The efficacy and function of Ligusticum chuanxiong

Ligusticum chuanxiong is a common Chinese medicine in clinical practice. For people with poor physical constitution, eating Ligusticum chuanxiong can help us better maintain our health. Today I will introduce Ligusticum chuanxiong to you.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the roots and rhizomes of the Umbelliferae plant Ligustrum lucidum.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 60-100cm high. The roots are forked, dark brown, and have a strong aroma. The stem is cylindrical, hollow, with longitudinal stripes and purple color, and the upper branches are curved in a zigzag shape. Basal leaves with long petioles, wither early; petioles at the lower part of the stem up to 20cm long, slightly enlarged at the base to form a sheath, petioles at the upper part gradually shorten until they become a sheath; leaves in three to four ternate pinnates; 1-2 involucral bracts, linear, with white membranous margins, often falling early; rays slightly unequal in length, rough inside; 5-8 involucral bracteoles, up to 1.5cm long, with white membranous margins; pedicels unequal in length; calyx teeth inconspicuous; petals white, obovate, with slightly concave apex; style recurved downwards in late stage. The fruit is elliptical, with a raised dorsal ridge and lateral ridges expanded into wings; there is 1 oil tube in the second groove and 2 oil tubes on the commissure. The flowering period is August-September, and the fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown under forests on rocky hillsides.

【Properties】Properties identification: The surface is gray-brown, with irregular tumors, often significantly enlarged. The rhizome is short, irregularly cylindrical or lumpy, rarely branched, 2-4 cm long, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, with stem and petiole residues at the tip and a few enlarged and elongated roots at the lower end. The cross section of the rhizome is uneven under a magnifying glass, the cortex and pith are off-white, the xylem is light brown, and the cortex has many cracks; the root cross section is similar to the rhizome, without pith. Light, soft and powdery. It has a strong and aromatic aroma, tastes spicy, bitter, slightly sweet, and slightly numbing on the tongue. The cross section shows yellow-green fluorescence under fluorescent light.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】Dispel wind and dampness; dispel cold and relieve pain. It is used to treat colds caused by wind and cold; colds with dampness; headaches; arthralgia caused by wind, cold and dampness; pain caused by cold hernia

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-9g; or made into pills or powder. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water and wash with the water; or grind into fine powder and apply on the skin.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

This article ends the introduction to the medicinal value of Ligusticum chuanxiong. In fact, Ligusticum chuanxiong has many different effects when used as medicine, all of which have significant benefits to the human body. Everyone can try it.