WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the dried rhizome of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort.,family Umbrelliferae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in Sichuan and it is of the best quality. After the fibrous root  is removed, it is moistened and cut into pieces. Then , it can be utilized in the raw, or stir-baked with liquor or bran, form.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Pungent, warm; relate to liver, gallbladder and pericardium meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ] : Active blood and move qi; expel wind and alleviate pain.

[ Clinical Applications]: 1. Stagnation of blood and qi       For irregular menstruation, dysmenorrheal and amenorrhea, this medicinal is usually comined with Danggui and Xiangfu. In cases of postpartum abdominal pain due to unsmooth circulation of blood caused by stagnation of liver qi , it is combined with Chaihu, Xiangfu. In case of physical trauma, use with Chisao and Honghua. Also for carbuncle, sore, purulence without ulceration, combine with Danggui and Chuanshanjia, such as , in the Tounong Powder.

2.Headache and bi-syndrome pain of wind and damp       For headache due to external contraction of wind-cold, it is usually combined with Baizhi, Fangfeng and Xixin, such as, in the Chuanxiongchatiao Powder. Yet, if the headache is due to wind-heat, it should be combined with Juhua, Shigao and Jiangchan, such as in the Chuanxiong Powder. If a patient has a headache due to wind-dampness, it is often used with Qianghuo, Gaoben and Fangfeng, for example, in the qianghuo shengshi Decoction. With blood-stasis resulting in headache, it is useful to combine with Chishao , Honghua and Danshen. For blood-deficiency causing headache, Danggui and Baishao should be combined together. For painful joints due to Bi-syndrome blockage, it is useful to combine with Qianghuo, Duhuo and Sangzhi.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 3-9g. For powder form, 1-1.5g is used and taken for each administration.

[ Precautions ]: It is pungent, warm, ascending and dispersing, so it is contraindicated in cases with a reddish tongue and dryness of the mouth, caused by yin-deficiency with effulgent-fire. It should be used with caution in case of excessive menstruation and with conditions with bleeding.

川芎为伞形科植物川芎Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.的根茎。主产于四川、贵州、云南， 以四川产者质优。系人工栽培。5月采挖，除去泥沙，晒后烘干，再去须根。用时切片生用或酒炙。

【古籍摘要】        1．《神农本草经》：“主中风入脑头痛、寒痹，筋脉缓急，金疮，妇人血闭无子。”        2．《本草汇言》：“芎，上行头目，下调经水，中开郁结，血中气药。尝为当归所使，非第治血有功，而治气亦神验也……味辛性阳，气善走窜而无阴凝粘滞之态，虽入血分，又能去一切风，调一切气。”