Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong)
Properties: Spicy, Warm
Meridians: Liver, Gallbladder
Functions: Nourishes blood, invigorates blood circulation, regulates Qi, dispels wind and alleviates pain, resolves abscesses and detoxifies
Indications: Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, difficult labor, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis. Wind-cold headache, dizziness, pain in the chest, hypochondria, and abdominal area, cold bi syndrome with muscle spasms, hemiplegia, malaria, carbuncles, and skin lesions.
Clinical Applications
1. Chuan Xiong is a Qi herb that moves through the blood; it is spicy and warm, promoting movement without stagnation. It can be used for any condition where blood stagnation and Qi obstruction occur, applicable in gynecological disorders.
2. Chuan Xiong can relieve stagnation and is effective in soothing the liver. It is often combined with Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Xiang Fu (Cyperus), Bai Shao (White Peony), and Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange) to treat liver Qi stagnation in gynecological conditions, as seen in formulas like Chai Hu Shu Gan San.
3. Chuan Xiong is a specific remedy for headaches, used with Man Jing Zi (Vitex), Xi Xin (Asarum), and Fang Feng (Siler) for wind-cold headaches; with Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum) and Shi Gao (Gypsum) for wind-heat headaches; with Dang Gui (Angelica) and Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berry) for blood deficiency headaches; with Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia Flower), Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica), and Jie Geng (Platycodon) for nasal congestion; and with Xi Xin (Asarum), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), and Bu Guo Zhi (Psoralea) for toothaches.
4. For bi syndrome in the limbs caused by wind-damp obstruction, it can be combined with Fang Feng and Du Huo, as in the San Bi Tang formula.
