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Chuanxiong (川芎)
Scientific Name:Ligusticum chuanxiong hort, a cultivated plant primarily produced in Sichuan (Guangxian), and also found in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, growing in a mild climate. It is atraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb commonly used foractivating blood circulation,promoting qi flow,dispelling wind, and relieving pain. Chuanxiong is pungent, warm, and aromatic, capable of dispersing and ascending; it can reach the top of the head and also enter the blood, descending to the blood sea. Its blood-activating and stasis-dispelling effects are extensive, suitable for various conditions of blood stasis; it can treat headaches, wind-cold headaches, and rheumatic pain. Ancient texts referred to Chuanxiong as a “qi herb in the blood,” indicating its functions of dispersing, relieving depression, promoting circulation, and alleviating pain.
Efficacy
Efficacy and Functions:
Promotes qi flow and relieves stagnation, dispels wind and dampness, activates blood and alleviates pain. Treats wind-cold headaches, dizziness, flank pain, abdominal pain, cold bi syndrome, menstrual disorders, difficult labor, postpartum stasis and pain, and abscesses.
Contraindications:
In terms of diet and population, patients with wind-cold headaches, wind-heat headaches, migraines, and vascular headaches are suitable for consumption. However, those with hypertensive headaches, brain tumors, liver fire headaches, and those with yin deficiency and excess fire should avoid it.
Combination with Other Herbs
Note: Should be used under the guidance of a professional.
Chuanxiong combined with Qianghuo (羌活)
Chuanxiong is pungent and warm, capable of activating blood and promoting qi, dispersing without being retained, known as a “qi herb in the blood,” which can elevate yang in the blood sea; Qianghuo is pungent, dispersing, bitter, warm, and can open the meridians to dispel wind. The combination of these two herbs can help to resolve external wind, harmonize qi, and nourish the tendons and vessels. It is used to treat pregnancy-related wind spasms and eclampsia.
Chuanxiong combined with Manjingzi (蔓荆子)
Blood deficiency can lead to wind, disturbing the clear orifices, hence causing headaches. To treat wind, one must first treat blood. Chuanxiong is pungent and warm, functions to activate blood and promote qi, known as a “qi herb in the blood,” and its nature is to disperse upwards, effectively activating blood and dispelling wind to relieve pain, making it a key herb for treating headaches. Manjingzi is pungent, bitter, and slightly cold, which can disperse wind and clear heat, rising lightly to dispel evils from the head and face. The combination of these two herbs works together to nourish blood and dispel wind, treating blood deficiency headaches.
Chuanxiong combined with Shengdi (生地)
When the blood chamber is empty and qi is not vigorous, one often feels qi sinking down, leading to irregular bleeding. Chuanxiong specifically elevates the sinking qi, while Shengdi nourishes the emptiness of the blood chamber. The combination of these two herbs, with their similar flavors and strong effects, can nourish the blood chamber, invigorate qi, ensuring that the Chong and Ren meridians are stable, thus preventing irregular bleeding.
Clinical Applications
Treatment of angina pectoris: Take equal parts of Chuanxiong and Honghua (红花), make into tablets (each 12 tablets containing 5 qian of Chuanxiong and Honghua), take 4 tablets each time, 3 times a day. A course of treatment lasts 4-6 weeks. In a study of 84 cases (including 10 cases that added Gegen (葛根) flavonoid tablets, taken 3 times daily at 20 mg each; 2 cases added Myrrh tablets after 2 weeks of treatment), results showed significant effects in 9 cases, improvement in 57 cases, and 17 cases with no effect, with 1 case worsening. It was observed that the severity of the condition did not correlate significantly with efficacy; adding Gegen flavonoids and Myrrh tablets did not show improved efficacy; the impact on blood lipids was minimal. Among 60 patients who were using nitroglycerin, 20 stopped and 15 reduced their dosage during treatment, with some cases showing improvement in ECG readings.
Consumption Precautions
Those with yin deficiency and excess fire, as well as individuals with upper excess and lower deficiency and weak qi should avoid consumption.
1. “Bencao Jing Jizhu”: Bai Zhi (白芷) is a guiding herb. Avoid Huanglian (黄连).
2. “Pinhui Jingyao”: Long-term use may disperse true qi.
3. “Bencao Mengquan”: Avoid Huangqi (黄芪), Shanzhuyu (山茱), and Langdu (狼毒). Avoid Nitrates, Talc, and Huanglian. Antagonizes Li Lu (藜芦).
4. “Bencao Jing Shu”: For patients with upper excess and lower deficiency, with fiery yin deficiency, vomiting, coughing, spontaneous sweating, easy sweating, night sweats, dry throat, thirst, and irritability, it should be avoided.
5. “Bencao Congxin”: Not suitable for those with qi rising phlegm and asthma.
6. “Depei Bencao”: Avoid in cases of intense fire fullness, spleen deficiency with little food intake, and headaches due to fire stagnation.
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