“Chuanxiong, the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. Other names: Shan Ju Qiong, Xiang Guo, Ma Xian, Ma Xian Xiong, Xi Xiong, Guan Xiong, Hu Xiong, Que Nao Xiong, Jing Xiong, Fu Xiong, Tai Xiong. It is the dried rhizome of the plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. from the Umbelliferae family. It has the effects of invigorating blood circulation, promoting qi flow, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain. It is mainly used for chest pain due to obstruction of the heart vessels, rib pain due to liver qi stagnation, stabbing pain in the chest and ribs due to liver blood stasis, pain from falls and injuries due to blood stasis, swelling and pain from sores, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, postpartum pain due to blood stasis, retention of lochia, various types of headaches, and rheumatic pain.
Properties and Channels
Warm in nature, pungent in flavor. It enters the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium channels.
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Efficacy and Functions
Functions
Invigorates blood circulation, promotes qi flow, dispels wind, and alleviates pain.
Indications
Mainly used for chest pain due to obstruction of the heart vessels, rib pain due to liver qi stagnation, stabbing pain in the chest and ribs due to liver blood stasis, pain from falls and injuries due to blood stasis, swelling and pain from sores, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, postpartum pain due to blood stasis, retention of lochia, various types of headaches, and rheumatic pain. It belongs to the category of blood-invigorating and pain-relieving herbs.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoction, 3-10g; powdered, 1-1.5g per dose; or in pills or powders.
External use: powdered for sprinkling; or decoction for gargling.
Adverse Reactions
1. Excessive dosage or improper use of Chuanxiong can lead to toxicity.
2. Symptoms of toxicity mainly manifest as gastrointestinal symptoms and allergic reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, chest tightness, skin itching, and rashes. A very small number of women may experience early menstruation and increased menstrual flow.
3. For those experiencing nausea and vomiting, they can take Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Water. For those with rashes and allergic reactions, intramuscular injection of pheniramine or intravenous injection of calcium gluconate, or oral antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine or prednisone can be used; alternatively, a decoction of Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) 10g, Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice) 15g, and Lu Dou (Mung Bean) 30g can be taken.
Precautions
1. Caution is advised for headaches caused by excessive liver yang due to the warming and dispersing nature of Chuanxiong.
2. Its warming and drying nature may deplete blood and injure yin, so it is not suitable for those with yin deficiency and excess heat, characterized by a red tongue and dry mouth.
3. It is not suitable for women with excessive menstrual bleeding or bleeding disorders without stasis.
4. Contraindicated in pregnant women.
5. When administered intravenously, it is advisable to start with a small dose and gradually increase, as there may be allergic reactions and other side effects.
Chemical Composition
This herb contains alkaloids (such as ligustrazine), volatile oils (mainly including ligustilide and β-selinene), phenolic compounds (such as ferulic acid), lactones, as well as vitamins A, folic acid, sucrose, sterols, and fatty oils.
Pharmacological Effects
Ligustrazine can dilate coronary arteries, increase coronary blood flow, improve myocardial oxygen supply, and reduce myocardial oxygen consumption; it can also dilate cerebral blood vessels, reduce vascular resistance, significantly increase blood flow to the brain and limbs, and improve microcirculation; it can lower platelet surface activity, inhibit platelet aggregation, and prevent thrombosis; the neutral component of ferulic acid promotes uterine smooth muscle at low doses and inhibits it at high doses; the water decoction has a sedative effect on the central nervous system of animals and has a significant and lasting hypotensive effect; it can accelerate the absorption of local hematomas from fractures and promote callus formation; it has an anti-vitamin E deficiency effect; it can inhibit various bacilli; and it has antihistamine and choleretic effects.
Toxicological Effects
The LD50 of ligustrazine in mice is 239 mg/kg. Daily intravenous infusion of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg in dogs for four weeks showed that alanine aminotransferase, non-protein nitrogen in the blood, blood counts, and coagulation times remained within normal ranges. At the end of the experiment, pathological examinations of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, mesenteric lymph nodes, and adrenal glands showed no significant changes. In vitro tests on rabbit blood showed no hemolysis at 2 mg/ml of ligustrazine, and intravenous infusion of 100 mg/kg in guinea pigs also showed no hemolysis. The methanol extract of Chuanxiong (produced in Japan) showed no significant toxicity when administered orally at 6 g/kg to male Wistar rats and DDY mice, while intraperitoneal injection of the same dose showed some toxic reactions. Daily administration of 1.5 g/kg and 3 g/kg of the methanol extract to male Wistar rats for 21 days showed raised fur or salivation, slight increase in red blood cell resistance to osmotic pressure, although pathological observations showed no liver lesions, liver weight increased, liver enzyme activity was induced, and serum free cholesterol and renal cytochrome P-450 content increased.
Related Discussions
1. Zhang Jiegu: It can disperse wind from the liver channel and is a holy medicine for treating Shaoyang and Jueyin headaches and blood deficiency headaches.
2. “Essentials of Materia Medica”: Pungent and warm in nature, used in blood medicines, it can assist blood flow; however, if used excessively, it can lead to sudden death. It can stop headaches because it has excess; it can disperse insufficiency and guide clear blood downward. The ancients referred to blood and qi medicines as being in conflict, and it is precisely because it is a blood and qi medicine that it can disperse and guide blood upward. It is often used in medicines for abscesses because it enters the heart and can disperse. The heart governs qi and blood, and Chuanxiong enters the heart to assist the heart in governing qi and blood flow, thus dispersing evil qi and abscesses. Dongyuan said that it guides blood to nourish new blood, not only because it is pungent and warm, but also because it rises and disperses; blood is precious for its tranquility and not for its agitation. Chuanxiong is pungent and warm, but it can rise and disperse, thus guiding blood downward to nourish new blood. In Si Wu Decoction, it is used specifically for its pungent warmth to move blood stagnation. Is it really used as a pungent and warm dispersing medicine?
3. “Compendium of Materia Medica”: Chuanxiong is a qi medicine in the blood. The liver suffers from urgency, so it is supplemented with pungent herbs, thus it is suitable for those with blood deficiency. Pungent disperses, so it is suitable for those with qi stagnation. If blood dysentery has been resolved but pain persists, it is due to yin deficiency and qi stagnation, and adding Chuanxiong as an assistant can promote qi and regulate blood, stopping the disease immediately.
4. “Correcting Materia Medica”: Chuanxiong is good at dispersing and also travels through the liver channel, being a qi medicine in the blood. Both Chuanxiong and Gui are blood medicines, but Chuanxiong’s dispersing action is stronger than Gui’s, thus it can disperse wind and cold, treating headaches. Because it rises, it can also address bleeding and dizziness; because it is slightly sweet, it disperses excess but does not supplement deficiency. It is especially suitable for headaches caused by wind and cold. If the three yang fire is obstructed above and causes pain, rising will exacerbate it. Modern people do not understand rising and falling, and only know that Chuanxiong treats headaches, which is a serious misunderstanding.
5. “Essentials of Materia Medica”: Chuanxiong rises to the head and regulates menstruation, opens up stagnation, being a qi medicine in the blood. It has often been used with Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) not only for its blood invigorating effects but also for its qi invigorating effects. It is pungent and yang in flavor, and its qi is good at moving without any sticky stagnation. Even in the blood, it can eliminate all wind and regulate all qi. For any stagnation in the middle jiao, Chuanxiong must be used to open and elevate its qi, thus the stagnation will naturally descend.
6. “New Compilation of Materia Medica”: Chuanxiong specializes in replenishing blood and is effective for headaches. It moves blood to the blood sea, opens the liver channel, breaks up blood stasis, and promotes the generation of new blood postpartum. It can treat all types of bleeding, including hemoptysis, epistaxis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia. It can unblock blood stasis, disperse external pathogens, and relieve headache pain. This medicine can be a monarch, minister, or assistant, but it should not be used alone; it must be combined with qi and blood tonics to maximize its benefits. If used alone to replenish blood, it may cause blood movement and lead to loss. If used alone to relieve pain, it may stop the pain but lead to sudden death. If used with Ren Shen (Ginseng), Huang Qi (Astragalus), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes), and Fu Ling (Poria) to tonify qi, it may not only tonify qi but also generate blood; if used with Dang Gui, Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), and Bai Shao (White Peony) to tonify blood, it may not only generate blood but also generate essence. The concern is only when used with wind-dispersing herbs. It can be used temporarily but not continuously; in case of moderate illness, it is sufficient, so why must it be used for a long time?
7. “Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu”: Chuanxiong has a fragrant and warm nature, and its warming and dispersing properties allow it to reach everywhere. Its special strength lies in guiding the body’s clear and light qi to the brain, treating headaches caused by wind invading the head, headaches caused by floating heat rushing to the head, and headaches due to blood congestion in the brain. Its warming and dispersing power can also promote qi and invigorate blood, treating overall stiffness and women’s menstrual closure without children.
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Clinical Applications
Clinical Applications
1. For chest pain due to obstruction of the heart vessels, it is often used with Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), and Tan Xiang (Sandalwood); for rib pain due to liver qi stagnation, it is often paired with Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Bai Shao, and Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus), such as in Chai Hu Shu Gan San (“Complete Book of Jing Yue”); for liver blood stasis, accumulation of masses, and stabbing pain in the chest and ribs, it is often used with Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) and Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius), such as in Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (“Correction of Medical Errors”). For pain and swelling from falls and injuries, it can be used with Ru Xiang (Frankincense), Mo Yao (Myrrh), and San Qi (Notoginseng).
2. For blood stasis causing amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, it is often used with Chi Shao (Red Peony) and Tao Ren, such as in Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (“Correction of Medical Errors”); if it is due to cold congealing blood stasis, it can be paired with Gui Xin (Cinnamon Heart) and Dang Gui, such as in Wen Jing Tang (“Women’s Good Formula”); for postpartum retention of lochia and abdominal pain due to stasis, it can be used with Dang Gui, Tao Ren, and Pao Jiang (Ginger), such as in Sheng Hua Tang (“Fu Qing Zhu Nu Ke”); for irregular menstruation, early or delayed menstruation, it can be used with Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus) and Dang Gui, such as in Yi Mu Sheng Jin Dan (“Medical Heart Understanding”).
3. For wind-cold headaches, it can be paired with Qiang Huo (Notopterygium), Xi Xin (Asarum), and Bai Zhi (Angelica dahurica), such as in Chuanxiong Cha Tiao San (“Formulas of the Bureau of Harmonization”); for wind-heat headaches, it can be used with Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum), Shi Gao (Gypsum), and Jiang Can (Silkworm), such as in Chuanxiong San (“Health Care”); for wind-damp headaches, it can be paired with Qiang Huo, Du Huo (Angelica pubescens), and Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia divaricata), such as in Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang (“Discerning Internal and External Injuries”); for blood deficiency headaches, it can utilize this herb’s wind-dispelling and pain-relieving properties, often combined with Dang Gui and Bai Shao, such as in Jia Wei Si Wu Tang (“Golden Wing”); for blood stasis headaches, it can be used with Chi Shao and She Xiang (Musk), such as in Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang (“Correction of Medical Errors”).
Related Combinations
1. Chuanxiong combined with Wu Yao (Lindera) has a pungent, warm, and fragrant nature, capable of ascending and descending, reaching the top and descending to the blood sea, being a qi medicine in the blood, effective in invigorating blood; Wu Yao is pungent and opens, warming and dispersing, ascending to the spleen and lungs, descending to the liver and kidneys, with functions of promoting qi, dispersing cold, and alleviating pain, focusing on qi movement. Together, they achieve the effects of invigorating blood, transforming stasis, promoting qi, and alleviating pain. This combination is suitable for menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis.
2. Chuanxiong combined with Dang Gui: Chuanxiong is pungent, warm, and dry, focusing on invigorating blood and promoting qi; Dang Gui is sweet, nourishing, and slightly dispersing, moistening and oily, focusing on nourishing and harmonizing blood. Together, they achieve the effects of invigorating blood, nourishing blood, and promoting qi, while also balancing dryness and moisture, thus dispelling stasis without depleting qi and blood, nourishing blood without causing blood stagnation. This combination is suitable for blood deficiency and blood stasis headaches, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, and rheumatic pain.
3. Chuanxiong combined with Bai Shao: Chuanxiong is pungent, warm, and fragrant, invigorating blood and promoting qi, focusing on ascending and dispersing; Bai Shao is slightly bitter and sour, nourishing blood and astringing yin, focusing on gathering. Together, they balance invigorating blood and nourishing blood, promoting liver and softening the liver, thus invigorating blood and dispelling stasis without harming the righteous qi, and promoting liver and opening stagnation without damaging liver yin. This combination is suitable for irregular menstruation and amenorrhea caused by liver blood or liver yin deficiency, as well as chest and rib distension, irregular menstruation, and dysmenorrhea caused by liver qi stagnation.
Distinguishing Medicinal Use
Raw Chuanxiong vs. Wine-processed Chuanxiong: Raw Chuanxiong has a stronger pungent and fragrant nature, excelling in invigorating blood, promoting qi, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain, mainly treating various pain syndromes caused by blood stasis and qi stagnation; Wine-processed Chuanxiong can guide the medicine upward and enhances the blood-invigorating, qi-promoting, and pain-relieving effects of Chuanxiong, commonly used clinically for headaches caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis, chest and rib pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, as well as injuries and pain in muscles and bones.
Related Medicinal Products
Qing Xuan Pian (Pills), Su Xiao Jiu Xin Wan (Pills), Nao An Ke Li (Granules), Xiao Shuan Tong Luo Jiao Nang (Granules, Tablets) Kan Li Sha.
Related Formulas
① For postpartum blood stasis and abdominal pain from clots: Dang Gui 24g, Chuanxiong 9g, Tao Ren 14 pieces (peeled and pointed, ground), Hei Jiang 1.5g, Zhi Gan Cao 1.5g. Use Huang Jiu (Yellow Wine) and Tong Bian (Children’s Urine) in equal parts to decoct and take. (“Fu Qing Zhu Nu Ke” Sheng Hua Tang)
② For excessive postpartum bleeding and fainting: Chuanxiong 15g, Dang Gui 15g, Jing Jie Sui (stir-fried black) 15g, make one dose, decoct in water, and take with wine and children’s urine. (“Song’s Women’s Medicine Secretary” Chuanxiong Decoction)
③ For postpartum qi and blood deficiency, feeling wind and cold, headache with chills and fever: Dang Gui and Chuanxiong each 6g, Zi Su and Gan Cao each 3g. Chop, add three slices of ginger, and decoct. (“Medical Lantern Continuation” Jia Wei Xiong Gui Tang)
④ For migraine and headache: Gan Ju, Shi Gao, and Chuanxiong each 9g, ground into powder. Take 3g each time, mixed with tea. (“Chi Shui Xuan Zhu” Chuanxiong San)
⑤ For nasal congestion and inability to smell: Chuanxiong and Xin Yi each 30g, Xi Xin (remove sprouts and leaves) 0.9g, Mu Tong (chopped) 15g. Mix these four ingredients, pound and sieve into powder. Use a small amount wrapped in cotton to plug the nose, changing when wet. (“Sheng Ji Zong Lu” Chuanxiong San)
Dietary Therapy
Huang Qi Chuanxiong Congee:
1. Efficacy: Tonifies qi, calms the fetus, invigorates blood, and alleviates pain. Suitable for qi deficiency with fetal movement, abdominal pain, and bleeding.
2. Ingredients: Huang Qi 30g, Chuanxiong 5g, Sha Ren 5g, Sang Ji Sheng 10g, and Japonica rice 10g.
3. Method: Decoct Huang Qi, Chuanxiong, Sha Ren, and Sang Ji Sheng to extract the juice, then wash the Japonica rice and cook it with the medicinal juice until thick.
4. Usage: Take in three portions daily, warm.
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Processing and Preparation
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest in the summer of the second year after planting when the nodes on the stem are significantly prominent, in May, dig out the rhizomes, remove the stems and leaves, wash off the soil, and dry in the sun or in a drying oven, then remove the fibrous roots. The best time for harvesting is 4-5 days after the Xiaoman (Grain Full) solar term. Generally, it is harvested from Xiaoman to Mangzhong (Grain in Ear). Harvesting too early results in underdeveloped rhizomes, leading to low yield and affecting the income of farmers; harvesting too late results in overripe rhizomes that may rot underground, also leading to reduced yield and directly affecting farmers’ income. Harvest on sunny days, dig up the whole plant, remove the stems and leaves, wash off the soil, and slightly dry the rhizomes in the field before transporting them for processing.
Timely processing after harvesting is essential, generally using fire drying. The heat should not be too high, and the material should be turned over once a day during drying. After 2-3 days, when a strong fragrance is emitted, place it in a bamboo basket and shake to remove dirt and fibrous roots, thus completing the product. The drying rate is about 30-35%.
Preparation Methods
1. Chuanxiong: Take the raw material, remove impurities, separate by size, soak until partially translucent, wash clean, moisten until fully translucent, slice thinly, and dry or low-temperature dry.
2. Wine-processed Chuanxiong: Take clean Chuanxiong slices, mix with yellow wine, moisten thoroughly, and dry over low heat. For every 100 kg of Chuanxiong, use 10 kg of yellow wine.
3. Stir-fried Chuanxiong: Take clean Chuanxiong slices, place in a pan, and stir-fry until yellow or slightly charred, then cool.
4. Wheat bran stir-fried Chuanxiong: Heat the pan, sprinkle in wheat bran until it smokes, then add Chuanxiong slices and stir-fry until deep yellow, then remove, sieve out the bran, and cool. For every 100 kg of Chuanxiong slices, use 18 kg of wheat bran.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container, sealed, in a cool and dry place to prevent pests.
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Identification of Medicinal Materials
Physical Identification
The rhizome is irregularly knobby and fist-shaped, with a diameter of 1.5-7 cm. The surface is yellow-brown to yellow-brown, rough and wrinkled, with many parallel raised nodes; the top has a round-shaped depression where the stem was, and the lower side and nodes have many small tuberous root marks. It is solid and not easily broken, with a cross-section that is yellow-white or gray-yellow, showing wavy ring patterns, and scattered with yellow-brown oil spots. It has a strong and distinctive fragrance, with a bitter, pungent taste, and a slight sweetness, causing a tingling sensation on the tongue. The best quality is characterized by large, plump pieces, solid texture, yellow-white cross-section, high oil content, and strong fragrance.
Microscopic Identification
Cross-section of the rhizome: The cork layer consists of more than ten rows of cork cells. The cortex is narrow. The phloem is broad, with scattered vascular bundles. The cambium forms wavy or irregular polygons. The xylem is irregularly polygonal. The xylem vessels are polygonal or nearly round, mostly single or arranged in a “V” shape, with occasional xylem fiber bundles. The pith is relatively large. The parenchyma tissue contains numerous oil chambers, which are round, oval, or irregular, light brown, with smaller oil chambers near the cambium. The parenchyma cells are rich in starch granules, some containing calcium oxalate crystals.
Powder characteristics: Light yellow-brown or gray-brown.
① Starch granules are single, oval, elongated, round, oval, or kidney-shaped, with a diameter of 5-16 μm. They are about 21 μm long, with hilum points that are dot-like, long-slit, or cross-shaped; compound granules consist of 2-4 granules.
② Calcium oxalate crystals appear as round clusters or circular aggregates, with a diameter of 10-25 μm.
③ Cork cells are deep yellow-brown, often multilayered, with a polygonal appearance on the surface and thin walls.
④ Oil chambers are often broken, and secretory cells contain many oil droplets.
⑤ Vessels are mostly spiral vessels, with some thick-walled spiral vessels interconnected, forming a net-like structure. There are also reticulate, ladder-like, and bordered pit vessels, with a diameter of 14-50 μm.
Chemical and Physical Identification
1. Take 1 gram of powder, add petroleum ether (30-60℃) 10 ml, let it sit for 10 hours, shaking occasionally, then let it settle, take 1 ml of the supernatant, evaporate, and dissolve the residue in 1 ml of methanol. Add 2-3 drops of 2% 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid methanol solution and 2 drops of saturated potassium hydroxide methanol solution, and a red-purple color will appear. (To check for unsaturated lactones)
2. Take 0.5 grams of powder, add an appropriate amount of ether, and cold soak for 1 hour, then filter. Concentrate the filtrate to 1 ml, add 2-3 drops of 7% hydroxylamine hydrochloride methanol solution and 3 drops of 20% potassium hydroxide methanol solution, heat slightly in a water bath, cool, adjust the pH to 3-4 with dilute hydrochloric acid, and add 1-2 drops of 1% ferric chloride methanol solution, producing a purple-red color at the interface of the ether layer. (To check for coumarins and lactones)
3. Take 0.5 grams of powder, add 10 ml of water, cold soak overnight, filter. Add 1% hydrochloric acid to make it acidic, take 1 ml of the filtrate and divide it into three parts, adding bismuth iodide, potassium iodide, and silica to each, producing orange-red, white, or white flocculent precipitates.
4. Take cross-sections and observe under ultraviolet light, showing bright light purple fluorescence, while the outer skin shows dark brown fluorescence.
5. Thin-layer chromatography: Take 2 grams of powder, add 6 ml of ether, cold soak for 4 hours, filter. Concentrate the filtrate to dryness, dissolve the residue in 1 ml of chloroform to prepare the test solution. Take Chuanxiong as a control. Apply both solutions to the same aluminum oxide thin-layer plate, using petroleum ether-chloroform (1:1) as the developing agent, and develop. After drying, observe under ultraviolet light (365 nm). The test solution should show the same orange-yellow spots at the corresponding positions as the control solution.
6. Take 1 gram of powder, add 5 ml of petroleum ether (30-60℃), let it sit for 10 hours, shaking occasionally, then let it settle, take 1 ml of the supernatant, evaporate, and dissolve the residue in 1 ml of methanol. Add 2-3 drops of 2% 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid methanol solution and 2 drops of saturated potassium hydroxide methanol solution, and a red-purple color will appear.
7. Take 1 gram of powder, add 20 ml of ether, and reflux for 1 hour, filter, evaporate the filtrate, and dissolve the residue in 2 ml of ethyl acetate to prepare the test solution. Take 1 gram of Chuanxiong as a control and prepare the control solution in the same way. Perform thin-layer chromatography (Appendix VI B), taking 1-2 microliters of each solution and applying them to the same silica gel G thin-layer plate, using n-hexane-ethyl acetate (9:1) as the developing agent, developing, removing, drying, and examining under ultraviolet light (365 nm). The test solution should show the same colored fluorescent spots at the corresponding positions as the control solution.
Characteristics of Medicinal Materials
The rhizome is irregularly knobby and fist-shaped, with a diameter of 1.5-7 cm. The surface is yellow-brown to yellow-brown, rough and wrinkled, with many parallel raised nodes; the top has a round-shaped depression where the stem was, and the lower side and nodes have many small tuberous root marks. It is solid and not easily broken, with a cross-section that is yellow-white or gray-yellow, showing wavy ring patterns, and scattered with yellow-brown oil spots. It has a strong and distinctive fragrance, with a bitter, pungent taste, and a slight sweetness, causing a tingling sensation on the tongue. The best quality is characterized by large, plump pieces, solid texture, yellow-white cross-section, high oil content, and strong fragrance.
Characteristics of Slices
1. Chuanxiong: Irregular thin slices or butterfly-shaped thin slices, refer to the characteristics of medicinal materials.
2. Wine-processed Chuanxiong: The color is darker, with a slight wine fragrance.
3. Stir-fried Chuanxiong and wheat bran stir-fried Chuanxiong: Similar in shape to Chuanxiong slices, with a darker color.
Common Adulterants
Adulterated products: Mixed with mud and gelatinous substances, filling all surface pores, then sliced and dried to increase weight.
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Botanical Information
Plant Species
Chuanxiong, a plant of the Ligusticum genus in the Umbelliferae family.
Morphological Characteristics
Perennial herb, 40-70 cm tall. The whole plant has a strong fragrance. The rhizome is irregularly knobby and fist-shaped, with many fibrous roots at the lower end. The stem is upright, cylindrical, hollow, with longitudinal grooves on the surface. The lower nodes of the stem are swollen into a disc shape (commonly known as Lingzi), while the upper nodes are not swollen. The lower leaves of the stem have petioles, 3-10 cm long, with a base that expands into a sheath; the leaf blades are ovate-triangular, 12-15 cm long, 10-15 cm wide, with three to four times pinnate lobes, 4-5 pairs of ovate-lanceolate leaflets, 6-7 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, with the terminal lobes being linear-lanceolate to ovate, 2-5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, with a small pointed tip, and sparse short soft hairs only on the veins; the upper leaves of the stem gradually simplify. The compound umbel is terminal or lateral, with 3-6 linear bracts, 0.5-2.5 cm long; the umbel rays are 7-20, unequal in length, 2-4 cm long; the small umbel has 10-24 flowers; the small involucres are 2-7, linear, slightly purplish, covered with soft hairs, 3-5 mm long; the calyx teeth are undeveloped; the petals are white, obovate to oval, with short pointed protrusions at the tips, curved inward; there are 5 stamens, with pale green anthers; the style is 2, 2-3 mm long, curved downward. The immature fruit is flattened on both sides, 2-3 mm long, about 1 mm wide; the dorsal grooves contain 1-5 oil ducts, the lateral grooves contain 2-3 oil ducts, and the fused surface contains 6-8 oil ducts. The flowering period is from July to August, and the immature fruit period is from September to October.
Distribution Areas
Mainly cultivated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
Production Areas
Primarily produced in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, with Sichuan being of the highest quality.
Growing Environment
It is a well-known cultivated medicinal material, not found in the wild. Chuanxiong prefers a mild climate, abundant rainfall, sufficient sunlight, and a relatively humid environment. However, during the cultivation and storage stages, it requires cool climate conditions. The growth period is 280-290 days. In flat areas, it is best to choose deep, loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam with a rich organic matter content and neutral or slightly acidic pH.
Propagation Methods
Propagation is done using the stem nodes (Lingzi) of the above-ground stems, dividing and planting the Lingzi. Chuanxiong is propagated using stem nodes (Xiong Lingzi) as seeds. After the above-ground parts wither each year, the Chuanxiong is dug up, and the stem nodes above the roots are cut off, with each node having 1-2 buds. The amount of seeds used per hectare is about 2250 kg, while the larger rhizomes are processed into products. The seedlings are stored in a cellar and planted before the Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects) solar term, with rows spaced 20-25 cm apart and 35 cm apart, placing 1-2 seedlings per hole with the bud tips facing up, covering with 6 cm of fine soil, and applying 15,000-22,500 kg of base fertilizer per hectare.
Cultivation Techniques
1. Seedling Cultivation: Select mountainous areas above 1000 m for cultivation, and in early February, dig out the rhizomes of the flat Chuanxiong (called Fu Xiong), remove the soil, fibrous roots, or stems and leaves, and open holes according to the row and plant spacing (25-30 cm) × (15-20 cm), about 6 cm deep, placing one Fu Xiong per hole with the bud head facing up, compacting, and covering with 3 cm of soil. Use 2250-3750 kg of Fu Xiong per hectare. When the seedlings reach about 10 cm in height, thin them to leave 8-10 strong seedlings per hole, cultivate and weed 2-3 times, and apply fertilizer 1-2 times. In late July, when the stem nodes swell slightly and turn purplish, dig up the whole plant, cut off the rhizomes (for medicinal use after drying), and bundle the stems into small bundles, placing them indoors or in a cool place. In early August, cut the middle part of the stems into 3-4 cm sections for planting in flat areas.
2. Planting: In mid to late August, open trenches according to row and plant spacing (25-30 cm) × 20 cm, 2-3 cm deep, and lay the Lingzi flat in the trench with the buds facing up, covering with compost or soil manure, and then covering the surface with straw to avoid direct sunlight and rain. In cool areas, seedlings can be cultivated directly in the field using the above-ground stems harvested in mid-July, using the same method as in mountainous areas.
Site Selection and Soil Preparation
Select cool high mountains or low mountains with partial shade for cultivation. Before planting, remove all weeds, cultivate the land, and loosen the soil to a depth of 30 cm, making beds 1.5 meters wide.
For site selection and soil preparation for seedling cultivation, after selecting the site, remove all weeds, burn ash as base fertilizer, plow the land to a depth of about 25 cm, rake finely and level, and make beds 1.7-1.8 meters wide according to the terrain and drainage conditions. In flat areas, the previous crop is usually early rice (the best preceding crop is green manure such as sweet potato or purple vetch). After harvesting, remove the rice stubble, open trenches to make beds about 1.6 meters wide, with trenches about 33 cm wide and 25 cm deep, loosening the topsoil to form a fish-back shape. It is best to first apply compost or manure to the surface of the beds, mixing it with the topsoil during excavation.
Planting should be done at the right time, preferably before or around the beginning of autumn, and not later than the end of August. Planting too early can cause seedlings to wilt due to high temperatures; planting too late can be detrimental to rhizome growth due to declining temperatures. Planting should be done on sunny days, ideally finishing the planting on the same day. Before planting, remove any Chuanxiong that are budless, have damaged buds, have been eaten by insects, or have sprouted. Then, grade the Chuanxiong by size for planting. During planting, open shallow trenches on the bed surface, with a row spacing of 30-40 cm and a depth of about 3 cm. Then, place the Chuanxiong at an angle in the trench, with the bud tips facing up, pressing gently, ensuring they are not planted too deep or too shallow, with half exposed above the soil surface. Additionally, plant two Chuanxiong at each end of the rows and one row of Lingzi every ten rows for replacement seedlings. After planting, cover the stem nodes of Chuanxiong with a mixture of fine soil and manure or ash. Finally, cover the bed surface with a layer of straw to avoid direct sunlight and rain. Use 30-40 kg of Chuanxiong per mu.
Field Management
Weeding and cultivation are generally done four times. The first time is in late August after the seedlings are established, shallowly hoeing once; the second time is 20 days later, shallowly loosening the soil, being careful not to damage the roots; the third time is another 20 days later, during the peak of underground rhizome development, only weeding without cultivation; the fourth time is in mid to late January of the following year when the above-ground stems and leaves begin to wither, first clearing away the withered stems and leaves without cultivating or weeding, and mounding soil around the root markers to ensure the rhizomes safely overwinter. This mounding is referred to as “haos winter medicine” by local farmers.
Proper fertilization is crucial. In the first and second years after planting, when the above-ground stems and leaves grow vigorously, forming a certain nutritional area and producing a large amount of dry matter, nutrients can be transported to the underground rhizomes, promoting their healthy growth and development.
Therefore, within two months after planting, three concentrated fertilizations are needed, which can be combined with weeding and cultivation. The first time, apply 1000-1500 kg of livestock manure water and 25-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, diluted with three times the water, mixed evenly and applied in holes; the second time, apply 1500-2000 kg of livestock manure water and 30-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, diluted with twice the water; the third time, apply 2000-2500 kg of livestock manure water, diluted with once the water, followed by 500 kg of mixed dry fertilizer consisting of cake fertilizer, ash, compost, and soil manure, applied in holes beside the plants, covering with soil after application. This should be done before the frost descends; if done too late, the organic fertilizer will not decompose easily, and the fertilizer effect will be low. In January of the following year, during the “haos winter medicine” period, apply another round of dry manure combined with mounding, and in February and March, after the plants begin to green, apply another round of diluted livestock manure water to promote growth and increase yield.
Pest and Disease Control
Leaf blight
Occurs mainly from May to July. When the disease occurs, brown, irregular spots appear on the leaves, which then spread to the entire leaf, causing the leaves to die.
Control methods: At the initial stage of the disease, spray with 65% zinc manganese 500 times solution, or 50%退菌特1000 times solution, or 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture. Repeat every 10 days for 3-4 times.
Powdery mildew
Begins in late June and is severe during high temperatures and humidity in July, starting from the lower leaves, with gray-white powder appearing on the leaves and stems, gradually spreading upward, and later black spots appearing on the diseased parts, causing yellowing and wilting of the stems and leaves.
Control methods:
① After harvesting, clean the field, concentrating on burning the remaining diseased plants and leaves;
② At the initial stage of the disease, spray with 25% powdery mildew agent 1500 times solution, or 50%托布律1000 times solution, every 10 days for 2-3 times.
Rhizome rot
Occurs during the growing season and harvest time, with the internal rhizomes rotting to a yellow-brown, watery state, emitting a special odor, and becoming soft and rotten. After being affected during the growing season, the above-ground leaves gradually turn yellow and fall off.
Control methods:
① Immediately pull out diseased plants and burn them to prevent spread;
② Pay attention to drainage, especially during the rainy season, as excessive rain and poor drainage can lead to severe disease;
③ During harvesting and seed selection, remove any diseased “Fu Xiong” and any already rotten “Lingzi”.
Chuanxiong stem borer
During the seedling stage, spray with 80% dichlorvos 100-150 times water solution, focusing on controlling the first generation of second-instar larvae, and in plain areas, use a mixture of 5:5:100 of tobacco leaves, maple leaves, and water, soaking the Lingzi for 12-24 hours.
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