Source and Production Area】
According to “Bencao Jing Jizhu” by Tao Hongjing, it grows in the western ridge of Wugong. The roots are harvested in March and April and dried in the sun.
Currently, it is mainly produced in Liyang, with large nodes and thin stems, resembling horse bits, referred to as Ma Xian Xiong. It is also found in Sichuan, where it is finer. People suffering from gum bleeding can benefit from chewing it. The seedlings are called Miwu and are also used medicinally, as mentioned below. It is said that Wugong is 200 li away from Chang’an, located to the west of Chang’an, near Fufeng and Didao.
According to “Zhongyao Dacidian”: it is the rhizome of the plant Ligusticum Chuanxiong from the Umbelliferae family. It is best harvested 4-5 days after the Xiaoman solar term for plain cultivation, while mountain cultivation is usually harvested in August and September. The roots are dug up, cleaned of leaves and soil, washed, dried, or baked, and then the fibrous roots are removed.
It is distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, mainly produced in Sichuan (Guangxian, Chongqing). Yunnan also produces it, known as “Yunxiong”.
【Preparation】
According to “Zhongyao Dacidian”: Chuanxiong is sorted to remove impurities, separated into large and small pieces, soaked in water, dried, and then sliced and dried.
Jiu Chuanxiong is prepared by spraying Huangjiu evenly on Chuanxiong slices, slightly soaking, and then frying until slightly charred (for every 100 jin of Chuanxiong slices, use 12 jin and 8 liang of Huangjiu).
【Modern Pharmacological Research】
1. Chuanxiongzine can significantly promote the dissolution of red blood clots and reduce the growth trend of white blood clots, and it also inhibits thrombus formation in vitro.
2. A dosage of 20-30g/kg of Chuanxiong decoction can increase the amplitude of cardiac contraction; a dosage of 40g/kg can cause cardiac arrest. A dosage of 1.24mg/kg of Chuanxiongzine can enhance myocardial contraction; administering 1mg/kg•min-1 can enhance both myocardial contraction and relaxation.
3. Chuanxiong water extract, alkaloids, Chuanxiongzine, and phenolic substances can counteract ischemic changes in the heart caused by posterior pituitary hormones.
4. Chuanxiongzine can counteract arrhythmias. Both Chuanxiong water extract and alkaloids can dilate coronary arteries, increase coronary blood flow, and improve myocardial hypoxia.
5. Chuanxiongzine can dilate peripheral blood vessels and significantly improve microcirculation disorders. Chuanxiong extract, ethanol extract, and alkaloids have significant and lasting hypotensive effects.
6. Chuanxiongzine has inhibitory effects on various smooth muscle spasms and edema.
7. Chuanxiong has certain preventive and therapeutic effects on experimental glomerulonephritis.
8. Chuanxiong has significant sedative effects.
9. Chuanxiong extract can effectively contract the uterus; Chuanxiong water-soluble preparations can counteract various radiations. Chuanxiongzine can also counteract tumor metastasis; it inhibits acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Chuanxiong promotes the healing of fractures and the absorption of hematomas, and it can enhance immune function.
(Compiled and edited by Tang Peng)
(Reviewed and proofread by Pei Zikai)
(Media editor: Quan Sijie)
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