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Cura x Cura

Chuan Niu Xi川牛膝

Cyathulae Radix · Cyathula Root

Herbs that Invigorate the Blood 活血化瘀药Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 《神农本草经》(as Niu Xi 牛膝)

Overview

The Sichuan achyranthes: of the two Niu Xi it is the one that moves rather than tonifies, breaking blood stasis, freeing the joints and drawing blood and fire downward. Dry-frying softens its moving edge, wine-frying pushes the blood-moving and channel-freeing action harder, and salt-frying steers it into the Kidney for weak, aching low back and knees.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, slightly bitter · Neutral

Channels

Liver · Kidney

Typical Dosage

5–9 g in decoction
川牛膝Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Invigorates blood, unblocks menstruationBlocked or painful periods with clots, fixed abdominal masses, traumatic injury with stasis.
  • Frees the channels, benefits the jointsLower-limb wind-damp painful obstruction, stiff aching knees and hips, weakness of the legs.
  • Promotes urination, relieves painful urinationPainful, dripping or blood-streaked urination with damp-heat below.
  • Leads blood and fire downwardNosebleed, bleeding gums, toothache, headache and dizziness from fire or yang flaring upward.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Chuan Niu Xi

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Amenorrhea, clotted painful periods, post-traumatic stasis
    - Wind-damp obstruction and weakness of the lower limbs and knees
    - Damp-heat painful urination, blood in the urine
    - Upward-flaring fire: nosebleed, bleeding gums, headache, dizziness

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

DysmenorrheaOsteoarthritisSciaticaHypertensionUrinary stones

Contraindications

Cautions

Strongly blood-moving and descending: avoid with heavy menstrual bleeding, sinking middle qi or organ prolapse, and seminal emission. Tell the treating practitioner about anticoagulants such as warfarin. Do not confuse it with Huai Niu Xi 怀牛膝, which is the tonifying member of the pair.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy — it breaks blood stasis and moves downward

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.