Source Verification
Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong), as recorded in the “Shennong Bencao Jing”, is described as: “Taste: pungent, temperature: warm. It is used for cough, calming fright, dispelling evil, detoxifying, treating ghostly ailments, eliminating three worms, and prolonged use opens the spirit.” The “Mingyi Bielu” states: “Non-toxic. It is used to eliminate cold movement in the brain and to dispel wind from the face… sudden swelling and pain, warming the interior and dispelling cold.” The “Yaoxing Fu” states: “Taste: pungent, qi: warm, non-toxic. It ascends, it is yang. Its uses are twofold: it ascends to the head and assists the clear yang qi to alleviate pain; it descends to the blood sea, nourishing new blood and regulating menstruation.” The “Bencao Gangmu” states: “Chuan Xiong is a qi medicine for the blood… it dries dampness, stops diarrhea and dysentery, and promotes qi and relieves stagnation.” The “Jingyue Quanshu” states: “Taste: slightly sweet and pungent, qi: warm, it ascends, it is yang. Its nature is good at dispersing and it travels through the liver meridian, being a blood medicine among qi.” The “Shennong Bencao Jing Du” states: “Chuan Xiong has a warm qi, entering the liver with the spring qi; its taste is pungent and non-toxic, entering the lung with the metal flavor.”
The traditional medicinal part of Chuan Xiong is the rhizome, with 75% of the fresh weight of the above-ground parts (stems and leaves) being used as medicine, which is often discarded. However, it is a wild vegetable that can be consumed by humans, possessing the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, dispelling wind and dampness, and alleviating pain.
Effects and Functions of Chuan Xiong
1. Sedative Effect
Chuan Xiong in small amounts of volatile oil has an inhibitory effect on brain activity in animals, while it excites the medulla oblongata’s respiratory center, vascular motor center, and spinal reflex center.
2. Pungent and Warming, Activating Blood and Dispelling Stasis
Chuan Xiong is pungent and warming, functioning to activate blood and dispel stasis, widely used for chest and flank pain, rheumatic pain, masses and lumps, sores and swelling, trauma pain, menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum stasis pain.
3. Pungent and Aromatic, Good at Ascending
Chuan Xiong is pungent and aromatic, good at ascending to the head, having the effect of dispelling wind and alleviating pain, making it a key herb for treating headaches, including those from colds and migraines.
4. Regulating the Nervous System
Chuan Xiong has a significant sedative effect. Chuan Xiong in small amounts of volatile oil has an inhibitory effect on brain activity in animals, while it excites the medulla oblongata’s respiratory center, vascular motor center, and spinal reflex center.
5. Enhancing Blood Circulation
Research has found that Chuan Xiong enhances blood circulation, increasing heart rate, strengthening myocardial contraction, and dilating blood vessels, with these effects increasing with dosage. Moreover, Chuan Xiong has a significant antagonistic effect against acute myocardial ischemia and hypoxia induced by Pit.
Contraindications and Dosage of Chuan Xiong“
1. Those with yin deficiency and excess fire, as well as those with excess above and deficiency below and weak qi should avoid it. As mentioned in the “Bencao Jing Shu”: For patients with excess above and deficiency below, with deficiency fire rising, vomiting, coughing, spontaneous sweating, night sweating, dry throat, thirst, irritability, these should be avoided.
2. According to the “Depei Bencao”: It is contraindicated for those with severe fire fullness, spleen deficiency with little food intake, and fire stagnation headaches.
3. According to the “Pinhui Jingyao”: Prolonged use can disperse true qi. Therefore, Chuan Xiong should not be used for long periods.
4. According to the “Bencao Mengquan”: It is incompatible with Huang Qi (Astragalus), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), and Lang Du (Wolf Poison). It is also wary of Nitrate, Talc, and Huang Lian (Coptis). It is antagonistic to Li Lu (Veratrum).
5. According to the “Bencao Congxin”: It is not suitable for those with qi rising and phlegm cough.
6. Internal use: decoction, 3-10g; powdered: 1-1.5g per dose; or in pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, powdered for sprinkling; or decoction for gargling.
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