The efficacy and function of Huang Ligusticum chuanxiong

For many Chinese people, traditional Chinese medicine is very trustworthy because it has a long history and few side effects. Rhizoma Dioscoreae is a common Chinese medicinal material, which has many benefits for human health. So how can we eat Rhizoma Dioscoreae? Let’s learn about it below.

[Other names] Ligusticum chuanxiong, Ligusticum yunnanensis

[Source] Medicinal material source: The root of the Umbelliferae plant.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 40-70cm tall. The root is spindle-shaped, 5-12cm long, with fine annular lines on the surface, and is yellow-gray in color. The stem is branched near the base and 1/3 of the way up, has longitudinal stripes, and is smooth and hairless. The petiole of the basal leaf is 5-13cm long, with a membranous leaf sheath at the base. The leaf blade is pinnate-divided two to three times, with 4-6 pairs of pinnae. The final segment is broadly ovate, 5-15mm long, 4-12mm wide, sessile, with deeply lobed edges or irregular notched serrations, slightly thickened tooth margins, glabrous on both sides, and veins raised on the back. The compound umbel is terminal or lateral; the peduncle is up to 15 cm long; there are no or a few involucral bracts; there are 6-8 rays, spreading, 2-6 cm long; there are 7-9 involucral bracteoles, narrowly linear, about 5 mm long; the umbel has many florets; the calyx teeth are awl-shaped and acute; the petals are white, nearly round, with an inflexed ligule at the apex and one midrib; the stylopodium is conical, and the style is recurved outward. The double-hanging fruit is narrowly ovate, gradually narrowing upward, smooth, and the fruit ridges are filiform; the bilaterian fruit is semi-cylindrical, with a protrusion on the back, and the commissure is nearly straight. There are 2-3 oil tubes in each groove and 4 oil tubes on the commissure.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in hillside grasslands, sparse forests or rock crevices at an altitude of 2000-2500m.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】 Releases wind; relieves pain; acts as a diuretic. Mainly used for colds, coughs, headaches, rheumatic pain, and edema caused by wind and water

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-10g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to the Chinese medicinal material Rhizoma Ligusticum chuanxiong. For medicinal herbs that we don't understand, we should learn more about them so that we can make full use of them in our lives and not be at a loss.