What are the effects and functions of Chuanxiong

Chuanxiong is a relatively common traditional Chinese medicine. We can often see Chuanxiong in areas with very humid climates such as Yunnan and Sichuan. Chuanxiong is a very tough plant. Its base is not easy to break. It also blooms small white flowers. There will be lumpy lumps at its roots. So, what are the effects and functions of Chuanxiong? Let’s take a look together below.

1. Blood stasis and qi stagnation pain syndrome

This product is pungent, dispersing, warming and unblocking. It can not only promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, but also promote qi circulation and relieve pain. It is a "qi medicine in the blood" and has the effect of promoting the flow of qi and blood. Therefore, it can treat chest, flank and abdominal pain caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis. If it is used to treat chest pain caused by blood stasis in the heart meridian, it is often used together with Salvia miltiorrhiza, cinnamon twig, sandalwood, etc.; if it is used to treat side pain caused by liver depression and qi stagnation, it is often used with Bupleurum, White Peony Root, and Cyperus rotundus.

2. Headache, rheumatism

This product is pungent, warm and dispersing, can "go up to the head", dispel wind and relieve pain, and is an important medicine for treating headaches. It can be used according to the symptoms of headaches caused by wind-cold, wind-heat, rheumatism, blood deficiency or blood stasis. Therefore, Li Dongyuan said, "Chuanxiong must be used for headaches." For treating headache due to wind-cold, it can be combined with Notopterygium wilfordii, Asarum sieboldii and Angelica dahurica, such as Chuanxiong Cha Tiao San (Hejijufang); if combined with Chrysanthemum flos, Gypsum gypsum and Bombyx batryticatus, it can treat headache due to wind-heat, such as Chuanxiong San (Health Care); if combined with Notopterygium wilfordii, Duhuo and Saposhnikovia divaricata, it can treat headache due to rheumatism, such as Qianghuo Shengshi Tang (Neiwaishang Bianhao Lun); combined with Angelica sinensis and White Peony Root, it can take advantage of the function of dispelling wind and relieving pain, and can treat headache due to blood deficiency, such as Jiawei Siwu Tang (Jinkuiyi); if combined with Red Peony Root and Musk, it can treat headache due to blood stasis, such as Tongqiao Huoxue Tang (Yilin Gaicuo).

Although Chuanxiong has many benefits, there are also many precautions when taking it. For example, Chuanxiong is a hot medicinal material, so after taking Chuanxiong, you cannot drink cool beverages such as green tea immediately, as this will greatly reduce its efficacy. In addition, pregnant women and breastfeeding women should not take Chuanxiong.