Chuanxiong is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried rhizome of the plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. of the Apiaceae family. Authentic medicinal materials specifically refer to Chuanxiong produced in the central hilly and plain areas of the Sichuan Basin, including Dujiangyan, Pixian, Pengzhou, Shifang, Chongzhou, Qionglai, and Meishan.This herb has the effects of promoting blood circulation, regulating qi, dispelling wind, and relieving pain. It is primarily used to treat chest pain due to chest obstruction, stabbing pain in the chest and flanks, swelling and pain from falls or blows, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain caused by masses, headaches, and rheumatic arthralgia.
Chuanxiong
Chuanxiong is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried rhizome of the plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. of the Apiaceae family. Authentic medicinal materials specifically refer to Chuanxiong produced in the central hilly and plain areas of the Sichuan Basin, including Dujiangyan, Pixian, Pengzhou, Shifang, Chongzhou, Qionglai, and Meishan.This herb has the effects of promoting blood circulation, regulating qi, dispelling wind, and relieving pain. It is primarily used to treat chest pain due to chest obstruction, stabbing pain in the chest and flanks, swelling and pain from falls or blows, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain caused by masses, headaches, and rheumatic arthralgia.
Chinese Name : 川芎
Latin Name : Chuanxiong Rhizome
Aliases : Shanjuqiong, Chuanxiong, Xiangguo, Huxiong, Mahan Chuanxiong, Que nao Chuanxiong, Jing Chuanxiong, Guan Chuanxiong, Fu Chuanxiong, Tai Chuanxiong, Xi Chuanxiong
Authentic Producing Area : Sichuan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Warm in nature, pungent in taste; enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Pericardium meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Promotes blood circulation and the flow of qi; dispels wind and relieves pain.
Indications
Mainly used to treat chest pain due to chest obstruction, stabbing pain in the chest and flanks, swelling and pain from falls or blows, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain caused by masses, headaches, and rheumatic arthralgia.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal use: Decocted as a soup, 3–10 g; ground into powder, 1–1.5 g per dose; or incorporated into pills or powders. 2. External use: Apply as a powder; or decocted as a mouthwash.
Precautions
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate herbal formula.
Chemical Constituents
Mainly contains lactone components: Angelica sinensis lactone A, Ligustilide, 3-butyryl lactone,butenyl lactone, Chuanxiong lactone, neo-Cnidol, and bis-Gaobin lactone; nitrogen-containing compounds: Chuanxiongine, rye grass alkaloid (Chuanxiongine); phenolic acids: ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and Chuanxiong phenol; it also contains cypressene, among others.
Pharmacological Actions
This product possesses pharmacological effects such as improving blood rheology, vasodilation, and combating myocardial and cerebral ischemia.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Shennong Bencao Jing*: “Mainly treats stroke affecting the brain, headache, cold-induced arthralgia, muscle spasms and stiffness, traumatic wounds, and amenorrhea in women leading to infertility.”
2. *Mingyi Bielu*: “It alleviates cold-induced agitation in the brain, intermittent facial wind, tearing eyes, excessive nasal discharge and saliva, a dazed, intoxicated-like state, various cold-related symptoms, hard pain in the chest and abdomen, and wind-induced pain in the flanks; it also warms the middle burner to dispel internal cold.”
3. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Chuanxiong is a herb that regulates both blood and qi. Since the liver tends toward tightness, its pungent nature supplements it; thus, it is suitable for those with blood deficiency. Its pungent nature also disperses stagnation, making it suitable for those with qi stagnation.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. To treat chest pain (xiongbi) caused by blood stasis in the heart meridian, it is often used in combination with Danshen, Guizhi, and Sandalwood; to treat flank pain caused by liver qi stagnation, it is often combined with Chaihu, Baishao, and Xiangfu, as in the Chaihu Shugan San (from *Jingyue Quanshu*);To treat blood stasis in the liver, masses or lumps, and stabbing pain in the chest and flanks, it is often combined with Peach Kernel (Taoren) and Safflower (Honghua), as in the Blood Residence Stasis-Expelling Decoction (Xuefu Zhuyu Tang) from *Yilin Gai Cuo*. To treat injuries from falls or blows, accompanied by bruising, swelling, and pain, it can be combined with Frankincense (Ruxiang), Myrrh (Moyao), and Notoginseng (Sanqi).
2. For treating amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to blood stasis, it is often combined with Red Peony Root (Chi Shao) and Peach Kernel (Tao Ren), as in the Blood Residence Stasis-Expelling Decoction (Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang) from *Yi Lin Gai Cuo*; if the condition involves cold-induced blood stasis, it may be combined with Cinnamon Bark (Gui Xin) and Chinese Angelica Root (Dang Gui), as in the Warming the Uterus Decoction (Wen Jing Tang) from *Women’s Effective Prescriptions*;To treat postpartum retained lochia and abdominal pain caused by blood stasis obstruction, it can be combined with Angelica sinensis, peach kernels, and processed ginger, as in the Shenghua Decoction (*Fu Qingzhu’s Gynecology*); to treat irregular menstruation, early or delayed periods, it can be combined with motherwort and Angelica sinensis, as in the Yimu Shengjin Pill (*Insights into Medicine*).
3. To treat wind-cold headaches, combine it with Qianghuo, Xixin, and Bai Zhi, as in the Chuanxiong Cha Tiao San (from *Formulas of the Bureau of Harmonious Preparations*); to treat wind-heat headaches, combine it with Chrysanthemum, Gypsum, and Stiff Silkworm, as in the Chuanxiong San (from *The Precious Mirror of Health*);For treating rheumatic headaches, it can be combined with Qianghuo, Duhuo, and Fangfeng, such as the Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction (*Discourse on Distinguishing Confusions in Internal and External Injuries*); to treat headaches caused by blood deficiency, leveraging its ability to dispel wind and relieve pain, it can be combined with Danggui and Baishao, as in the Jiawei Siwu Decoction (from *Jingui Yi*); to treat headaches caused by blood stasis, it can be combined with Chishao and Musk, as in the Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction (from *Yilin Gai Cuo*).
Related Compatibility
1. Chuanxiong Combined with Wuyao: Chuanxiong is pungent, warm, and aromatic, with a penetrating nature; it can both ascend and descend, rising to the crown of the head and descending to the Blood Sea. As a qi-regulating herb for the blood, it excels at promoting blood circulation. Wuyao is pungent, opening and warming; it ascends to the spleen and lung and descends to the liver and kidney, possessing the functions of regulating qi, dispelling cold, and relieving pain, with a primary focus on regulating qi.When used together, these two herbs synergistically promote blood circulation, resolve blood stasis, regulate qi, and relieve pain. This combination is suitable for treating menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis.
2. Chuanxiong Combined with Danggui: Chuanxiong is pungent, warm, and drying, with a focus on promoting blood circulation and regulating qi; Danggui is sweet and tonifying, pungent and dispersing, with a moist and rich nature, and focuses on nourishing and harmonizing the blood.When used together, these two herbs simultaneously achieve the three effects of promoting blood circulation, nourishing blood, and regulating qi. Furthermore, their moisturizing and drying properties complement each other, ensuring that stasis is removed without depleting qi and blood, and that blood is nourished without causing blood stagnation or qi stagnation. Together, they effectively promote blood circulation, remove stasis, nourish blood, and harmonize blood.This combination is indicated for headaches, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, and rheumatic arthralgia caused by blood and wind stasis, all resulting from blood deficiency and blood stasis.
3. Chuanxiong combined with Baishao: Chuanxiong is pungent, warm, and aromatic, penetrating deeply to activate blood circulation and regulate qi, with a tendency toward ascending and dispersing; Baishao is slightly bitter and slightly sour, nourishing blood and consolidating yin, with a tendency toward astringency.When used together, these two herbs simultaneously invigorate and nourish the blood, and soothe and soften the liver, thereby promoting blood circulation and removing stasis without harming vital energy, and relieving liver stagnation and dispelling depression without damaging liver yin. This combination is suitable for treating irregular menstruation and amenorrhea caused by deficiency of liver blood or liver yin, as well as chest and flank distension and pain, irregular menstruation, and dysmenorrhea caused by liver stagnation and blood stasis.
Medicinal Identification
Raw Chuanxiong vs. Wine-Processed Chuanxiong: Raw Chuanxiong has a stronger pungent, aromatic, and penetrating nature; it excels at promoting blood circulation, regulating qi, dispelling wind, and relieving pain, and is primarily used to treat various pain syndromes caused by blood stasis and qi stagnation;Wine-processed Chuanxiong directs the action of the herb upward and enhances its efficacy in promoting blood circulation, regulating qi, and relieving pain. Clinically, it is frequently used for headaches, chest and flank pain, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis, as well as for trauma and pain in the tendons and bones.
Related Medicines
Qingxuan Tablets (Pills), Suoxiao Jiuxin Pills, Nao’an Granules (Capsules), Xiaotuan Tongluo Capsules (Granules, Tablets), and Kanli Sha.
Related Prescriptions
1. Chaihu Shugan San (from *Zhengzhi Zhunsheng*, citing *Yixue Tongzhi*)
Composition: Bupleurum root (Chaihu), Peony root (Shaoyao), Cyperus rhizome (Xiangfu), Fructus Aurantii (Zhike), Dried tangerine peel (Chenpi), Chuanxiong, and Fried licorice root (Zhi Gancao).
Functions and Indications: Soothes the liver and relieves depression; regulates qi and alleviates pain.Indicated for pain in the flanks due to liver depression and qi stagnation, or alternating chills and fever, epigastric and abdominal distension, and a string-like pulse.
2. Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction (from *Yilin Gai Cuo*)
Composition: Red Peony Root (Chi Shao), Chuanxiong, Peach Kernel (Taoren), Safflower (Honghua), Dried Green Onion, Fresh Ginger, Red Dates, Musk, and Yellow Wine.
Functions and Indications: Activates blood circulation and unblocks the orifices. Indicated for syndromes of blood stasis affecting the head and face, such as headache, dizziness, deafness, hair loss, a cyanotic complexion, rosacea, vitiligo, as well as women with “dry blood consumption” and children with malnutrition presenting as emaciation, a distended abdomen with visible blue veins, and tidal fevers.
3. Chuanxiong Powder (from *The Treasure of Hygiene*)
Composition: Chuanxiong, Chrysanthemum, Gypsum, Stiff Silkworm.
Functions and Indications: Dispels wind and clears heat. Indicated for headaches, red eyes, and sore throat caused by exogenous wind-heat.
4. Chuanxiong Cha Tiao San (from *He Ji Ju Fang*)
Composition: Chuanxiong, Angelica dahurica, Fangfeng, Asarum, Qianghuo, Jingjie,Peppermint, Licorice, Tea.
Functions and Indications: Dispels wind and relieves pain. Indicated for unilateral or bilateral headaches, or pain at the crown of the head caused by exogenous wind-pathogen, accompanied by chills and fever, dizziness, nasal congestion, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating pulse.
5. Decoction for Relieving Body Pain and Expelling Stasis (from *Corrections to Medical Forest*)
Composition: Qin Jiao, Chuanxiong, Peach Kernel, Safflower, Licorice, Qianghuo, Myrrh, Danggui, Wulingzhi, Xiangfu, Niuxi, Earthworm.
Functions and Indications: Activates blood circulation, regulates qi, relieves arthralgia, and alleviates pain. Indicated for conditions where blood stasis obstructs the meridians, such as shoulder pain, arm pain, lower back pain, leg pain, or persistent, chronic pain throughout the body.
Notes
References: [1] Zhang Zhiguo, Yang Lei, Wu Ping, Gao Yuanfeng, eds. Common Terminology and Illustrations for Empirical Identification of Chinese Herbal Medicines [M]. 2022:98–99. [2] Peng Cheng, ed. Pharmacology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, 3rd Edition: Textbook for the 14th Five-Year Plan for Pharmacy Programs at General Higher Education Institutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine [M]. 2024:201–203. [3] Li Xue, Yu Liwei, Bai Fengyun, Song Yijun, and Ao Qiang, eds. Characteristic Techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Material Processing in Shaanxi [M]. 2024: 67–68. [4] Guo Lanping and Huang Luqi, eds. Research on Technical Specifications for the Production of Authentic Medicinal Materials [M]. 2023: 91–95. [5] State Pharmacopoeia Commission. Clinical Guidelines for the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China: Volume on Traditional Chinese Medicinal Decoction Pieces (2020 Edition) [M]. Beijing: China Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Press, 2022: 824–827. [6] China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine. General Rules for the Formulation of Standards for Authentic Medicinal Materials [S]. Beijing: China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019: 222–229.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest in summer when the node discs on the stems are prominently protruding and have a slight purplish tint. Remove dirt and sand, sun-dry, then oven-dry, and finally remove the fibrous roots.
Processing Methods
1. Chuanxiong: Take the raw herb, remove impurities, sort by size, soak until 40–50% softened, wash thoroughly, steam until fully softened, slice thinly, and air-dry or dry at a low temperature.
2. Wine-processed Chuanxiong: Take the cleaned Chuanxiong slices, mix thoroughly with yellow wine, let them soak until fully permeated, place in a wok, and stir-fry over low heat until dry. Remove and let cool. Use 10 kg of yellow wine for every 100 kg of Chuanxiong.
3. Stir-fried Chuanxiong: Take the cleaned Chuanxiong slices, place them in a wok, and stir-fry over low heat until yellow or slightly charred. Remove and let cool.
4. Wheat Bran-Roasted Chuanxiong: Heat a wok, sprinkle in wheat bran, and when it begins to smoke, add the Chuanxiong slices and stir-fry until deep yellow. Remove, sift out the wheat bran, and let cool. Use 18 kg of wheat bran per 100 kg of Chuanxiong slices.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container, tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place to prevent insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Identification
1. Cross-section of this product: The cork layer consists of more than 10 rows of cells. The cortex is narrow, with scattered root-trace vascular bundles; the cambium is distinct. The phloem is broad, with a cambial ring that is wavy or irregularly polygonal. The xylem vessels are polygonal or subcircular, mostly arranged in a single row or in a “V” shape, with occasional bundles of wood fibers. The pith is relatively large.Numerous oil cells are scattered throughout the parenchyma; they are subcircular, elliptical, or irregular in shape, and pale yellowish-brown. Oil cells near the cambium are small and gradually increase in size toward the outer regions; parenchyma cells are rich in starch grains, and some contain calcium oxalate crystals in the form of subcircular masses or cluster-like crystals.
The powder is pale yellowish-brown or grayish-brown. Starch grains are abundant; single grains are elliptical, oblong, subcircular, ovoid, or reniform, with a diameter of 5–16 μm and a length of about 21 μm; the hilum is punctate, long-fissured, or chevron-shaped; compound grains, consisting of 2–4 subgrains, are occasionally observed.Calcium oxalate crystals are present in thin-walled cells, appearing as subcircular aggregates or cluster-like crystals, with a diameter of 10–25 μm. Cork cells are deep yellowish-brown; when viewed from the surface, they appear polygonal and slightly wavy. Most oil bodies are broken; fragments of oil bodies are occasionally visible. Secretory cells have thin walls and contain a relatively large number of oil droplets.The vessels are primarily spiral vessels, though reticulate and ladder-like vessels are also present, with diameters ranging from 14 to 50 μm.
2. Take 1 g of the powdered sample, add 5 mL of petroleum ether (30–60 °C), and let stand for 10 hours, shaking occasionally. Allow to settle, then take 1 mL of the supernatant and evaporate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 1 mL of methanol, then add 2% 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in methanol and 2 drops of potassium hydroxide solution saturated with methanol; a reddish-purple color develops.
3. Take 1 g of the powdered sample, add 20 mL of diethyl ether, and reflux for 1 hour. Filter; evaporate the filtrate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 2 mL of ethyl acetate to prepare the test solution.Separately, take 1 g of Chuanxiong reference material and prepare a reference material solution using the same method. Take the Angelica sinensis lactone A reference standard and dissolve it in ethyl acetate to prepare a solution containing 0.1 mg per mL (stored in a brown volumetric flask); use this as the reference standard solution.Test by thin-layer chromatography (General Chapter 0502): Pipette 10 μL of each of the three solutions mentioned above and apply them separately onto the same silica gel GF254 thin-layer plate. Develop with n-hexane–ethyl acetate (3:1) as the developing solvent, remove the plate, allow it to air-dry, and examine under ultraviolet light (254 nm).In the chromatogram of the test sample, spots of the same color appear at positions corresponding to those in the chromatograms of the reference herbal material and the reference standard.
Properties of Crude Drugs
This product consists of irregular, nodular, fist-shaped lumps with a diameter of 2–7 cm. The surface is grayish-brown or brown, rough and shriveled, with numerous parallel, raised annular ridges; the apex bears a depressed, nearly circular stem scar, and the underside and annular ridges feature numerous small, tubercle-like root scars.The texture is firm and difficult to break; the fracture surface is yellowish-white or grayish-yellow, with scattered yellowish-brown oil glands, and the cambium ring appears wavy. It has a strong, fragrant odor; the taste is bitter and pungent, with a slight numbing sensation on the tongue and a faintly sweet aftertaste.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Chuanxiong: This product consists of irregular, thick slices. The outer surface is grayish-brown or brown, with shriveled markings. The cross-section is yellowish-white or grayish-yellow, featuring distinct wavy rings or polygonal patterns, with scattered yellowish-brown oil spots. It has a firm texture. It has a strong, fragrant aroma and a bitter, pungent, and slightly sweet taste.
2. Wine-Infused Chuanxiong: The color is darker, with a slight aroma of wine.
3. Roasted Chuanxiong and Bran-Roasted Chuanxiong: Resemble Chuanxiong slices in shape, but with a darker color.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
A plant of the genus Angelica in the family Apiaceae.
Morphological Characteristics
A perennial herb, 40–70 cm tall, with a strong fragrance throughout the plant. The rhizome forms an irregular, knotty, fist-shaped mass with numerous fibrous roots at the base. The stem is erect, cylindrical, and hollow, with longitudinal grooves on the surface; the lower stem nodes are swollen into disc-like structures (commonly known as “lingzi”), while the nodes above the middle are not swollen.The lower stem leaves are petiolate, with petioles 3–10 cm long and bases expanded into sheaths; the leaf blades are broadly ovate-triangular in outline, 12–15 cm long and 10–15 cm wide, and are three- to four-times ternately pinnately compound, with 4–5 pairs of pinnae,ovate-lanceolate, 6–7 cm long and 5–6 cm wide; the terminal segments are linear-lanceolate to long-ovate, 2–5 mm long and 1–2 mm wide, with a small acute apex, and sparsely pubescent only along the veins; the upper stem leaves are gradually reduced.Compound umbels are terminal or lateral; involucral bracts 3–6, linear, 0.5–2.5 cm long; rays 7–20, unequal in length, 2–4 cm long; umbellules bear 10–24 flowers;minor bracts 2–7, linear, slightly purplish, pubescent, 3–5 mm long; calyx teeth undeveloped; petals white, obovate to elliptic, with a short, pointed projection at the apex, incurved; stamens 5, anthers pale green; styles 2, 2–3 mm long, reflexed downward.Young fruits are laterally compressed, 2–3 mm long and about 1 mm wide; the dorsal groove contains 1–5 oil tubes, the lateral grooves contain 2–3 oil tubes, and the fused surface contains 6–8 oil tubes. Flowering occurs from July to August; young fruits appear from September to October.
Distribution Area
It is primarily cultivated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other regions.