Cardiovascular diseases treated with TCM Szechuan lovage

What is Szechuan lovage(Chuan Xiong)? Also known as rhizoma ligustici chuanxiong, from the point of view of TCM it actually refers to the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., a plant in the family Apiaceae. This herb is mainly produced in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces in China. As far as quality concerned, the ones from Sichuan are preferred. And today most of them are from artificial cultivation instead of from the wild. Usually the excavation of medicinal lovage is in May. After that, it needs to remove the mud, dry them in the sun, and get rid of their fibrous roots. In addition, slice them before the use, in the form of unprocessed or fried with wine.

Lovage plant is a perennial herb, 40 to 60cm high. Well-developed root forms irregular nodular fist-shaped clumps, with a strong aroma. Stems are erect, cylindrical, with longitudinal stripes, and with multiple branches in the upper part and swollen discoid internodes in the lower part. Lovage Leaves at the lower stem are petiolate, about 3 to 10cm long, and with a sheath-like base. Leaves at the upper stem gradually simplify. The inflorescence is a compound umbel, apical or lateral. Fruitlets are flat on both sides, 2 to 3mm long, and about 1mm wide. Flowers appear in July through August and young fruits begin in September through October.

Chemical composition of Szechuan lovage root
It contains volatile oil, ferulic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-butylphthalide, senkyunolide, Ligustilide, tetramethylpyrazine, chuanxiongol, sedanic acid, and so on.

Lovage health benefits
As mentioned earlier, lovage is a medical and edible herb. It provides nutrition and cures diseases. So, let’s take a look at what health benefits the lovage root can bring to us from a professional view.

Pharmacology
1. Ligustrazine, or Chuanxiongzine, can expand the coronary artery, increase coronary blood flow, improve myocardial oxygen supply, and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption;

2. Ligustrazine can dilate cerebral blood vessels, reduce vascular resistance, significantly increase blood flow to the brain and body, and improve microcirculation;

3. Chuanxiongzine can reduce platelet activity, inhibit platelet aggregation, and prevent thrombosis;

4. Neutral components contained in Ferulic acid promote uterine smooth muscle in small doses and inhibit in large dose;

5. Water decoction has sedative effect on animal central nervous system, as well as a clear and long-lasting antihypertensive effect;

6. It can accelerate the absorption of fracture hematoma, promote callus formation;

7. It can prevent vitamin E deficiency;

8. It can inhibit a variety of bacteria;