Sichuan lovage rhizome

川芎

活血行氣祛風止痛血虛頭痛常用

The knobbly rhizome of Sichuan lovage, sold as lobed cross-cut slices with an intense camphor-spice fragrance. A slice or two perfumes the whole pot, so it is used sparingly, classically alongside dang gui in blood-tonic soups and in fish-head soup.

TCM properties

Nature · warming　Flavour · pungent　Meridians · liver、gallbladder、pericardium

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is used in small measure to move the blood and qi and dispel wind, traditionally one of the trio simmered into fish-head soup and a companion to dang gui.

Cautions — read first

[SAFETY CRITICAL] Take care if your periods are heavy, and take care if you are pregnant
Take care with yin deficiency and rising fire, and with bleeding disorders
Keep the amount small
If you take anticoagulants (blood thinners), be aware of the bleeding risk

Preparation

Soak and rinse the sliced form. The smell is strong, so a little is plenty.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

四川都江堰（灌縣川芎）

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists

Pairs well with

Chinese angelica root White peony root Prepared rehmannia root Pork spare ribs

Soups that use this ingredient · 3

Double-boiled fish head with gastrodia, ligusticum and angelica dahuricaNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

天麻川芎白芷燉魚頭

calms the spiritAll yearAutumnWinter

街市Fish head (bighead carp)· 1 large fish head百子櫃Gastrodia tuber· 12 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 9 to 12 g百子櫃Dahurian angelica root· 12 to 15 g街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”

Fish head soup with ligusticum, angelica dahurica and gastrodiaNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

川芎白芷天麻魚頭湯

dispels coldrelaxes sinews and jointsWinterAll year

街市Fish head (bighead carp)· 1百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Dahurian angelica root· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Gastrodia tuber· 20 g (5 mace)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 4… +1

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”

Ten-treasure tonic chicken soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

十全大補雞湯

replenishes qinourishes blooddispels coldWinter

百子櫃Codonopsis root· to taste百子櫃White atractylodes rhizome· 12 g百子櫃Poria· 12 g百子櫃Honey-fried licorice root· 6 g百子櫃Chinese angelica root· 9 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 6 g… +6

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”