Chuān Niú Xī (川牛膝), known in English as Cyathula root (Cyathula officinalis), is a neutral, sweet and slightly bitter Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, dispels stasis — strong.
| Pinyin | Chuān Niú Xī (Chuan Niu Xi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 川牛膝 |
| English | Cyathula root |
| Botanical name | Cyathula officinalis |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 6–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; menorrhagia; Qi deficiency |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis — strong
- Promotes urination, unblocks dysuria
- Leads Blood downward
Indications
- Blood stasis amenorrhoea
- Difficult urination
- Haematuria
- Excess Fire or Blood rising with headache
How to remember Chuān Niú Xī
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Slightly bitter, Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Kidney channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Chuān Niú Xī
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Chuān Niú Xī?
Chuān Niú Xī is neutral and sweet and slightly bitter.
Which channels does Chuān Niú Xī enter?
Chuān Niú Xī enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Chuān Niú Xī?
Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis — strong; Promotes urination, unblocks dysuria; Leads Blood downward.
What is Chuān Niú Xī used for?
Blood stasis amenorrhoea; difficult urination; haematuria; excess Fire or Blood rising with headache.
Which formulas contain Chuān Niú Xī?
Zuǒ Guī Wán, Xuè Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng and Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn.
Practise Chuān Niú Xī and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.