Herbs that Invigorate Blood and Remove Stagnation
Chuan Xiong 川芎
Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong Szechuan Lovage Root
✓ CALE Exam ✓ National Exam
Materia Medica Data
- Temperature
- Warm
- Nature & Flavour
- Spicy, Warm
- Channels Entered
- LIV, GB, PER
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong
- Chinese
- 川芎
- Tone Marks
- chuān xiōng
Chinese Herb Actions
- Invigorates Blood and Moves Qi One of the most effective herbs for all Blood and Qi stasis patterns. For Gynecological disorders like irregular menses, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, difficult labor, postpartum abdominal pain and retained lochia
- Expels Wind and Relieves Pain A top herb for all headaches due to Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, Wind-Damp, Blood Stagnation and Blood Deficiency. Also for dizziness due to wind. Relieves pain associated with Qi and Blood Stasis including pain in the chest, flanks, hypochondria, muscles and joints. For numbness, paralysis, chronic non-healing sores with or without pus, and Bi Zheng.
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 3-9 grams in decoction, 1-1.5 grams as powder (Bensky)
- 3-10 grams in decoction, 1-1.5 grams in powder (Chen)
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Use with caution during pregnancy
- Avoid in patients with excess menses or prone to bleeding
- Do not use for Yin deficiency Fire with a red tongue and dry mouth
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- Rare cases of shortened time between menses, menorrhagia, urinary frequency, abdominal tingling and pain, headache, vomiting and painful urination
Herb-Drug Interactions
- Chuan Xiong may interfere with Anti-Coagulating drugs.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
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