Chuan Niu Xi (川牛膝) is the root of cyathula, recorded as Radix Cyathulae. It is sweet and bitter in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that invigorate the Blood.

Pinyin

chuan niu xi

Chinese

川牛膝

Latin Name

Radix Cyathulae

English Name

Cyathula Root

Japanese

sengoshitsu

Korean

cheonuseul

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and unblocks menstruation

Painful or absent periods from congealed Blood
Lochia retained after childbirth, with abdominal pain
Palpable masses
Pain and bruising after traumatic injury

Expels Wind-Damp, unblocks the channels and benefits the joints

Wind-Damp Bi with pain mainly in the lower back, knees and legs, and heaviness, cramping or weakness
Wasting and spasm of the legs

Promotes urination and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Lin patterns from Damp-Heat, with scanty urine that is painful to pass or contains blood

Leads Blood and Fire downward

Upward-flaring Fire causing bleeding (vomiting of blood, nosebleed), with headache, dizziness, toothache and mouth or tongue ulcers
Headache and dizziness from ascending Liver Yang
Used as a guide to direct a formula's action toward the lower body

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones

Sore, weak and painful lower back and knees

Combinations

hong hua + dang gui + tao ren

Gynecological disorders.

dang gui + chuan xiong + gui ban

Difficult labor.

hong hua + ru xiang + mo yao

Musculoskeletal pain.

dang gui + qu mai + hua shi

Blood in the urine with painful, burning urination

xiao ji + bai mao gen + zhi zi

Hematemesis and epistaxis.

shu di huang + zhi mu + shi gao

Yin Deficiency Fire with toothache or ulcers of the mouth and tongue

dai zhe shi + mu li + gui ban

Liver Wind with rising Liver Yang

shu di huang + gui ban + du zhong + suo yang

Weak lower back and knees

huang bai + yi yi ren

Damp-Heat causing red, swollen, painful joints in the lower body

mu gua + han fang ji + bei xie

Wind-Damp causing joint pain in the lower body

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 4.5-15g; May use up to 30g; Tincture: 2-5ml

4.5-15 g

—

2-5 ml

—

Cautions

pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy: it breaks up stasis and drives downward

contraindication Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, which its downward, Blood-moving action can increase

contraindication Spermatorrhea or nocturnal emissions

caution A poor fit for purely deficient patterns with no stasis; take care where digestion is weak

caution Check the botanical source on the label: the name Niu Xi covers at least three different roots, and Cyathula and Achyranthes material are swapped for each other in trade

chuan niu xi

About chuan niu xi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and unblocks menstruation

Expels Wind-Damp, unblocks the channels and benefits the joints

Promotes urination and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Leads Blood and Fire downward

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About chuan niu xi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and unblocks menstruation

Expels Wind-Damp, unblocks the channels and benefits the joints

Promotes urination and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Leads Blood and Fire downward

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 5 formulas