Move blood
Chuan Xiong
川芎
Szechuan lovage
Ligusticum chuanxiong
Moves qi and blood and is the head herb in many pain formulas.
Not for self-dosing. This page is not a formula, not a strength, and not a substitute for a licensed herbalist or physician.
Category
Warm · Acrid
Meridians entered
Traditional uses
Acrid and moving, said to go to the head. Textbook uses include headache, and cycle pain framed as blood stasis. It is drying and ascending. Not every headache wants that.
Common pairings
- Dang Gui 当归
A blood pair inside Si Wu Tang’s family: Dang Gui nourishes, Chuan Xiong moves.
- Bai Zhi 白芷
Headache pair for the yang-ming face and the shaoyang side.
Cautions
Not for self-dosing. Traditionally avoided in pregnancy and with heavy bleeding because it moves blood strongly. Can worsen a yin-deficient headache.
Points with a similar aim
Union Valley
The classic hand point for head, face, and the start of a cold.
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy
Head Corner
Corner of the forehead, a headache landmark.
Back Stream
Edge-of-hand point for the neck and the Du vessel.
Gathered Bamboo
Inner eyebrow notch. Light touch only.
Use caution
Celestial Pillar
Base of the skull, beside the midline, for a stiff nape.
Use caution
Kunlun Mountains
Outer ankle hollow. A pregnancy-avoid point in most student lists.
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy
Silken Bamboo Hollow
Outer eyebrow hollow for temple-side headaches.
Use caution
Pupil Crevice
Outer corner of the eye. Fingertip only.
Use caution