Cnidium

Latin name: Rhizome Ligustici

Chinese Name: Chuan-xiong (Cnidium)

Traditional Uses

Actions: Invigorates blood circulation, promotes the flow of ch’i, dispels wind, controls pain

Applications: Headache, abdominal pain, arthralgia due to cold, spasm of tendons, amenorrhea, other menstrual disorders

Pharmacology

(1) Antispasmodic effects: The extract inhibits intestinal and uterine contraction in animals to produce antispasmodic and analgesic effects. Its active constituent is ferulic acid.

(2) Tranquilizing effect: The essential oil inhibits the central nervous system.

(3) Hypotensive effect: The aqueous extract slightly lowers the blood pressure of animals. Intramuscular injection can produce this effect, but the effect is more pronounced with anesthetized animals (dogs, cats, and rabbits) when the extract is injected intravenously.

(4) Vasodilative effect: The extract when injected into the coronary artery increases blood flow in the coronary artery and to the lower limbs.

(5) Anti-bacterial effect: In vitro it inhibits Escherichia coli, Bacillus typhi, and dysentery bacteria.

(6) Antifungal effect: In vitro butylphthalide, cnidilide, and neocnidilide inhibit dermatophytes.

Reference: Hung-yen Hsu, Ph.D. and Associates: Oriental Materia Medica A Concise Guide 1986, Keats Publishing