Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San 川芎茶调散
Ligusticum Powder with Green Tea

Tradition:

TCM

Source / Author:

Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Song Dynasty)

Herb Name	Latin	Amount # 1*	Amount # 2
Bo He (Mint)	Mentha haplocalyx	240 grams	3 – 12 grams
Chuan Xiong (Sichuan Lovage)	Ligusticum chuanxiong		3 – 15 grams
Jing Jie (Schizonepeta)	Schizonepeta tenuifolia	120 grams ea.	3 – 12 grams
Bai Zhi (Dahurian Angelica)	Angelica dahurica		3 – 15 grams
Qiang Huo (Notopterygium)	Notopterygium incisum		3 – 9 grams
Gan Cao (Licorice)	Glycyrrhiza uralensis	60 grams ea.	3 – 6 grams
Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia)	Saposhnikovia divaricata	45 grams	3 – 9 grams
Xi Xin (Asarum)	Asarum sieboldii	30 grams	1 – 3 grams

* The first column gives traditional amounts for the formula which is coarsely powdered to be made into a brief decoction. The second column is the doses used today for an single days dose.

Preparation:

Traditionally the herbs (first column of doses) are coarsely powdered to be briefly decocted and taken with Green Tea.
Today, doses in the second column are typically given per day to be made into a standard decoction with Green Tea.

Function:

Expels Wind, Clears the Head, Eases Pain

Use:

1. Exterior wind headaches, including frontal, lateral, temporal, or vertex head pain.
2. Tension headaches, Neurogenic Headache
3. Angiogenic Headache
4. Migraines
5. Sinus (frontal) headaches accompanied by localised pressure.
6. early stage common cold or flu symptoms where headache with nasal congestion are main symptoms
7. mild dizziness or a heavy sensation in the head caused by weather or temperature changes
8. Peripheral nerve numbness
9. Trigeminal Neuralgia

Dose:

Traditionally, 6 grams of the coarse powder was briefly decocted to be taken.
Today, doses in the second column are decocted to be taken in 3 equal doses over the coarse of the day.

Cautions:

1. Not used for Liver Yang Rising or Yin Deficiency
2. Should not be used during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. (It has been used very cautiously during Pregnancy)

Modifications:

1. Shaoyang (Temporal/Migraine) Headaches: Add Bupleurum Chai Hu and Scutellaria Huang Qin
2. Yangming (Frontal/Sinus) Headaches: Increase the dosage of Angelica dahurica Bai Zhi and add Ligusticum Gao Ben
3. Taiyang (Occipital/Neck Stiffness) Headaches: Increase Notopterygium Qiang Huo and add Pueraria Ge Get
4. Jueyin (Vertex/Top of Head) Headaches: Add Evodia Wu Zhu Yu and Ligusticum Gao Ben.
5. Wind-Cold headache add fresh Ginger and Perilla leaf (Zi Su Ye)
6. Wind-Heat headache, add Chrysanthemum Ju Hua and White Dead Silkworm (Bai Jiang Can)
7. Headache from Wind-Phlegm, add Pinellia Ban Xia and Poria Fu Ling.
8. Chronic Headache add Safflower (Hong Hua), Peach kernel (Tao Ren), White Dead Silkworm (Bai Jiang Can), Scorpion (Quan Xie)
9. Headache from Hypertension, remove Notopterygium Qiang Huo and Angelica Bai Zhi and add Paeonia Bai Shao, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua, and Uncaria Gou Teng.
10. For Severe Nasal Congestion: Add Xanthium Cang Er Zi and Magnolia Flower (Xin Yi Hua)
11. For Heat Symptoms (Sore Throat, Fever): Increase the dose of Mint (Bo He), and add Forsythia (Lian Qiao), and Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)
12. For High Blood Pressure or Internal Heat: Replace the warm, dispersing herbs with Gastrodia Tian Ma and Uncaria Gou Teng
13. Trigemnial Neuralgia, take with Scorpion (Quan Xie) and Centipede (Wu Gong)