Apiaceae · rhizome
Chuanxiong
Ligusticum striatum
Rhizome mapped as the moving-blood, moving-Qi herb of the catalog. Classical headache and menstrual-pain language.
Safety first
Pregnancy caution (moving blood/Qi). Headache herb classically — red-flag headaches stay medical. Apiaceae identity.
Tradition vs trials
Traditional record. Bensky: Chuan Xiong moves Qi and blood, expels wind, and is a chief in many headache formulas.
Trial literature. Ligustilide/tetramethylpyrazine pharmacology is mostly experimental. Pattern mapping is traditional.
Practical ranges
Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.
rhizome in formulas
Pharmacopoeia decoction ranges of several grams in formulas
Chinese Pharmacopoeia / Bensky — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.
Pregnancy, nursing, children
- Pregnancy. Avoid unsupervised (moving blood).
- Nursing. Insufficient reliable data; avoid unless a clinician directs otherwise.
- Children. Insufficient reliable data; avoid unless a clinician directs otherwise.
Contraindications
- pregnancy without a practitioner
- thunderclap headache as a 'wind' tea
Key interactions
- anticoagulants · caution
Moving-blood class caution.