When it comes to lovage herb, also known as Chuan Xiong in China, many average people, if not all, know it well since this is an herb often used in everyday life. As a matter of fact, grown mainly in Yun-Gui-Chuan plateau, Szechuan lovage root has long been found and used in the ancient days. Now people’s understanding about this amazing medicinal herb mainly comes from the so-called "No. 1 gynecological formula for nourishing blood" – Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction), which is a thousand year old now and still prevalent today.

Typical lovage related Chinese herbal formulas
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) thinks of this herb as acrid and warm in properties. It covers three meridians, such as liver, gallbladder, and pericardium. Its basic functions are to enhance blood circulation to promote movement of Qi, promote Qi circulation and remove obstruction in the collateral, and dispel wind and relieve pain. Its main indications and uses are irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum stasis-type pain, abdominal mass, pains in chest and flanks, headache and dizziness, wind-cold-wetness type of arthralgia, traumatic injury, and carbuncle and deep-rooted carbuncle. Usual dosage is from 3 to 9 grams, in decoction normally.

Si Wu Tang
From Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Formulas of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary), Si Wu Tang is the most common formula for nourishing blood, as well as the basic one for regulating menstruation. The other three ingredient herbs are Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Dang Gui (Dong Quai), and Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia). This formula is mainly formulated for nourishing blood, especially for women after menstruation.

Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San or Wan
This formula is also from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. It cures upward invasion syndromes by various winds, vertigo, headache or migraine, stuffy and running nose, hoarse voice, strong fever in cold, body ache, profuse sputum, and so on. Indications include Bronchitis, Sinusitis, hives, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. Other main herbs include Bo He (Field Mint), Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Stem), Xiang Fu (Cyperus), Fang Feng (Ledebouriella Root), and more.

Chuan Xiong Wan
This prescription comes from Ju Fang too. The other herbs are Bo He, Xi Xin (Chinese Wild Ginger), Fang Feng, Jie Geng (Platycodon), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root). It is primarily made to treat headache or dizziness, dysphoria with smothery sensation, stiff neck, restrained and tired shoulder and back, body ache, and so on.

Chuan Xiong Pu Huang San
From Pu Ji Fang (Prescriptions of Universal Relief), this formula is mainly used for stillborn foetus. Other primary herbs include Di Huang (Rehmannia), Dang Gui, Rou Gui (Dried Cinnamon Bark), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger Root), Pu Huang (Cattail Pollen, Bulrush), and so on.