Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San川芎茶调散

Chuanxiong Powder Taken with Green Tea

Dispelling Wind 治风剂Disperse External Wind 疏散外风

Ingredients8 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

薄Bo He薄荷叶不见火Menthae Haplocalycis Herba240g臣 DeputyThe largest dose in the formula: disperses wind, clears the head and eyes, and keeps the warm herbs from overheating

川Chuan Xiong川芎Chuanxiong Rhizoma120g君 ChiefMoves qi within the blood and rises to the head — the lead herb for headache in any channel 荆Jing Jie荆芥去梗Schizonepetae Herba120g臣 DeputyLightly disperses wind at the surface and up through the head 细Xi Xin细辛去芦Asari Radix et Rhizoma30g佐 AssistantPenetrates to the shaoyin level for deep, cold headache; a small dose only 防Fang Feng防风去芦Saposhnikoviae Radix45g佐 AssistantDisperses wind broadly across the whole surface 白Bai Zhi白芷Angelicae Dahuricae Radix60g佐 AssistantExpels wind from the yangming region — frontal and brow pain — and opens the nose 羌Qiang Huo羌活Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix60g佐 AssistantExpels wind from the taiyang region — occipital and nape pain 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata60g使 EnvoyHarmonizes the formula and moderates the acrid dispersing herbs

Indications

Disperses wind and releases the exteriorRelieves headache

Headache from externally contracted wind: wind rises to the highest part of the body, blocks the clear yang from reaching the head, and pain follows. Exposure to wind and cold brings it on, not fatigue or emotion.

Clinical Manifestations

One-sided or whole-head headache from wind invasion
Headache with stiff neck and aversion to wind or cold
Nasal congestion with a heavy, blocked voice
Head heaviness and dizziness accompanying a common cold
Recurrent headache triggered by draughts and weather change

TongueThin white coating

PulseFloating

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthAllergy ReliefCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Tension headache Migraine Common cold with headache Sinus headache Allergic rhinitis

Common adjustments

Wind-cold predominant — increase Chuan Xiong and add Zi Su Ye 紫苏叶, Sheng Jiang 生姜
Wind-heat (sore throat, thirst, yellow coating) — reduce or omit Qiang Huo and Xi Xin; add Ju Hua 菊花, Jiang Can 僵蚕
Wind-damp with a heavy, muzzy head — add Cang Zhu 苍术, Gao Ben 藁本
Long-standing headache that has entered the collaterals — add Tao Ren 桃仁, Hong Hua 红花, Quan Xie 全蝎

Contraindications

Not for headache of deficiency or of Liver-yang rising — dispersing herbs empty an already empty head and push rising yang higher. Xi Xin is a potent herb with a low conventional dose ceiling and is restricted or unavailable in some countries; a product containing it should be taken strictly as a practitioner directs, never self-adjusted upward. The formula is also acrid and drying, so it is used for a course, not indefinitely.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Not for self-use in pregnancy. The formula is strongly acrid and dispersing, Chuan Xiong moves the blood, and Xi Xin is conventionally withheld from pregnant patients — take it only if a practitioner prescribes it.

Related Formulas

Ju Hua Cha Tiao San菊花茶调散

References

Source Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang 《太平惠民和剂局方》 · Song dynasty

「诸风上攻，头目昏重，偏正头疼，鼻塞声重……」
— 《太平惠民和剂局方》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.