Chuān Xiōng (川芎), known in English as Sichuan lovage (Ligusticum chuanxiong), is a warm, acrid Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver, Gallbladder and Pericardium channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, promotes qi movement.
| Pinyin | Chuān Xiōng (Chuan Xiong) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 川芎 |
| English | Sichuan lovage |
| Botanical name | Ligusticum chuanxiong |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat; excessive menstrual bleeding; pregnancy; headache from qi uprising |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, promotes qi movement
- Expels Wind, relieves pain — especially headache
- Opens channels, disperses Cold
Indications
- Blood stasis menstrual disorders
- Headache from any aetiology
- Wind-Damp Bi
- Chest Bi
How to remember Chuān Xiōng
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Acrid: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Gallbladder and Pericardium channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Chuān Xiōng
- Sì Wù Tāng
- Chái Hú Shū Gān Sǎn
- Xuè Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng
- Suān Zǎo Rén Tāng
- Jiǔ Wèi Qiāng Huó Tāng
- Chuān Xiōng Chá Tiáo Sǎn
- Yuè Jū Wán
- Shào Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng
- Gé Xià Zhú Yū Tāng
- Wēn Jīng Tāng
- Shēng Huà Tāng
- Bā Zhēn Tāng
- Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng
- Yǎng Xīn Tāng
- Jiāo Ài Tāng
- Juān Bì Tāng
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- 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 Xiōng?
Chuān Xiōng is warm and acrid.
Which channels does Chuān Xiōng enter?
Chuān Xiōng enters the Liver, Gallbladder and Pericardium channels.
What are the actions of Chuān Xiōng?
Invigorates Blood, promotes qi movement; Expels Wind, relieves pain — especially headache; Opens channels, disperses Cold.
What is Chuān Xiōng used for?
Blood stasis menstrual disorders; headache from any aetiology; Wind-Damp Bi; chest Bi.
Which formulas contain Chuān Xiōng?
Sì Wù Tāng, Chái Hú Shū Gān Sǎn, Xuè Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng, Suān Zǎo Rén Tāng, Jiǔ Wèi Qiāng Huó Tāng, Chuān Xiōng Chá Tiáo Sǎn, Yuè Jū Wán, Shào Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng, Gé Xià Zhú Yū Tāng, Wēn Jīng Tāng, Shēng Huà Tāng, Bā Zhēn Tāng, Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng, Yǎng Xīn Tāng, Jiāo Ài Tāng and Juān Bì Tāng.
Practise Chuān Xiōng 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.