Traditional Indications

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Liqusticum is called Chuān Xiōng 川. Chuān Xiōng is said to be spicy and warm and to enter the Liver, Gallbladder and Pericardium channels. It is one of the most effective herbs for all Blood and Qi stasis and useful in gynecological disorders. Chuān Xiōng expels Wind and relieves Pain and is useful to treat headaches due to Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, Wind-Damp, Blood Stagnation and Blood Deficiency. Chuān Xiōng is also prescribed for dizziness due to wind. Chuān Xiōng relieves pain associated with Qi and Blood Stasis and treats numbness, paralysis, chronic non-healing sores with or without pus, and Bi Zheng/ Bi syndrome, pain caused by invasion of external wind, damp, cold or heat which obstructs meridians and collaterals, or blood the circulation of qi and blood. (1)

Pharmacognosy

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang is traditionally used to tonify the Blood and Qi to treat anaemia, anorexia, extreme exhaustion, fatigue, kidney and spleen insufficiency and general weakness, particularly after illness and after chemotherapy. It has been found to potentiate (make it work better) chemotherapy and radiotherapy and inhibit malignant recurrences, prolong survival and prevent and ameliorate adverse toxicities in cancer treatment. (2) In Japanese herbal medicine (Kampo) the formula is known Juzen Taiho To and has been shown to increase expression of heavy metal chelating metallothioneins (MTs). (3) Shi Quan Da Bu Tang also increases transcription factor Nrf2 to support phase II detoxification thus regulate the body's detoxification and antioxidant system. (4) Alfalfa Medicago sativa contains heavy metal chelating plant metallothiones. (5)

1. Lotus S. Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root) 2019.
2. Chang I-M. Juzen-taiho-to (Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang): Scientific Evaluation and Clinical Application. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2006;3(3):393-4.
3. Anjiki N, Hoshino R, Ohnishi Y, Hioki K, Irie Y, Ishige A, et al. A kampo formula Juzen-taiho-to induces expression of metallothioneins in mice. 2005;19(10):915-7.
4. Wu Q, Zhang D, Tao N, Zhu QN, Jin T, Shi JS, et al. Induction of Nrf2 and metallothionein as a common mechanism of hepatoprotective medicinal herbs. Am J Chin Med. 2014;42(1):207-21.
5. Robinson NJ, Tommey AM, Kuske C, Jackson PJ. Plant metallothioneins. The Biochemical journal. 1993;295 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):1-10.