Chuanxiong
(Xiong, Hu, Xiangguo, Shanjuqiong)
Chuanxiong refers to the dried rhizome of the plant Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong), which is primarily 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 belongs to the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium meridians. Its effects include invigorating blood circulation, promoting qi flow, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain. Clinical names include Chuanxiong and Jiu Chuanxiong.
【Materia Medica Overview】
According to the “Shennong Bencao Jing”: Xiong, with a pungent taste and warm nature, 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 grows in the Chuan Valley.
According to “Wupu”: Xiong (also referred to as Xiangguo in the “Yulan”), is described by Shennong, Huangdi, Qibo, and Leigong as pungent and non-toxic; Bianque describes it as sour and non-toxic; Li’s description states it is warm when fresh and cold when cooked, and it can grow in Hu Wutao Mountain or Taishan (the “Yulan” states it can also grow in Xiegu West Ridge or Taishan). The leaves are fragrant, dark green, and the stems are red in winter and summer, with red flowers in May and black fruits in July. The stem ends have two leaves, and the roots have nodes resembling horse bits.
According to “Mingyi”: 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 and dried.
According to “Shuowen”: it states that the plant is fragrant. Xiong, as described by Sima Xiangru, may derive from the bow; the “Spring and Autumn Zuo Zhuan” mentions the existence of Shanjuqiong. Du Yu states that Juqiong is used to ward off dampness. The “Western Mountain Classic” mentions that the mountain has many Xiong. Guo Pu states that 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). The “Sima Xiangru Fu” mentions Xiong. Sima Zhen cites Sima Biao stating that Xiong resembles the root; Guo Pu states that today in Liyang it is called 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 pain, and lateral 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 pain, and 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 conditions. 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, brain abscesses, furuncles, goiter, sores, and pus discharge, and resolves blood stasis.
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 pain, and 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 states: 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. Also, the wife of the court official Zhang Zitong suffered from wind stroke and took Chuanxiong for a long time, also dying suddenly. These are all witnessed cases. This is likely due to prolonged use alone, which disperses the true qi. If combined with other herbs, it should not be taken for long; if the condition improves, it should 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 whose fetus does not move 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 in nature, has a pungent taste, is pure 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 warm nature. It enters the liver and lung meridians.
It disperses sores and 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 a holy medicine for nourishing blood and treating blood deficiency headaches. For pregnant women whose fetus does not move 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, compared to the dangers of Chuanxiong, which is superior? Consider this. If taken alone for too long, it will disperse the true qi, leading to sudden death; it is essential to combine it with other herbs, and if the condition improves, it should be stopped.
According to “Bencao Mengquan”: it has a pungent taste and warm nature. It is a yang herb. It is non-toxic. Its function specializes in treating unilateral headaches. Tai Xiong is produced in Taizhou, Zhejiang. It disperses wind and removes dampness; Fu Xiong is produced in Fuzhou, Jiangxi. It opens the chest and relieves depression. 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, Shilao, and Huanglian. It should be combined with Baizhi. It is a hand Shaoyang meridian herb and also enters the hand and foot Jueyin meridians. It can be combined with Shengma to uplift qi and blood. It alleviates headaches in the meridian, especially blood deficiency headaches; it is also suitable for other types of headaches, and should be combined with guiding herbs. It disperses wind from the liver meridian and is essential for treating wind in the head and face. It ascends to the head and descends to the blood sea. It is a qi herb in the blood. It treats all blood conditions, breaks up stagnant blood, nourishes new blood, and treats nosebleeds, hematuria, and women’s blood stasis leading to infertility; it treats all qi conditions, expels abdominal gas, and alleviates various gas-related pains, including phlegm, gas, and hernia, and sudden pain from evil qi. It expels pus, resolves blood stasis, and promotes flesh growth. It also has external applications; it warms the interior, dries dampness, and disperses cold, specifically targeting external pathogens. When combined with oyster, it treats headaches and dizziness; when combined with Xixin, it treats traumatic pain and groaning. When combined with Shengdihuang wine decoction, it prevents excessive menstruation; when using Chen Ai decoction to adjust the powder, it tests for pregnancy. For women who have missed their period for three to four months, taking this herb will cause movement in the abdomen, indicating pregnancy; otherwise, it indicates illness. Precautions must be noted: prolonged use alone can disperse true qi, leading to sudden death; it is essential to combine it with other herbs.
According to the “Bencao Zongyao”: it nourishes blood, removes stasis, moistens dryness, disperses, and promotes qi. It has a pungent and warm nature. It is a Shaoyang guiding herb. It enters the hand and foot Jueyin meridians (heart, pericardium, liver). It is a qi herb in the blood, assisting in the elevation of clear yang and opening various blockages.
According to the “Depei Bencao”: Baizhi is used as a guide. It is afraid of Huanglian. It has a pungent taste and warm nature. It enters the hand and foot Jueyin meridians, being a qi herb in the blood. It ascends to the head and descends to the blood sea. It disperses wind and cold, treats headaches, breaks up stasis, regulates the menstrual cycle, and treats cold bi syndrome, muscle spasms, excessive tearing, and various conditions of damp heat. It is effective for treating blood stasis and pain, and for alleviating various conditions of qi stagnation. It is also effective for treating postpartum headaches. It is essential to combine it with other herbs to avoid adverse effects. Prolonged use can lead to liver wood being harmed by metal qi. Its pungent nature returns to the lung, leading to lung qi dominance, which can harm the liver, and prolonged use can lead to sudden death. It is contraindicated for conditions of qi elevation, phlegm, and cough, and for those with weak qi.
Strange symptoms: After childbirth, if the breasts suddenly swell, becoming small and hanging over the abdomen, causing unbearable pain, it is called “milk suspension”. Combine Chuanxiong and Danggui, each weighing one jin, and grind them into a fine powder. Use water to make a concentrated decoction and take it frequently. If it does not improve, prepare another batch. Additionally, apply a single castor seed to the top of the head.
According to “Jingyue Quanshu”: it has a slightly sweet and pungent taste, is warm, and ascends. Its nature is good at dispersing and also travels through the liver meridian, being a qi herb in the blood. It is incompatible with Nizhu. It is afraid of Shilao, Huanglian, and Nizhu due to their cold nature, which can suppress its ascending and dispersing properties. Both Xiong and Danggui belong to blood herbs, but Xiong’s dispersing and moving properties are more pronounced than Danggui’s, thus it can disperse wind and cold, treat headaches, break up stasis, open blood vessels, relieve pain, expel pus, and reduce swelling. When combined with Xixin, it treats traumatic pain. When combined with Chen Ai, it tests for pregnancy. It is effective for treating excessive menstruation and dizziness; its sweet taste is less pronounced, so while it disperses, it does not provide sufficient nourishment. It is particularly suitable for treating wind-cold headaches, but if there is excessive yang heat, it can exacerbate the condition. Modern practitioners often overlook the importance of the ascending and descending properties of Chuanxiong, leading to misconceptions about its use for headaches. Prolonged use can lead to depletion of true qi, resulting in sudden death; users should be aware of this.
According to “Yaoxing Jie”: Chuanxiong has a pungent and sweet taste, is warm, and non-toxic, entering the liver meridian. It ascends to the head, drawing clear yang to alleviate pain; it descends to the blood sea, nourishing new blood to regulate menstruation. Prolonged use can lead to sudden death. Baizhi is used as a guide, and it is afraid of Huanglian. The smaller variety is called Fu Xiong, which specializes in relieving depression.
According to “Bencao Gangmu Shiyi”: it is pungent and warm, and non-toxic. According to Fengyuan, it is the most ascending and dispersing, specializing in relieving depression and opening the chest. If there is stagnation in the middle jiao, it must be opened and elevated to relieve the qi. It resolves all blockages and is essential for balancing yin and yang; without Chuanxiong, it cannot achieve this effect. If blood dysentery has been resolved but pain persists, it indicates yin deficiency and qi stagnation. To assist the clear yang and promote qi flow, Chuanxiong is indispensable. However, prolonged use can lead to depletion of true qi, resulting in sudden death. If combined appropriately, there will be no harm.
According to “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu”: it has a pungent, slightly bitter, and slightly sweet taste, with a fragrant aroma, and a warm nature. Its warming and dispersing properties allow it to ascend, descend, and penetrate both externally and internally. Therefore, many materia medica texts state that it can disperse true qi, but all herbs have both benefits and drawbacks, depending on how they are used. Its particular strength lies in its ability to draw the body’s clear and light qi to the head, treating headaches caused by wind invading the head, headaches from excessive heat rising to the head, and headaches from blood congestion in the brain. Its warming and dispersing properties can also activate qi and blood, treating overall stiffness, and is effective for women with menstrual irregularities and infertility. Although it is classified as a dispersing herb, its slightly sweet taste and moisture content allow it to also nourish blood when used appropriately. In the Four Substances Decoction, Chuanxiong is used to promote the movement of Dihuang’s stagnation, and it is effective for treating cold and heat conditions. However, if the individual has yin deficiency and heat rising, leading to sweating, Chuanxiong is not suitable for use.
According to “Yinpi Xin Can”: it is yellowish-white in color, solid in shape, and has no holes. Its taste is pungent, fragrant, and slightly bitter. Its functions include activating blood, dispelling wind, alleviating pain, and regulating menstruation. The dosage ranges from five fen to one qian. It is used raw. Contraindications include blood deficiency and internal heat.
According to “Yao Zheng”: in the prescriptions of Zhang Zhongjing, the use of Danggui and Chuanxiong is essential for treating blood conditions. However, it is not advisable to use them indiscriminately, as this can lead to adverse effects.
Identifying errors: Materia medica states that Danggui and Chuanxiong are used to treat blood conditions, but many prescriptions do not include these two herbs. Other prescriptions for different conditions may also include these two herbs, such as Buntun Decoction, Danggui Lamb Soup, and Suanzaoren Decoction. Therefore, it cannot be generalized that they are solely blood tonics.
Evaluating quality: Danggui is produced in Jiangzhou, Yifang Mountain. Its taste is pungent, similar to that produced in Han soil. However, the taste of the Danggui produced in Hezhou is sweet, as it is cultivated in manure, and should not be used. Sun Simiao stated that if Danggui is unavailable, Chuanxiong can be used as a substitute. Testing the taste of Hezhou Danggui reveals a significant difference from Chuanxiong. Yifang Danggui is similar, which is why it is used.
【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.
Currently, it is primarily produced in Liyang, with large nodes and thin stems, resembling horse bits, referred to as “Horse Bit Xiong”. It is also found in Sichuan, but is thinner. People suffering from gum bleeding can benefit from chewing it. The seedlings are called Miwu and are also used medicinally, as mentioned below. The location of Wugong is two hundred li 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 Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong). It is best harvested four to five days after the Xiaoman solar term for plains cultivation, while mountain cultivation is typically harvested in August and September. The rhizomes 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, primarily cultivated in Sichuan (Guangxian, Chongqing). Yunnan also produces it, referred to as “Yunxiong”.
【Processing】
According to “Zhongyao Dacidian”: Chuanxiong: remove impurities, separate large and small pieces, soak in water, dry, and then slice and dry. Jiu Chuanxiong: take Chuanxiong slices and spray evenly with yellow wine, slightly dampen, and stir-fry until slightly charred, then cool (for every 100 jin of Chuanxiong slices, use 12 jin and 8 taels of yellow wine).
【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 in dogs.
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. Chuanxiong water extract and alkaloids can both dilate coronary arteries and increase coronary blood flow, improving 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 by Tang Peng)
(Proofread by Xiao K)
(Media by Quansijie)
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