Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San: A TCM Formula for Relieving Wind-Induced Headaches
- Health Lab
- May 24
- 6 min read
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San, also known as Ligusticum Tea-Regulating Powder, comes from the Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People’s Welfare Pharmacy, a classic Chinese medicine text. This formula is used to treat headaches caused by external wind pathogens and is known for its ability to relieve wind and ease pain.
This article explains its ingredients, usage, effects, indications, pathophysiology, modern applications, dietary support, contraindications, and precautions.
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San Formula and Usage
The formula includes the following ingredients:
Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum): 120g
Jing Jie (Schizonepeta): 120g
Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica): 60g
Qiang Huo (Notopterygium): 60g
Gan Cao (Licorice): 60g
Xi Xin (Asarum): 30g
Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia): 45g
Bo He (Mint Leaves): 240g
Usage: Typically taken as a powder, 6g per dose, three times daily after meals, mixed with clear tea. It can also be decocted (boiled) with water, adjusting the dosage proportionally.
Pathophysiology of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San treats headaches caused by external wind pathogens. Wind invades the head, blocking clear yang qi and disrupting qi and blood flow in the meridians, leading to headaches, dizziness, and nasal congestion.
Depending on the affected meridian, headaches may be one-sided, generalized, or at the crown. Wind attacking the body’s surface also causes chills, fever, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating pulse.
Think of wind as an external “troublemaker” that enters the body, especially the head, and blocks qi and blood flow, causing pain, dizziness, and stuffy nose.
The headache’s location varies—some feel it on one side, others across the whole head or at the top. Wind also brings chills, fever, a white tongue coating, and a floating pulse.
Formula Explanation
Each ingredient in Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San plays a specific role:
Chuan Xiong: The main herb, it drives out wind, activates blood, and relieves stasis, especially effective for crown and side headaches. It’s like the “team leader” guiding other herbs to expel wind.
Jing Jie: Supports Chuan Xiong in expelling wind, particularly for cold-related headaches, acting as the “deputy leader.”
Bai Zhi: Relieves pain in the forehead and brow area, targeting frontal discomfort.
Qiang Huo: Eases pain in the back of the head and neck, focusing on occipital and cervical discomfort.
Gan Cao: Harmonizes the formula and protects the stomach, like a “peacemaker” balancing the herbs.
Xi Xin: Helps relieve one-sided headaches, especially with toothache.
Fang Feng: Expels wind, particularly from the head, enhancing wind-clearing effects.
Bo He: Cools the head, easing headaches and nasal congestion with its refreshing effect.
Together, these herbs form a powerful formula to expel wind, relieve headaches, and address related symptoms.
Effects of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
The primary effect of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is to relieve wind and stop pain. It effectively clears external wind pathogens, easing headaches and discomfort through the combined action of its herbs, which disperse wind, activate blood, clear stasis, and unblock meridians to stop pain.
Indications
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San treats headaches caused by external wind, with symptoms including:
One-sided or generalized headaches: Pain on one side or across the entire head.
Crown pain: Pain at the top of the head.
Dizziness and nasal congestion: Feeling dizzy with a stuffy nose.
Chills and fever: Feeling cold and feverish.
Thin white tongue coating and floating pulse: A thin white coating on the tongue and a floating pulse.
Modern Applications of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
In modern clinical practice, Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is used for:
Wind-Cold Headaches: Relieves wind-cold-induced headaches, dizziness, nasal congestion, and runny nose by dispersing wind and activating blood.
Rhinitis: Opens nasal passages and reduces mucosal swelling, effective for acute or chronic rhinitis and sinusitis.
Migraines: Activates blood, clears stasis, and stops pain, useful for migraines and cerebrovascular conditions.
Tension Headaches: Disperses wind, activates blood, and unblocks meridians, helping with tension headaches and cervical spondylosis.
Other Conditions: Acute nephritis, urticaria, and measles.
Dietary Support
While taking Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San, dietary support can enhance treatment:
Ginger Soup: Ginger promotes sweating and relieves nausea, helping to expel wind and ease headaches.
Red Date and Longan Tea: Red dates and longan nourish qi and blood, calming the mind and reducing headache-related insomnia and fatigue.
Chrysanthemum Tea: Chrysanthemum clears heat, disperses wind, and relieves headaches and dizziness.
Contraindications and Precautions
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is not suitable for internal headaches caused by qi deficiency, blood deficiency, liver-kidney yin deficiency, liver yang rising, or internal liver wind. Consult a professional doctor before use to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Conclusion
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is a specialized Chinese medicine formula for treating headaches caused by external wind pathogens, with strong wind-relieving and pain-stopping effects.
Paired with appropriate dietary support, it can maximize therapeutic benefits. However, professional medical advice is essential before use to ensure safety and efficacy. This article aims to help readers better understand the effects and applications of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San.
Chinese Name | 川芎茶調散 |
Phonetic | Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San |
English Name | Tea-Mix and Chuanxiong Powder |
Classification | Wind-calming formulas |
Source | 《Formulas from the Imperial Pharmacy》Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang《太平惠民和劑局方》 |
Combination | Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuan Xiong) 4 liang (120g), Schizonepetae Herba (Jie Geng) 4 liang (120g), Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Bai Zhi) 2 liang (60g), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qiang Huo) 2 liang (60g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 2 liang (60g), Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xi Xin) 1 liang (30g), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) 1.5 liang (45g), Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bo He) 8 liang (240g) |
Method | Grind the ingredients into a fine powder. Take 6g infused in green tea after meals each time, 3 times a day. It can also be prepared as a decoction by dosing the medicinals based on their original ratios. |
Action | Scatters wind and relieves pain. |
Indication | Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is indicated for headaches caused by externally-contracted wind. The symptoms are headache in any part of the head, dizzy vision, and nasal congestion possibly accompanied by aversion to wind and fever. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is floating. |
Pathogenesis | This is a pattern of externally-contracted wind that has caused a headache. Pathogenic wind attacks the exterior and travels upward along the channels to the head and eyes. There it obstructs the clear yang qi and the flow of qi and blood in the channel, causing a headache, dizzy vision, and nasal congestion. As pathogenic wind may affect different channels, the headache may occur in different parts of the head (frontal, temporal, occipital, or vertex). Aversion to wind and fever indicate that exterior wind has invaded the exterior. A thin, white tongue coating and a floating pulse are indications of externally-contracted wind. Externally-contracted wind produces the headache. The therapeutic principles used to remedy this pattern are to scatter and dissipate wind in order to relieve pain. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San serves as the common formula used to treat headaches caused by externally-contracted wind pathogens. This clinical pattern is marked by headache, nasal congestion, thin white tongue coating, floating pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of headache due to externally-contracted wind: headache resulting from rheum, migraine, cluster headache syndrome, and chronic rhinitis. 3. Cautions and contraindications It is not applicable for patients diagnosed with headache due to internal damage. |
Additonal formulae | Ju Hua Cha Tiao San (Tea-Mix and Chrysanthemum Powder 菊花茶调散) [Source]《Medical Formulas Collected and Analyzed》Yi Fang Ji Jie《医方集解》 [Ingredients] bo he 8 qian (24g), chuan xiong 4 qian (12g), jing jie 4 qian (12g), qiang huo 1 qian (3g), bai zhi 1 qian (3g), zhi gan cao 1 qian (3g), xi xin 1 qian (3g), ju hua 1 qian (3g), jiang can 3 fen (1g) [Preparation and Administration] Grind the medicinals into a fine powder. Take 3 qian (9g), infused in green tea after meals each time. [Actions] Scatters wind and relieves pain, and benefits the head and eyes. [Applicable Patterns] Headache may be caused by externally-contracted wind–heat. Symptoms include: headaches in any part of the head, vertigo, dizzy vision. |
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