The source is from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., family Umbelliferae. The medicinal material is a special one of Sichun, being cultivated artificially. It is dug and collected in May, dried by fire and cut into pieces. The crude one or the one stir-baked with wine can be used.

Pungent in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the liver, gallbladder and pericardium meridians.

Promote the circulation of the blood and qi, expel wind and alleviate pain.

1. It is indicated for stagnation of the blood and qi resulting in irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, hypochondriac pain, numbness of limbs, trauma and carbuncle with swelling and pain. It is used together with Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) every time. On the basis of the combination, other medicinal herbs are combined with according to different syndromes. If the combination is used to regulate menstruation, it is used together with Chishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra ), Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi) and others; for postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, Yimucao (Herba Leonuri), Taoren ( Semen Persicae), etc. are combined; for hypochondriac pain due to stagnation of liver-qi resulting in unsmooth circultion of blood, Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Xiangfu ( Rhizoma Cyperi ), etc. are combined; for numbness of limbs or wound pain, every time Chishaoyao ( Radix Paeoniae Rubra ), Honghua ( Flos Carthami), etc. are combined; for carbuncle and ulcer disease of skin with pus that is ulcerated due to weakness of the healthy qi, Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae ), and Zaojiaoci ( Spina Gleditsiae ), etc. can also be combined.

2. It is an essential medicinal herb to be used in the treatment of headache. For headache due to exogenous wind and dampness, it is combined with Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae ), Fangfeng ( Radix Saposhnikoviae), and Xixin (Herba Asari), such as Chuanxiong Chatiao San (Powder); for headache due to wind and heat, combined with Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi), Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum) and Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), such as Chuanxiong San (Powder); for headache due to wind and dampness, combined with Oianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii ), Gaoben ( Rhizoma Ligustici) and Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), such as Qianghuo Shengshi Tang (Decoction); for headache due to blood stasis, combined with Chishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra ) , Honghua ( Flos Carthami ) , Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae ) and Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae); for headache due to blood deficiency, combined with Danggui ( Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), Shudihuang (Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparatae), Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ), Juhua ( Flos Chrysanthemi) , etc.. 

For Bi-syndrome of wind and damp type with painful joints, it is combined with wind-dampness eliminating herbs such as Qianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii), Duhuo ( Radix Angelicae Pubescentis ), Sangzhi (Ramulus Mori) and Haifengteng (Caulis Piperis Futokadsurae) to strengthen the therapeutic effects.

Besides, it can also be used for coronary heart disease with angina pectoris and ischemic brain disease.

3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use, 1 - 1.5 g of the powder being swallowed with water.

 

It is pungent, warm, lifting and dispersing in properties, therefore it is contraindicated in 

the cases with yin deficiency leading to hyperactivity of fire marked by red tongue and dryness in the mouth; used with caution in women with excessive menstruation and cases with bleeding.