Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
川芎茶调散 · Chuān Xiōng Chá Tiáo Sàn
A classical formula for exterior wind causing headache, often taken with tea. It addresses wind-cold or wind-heat headache with nasal congestion and a floating pulse.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Exterior-Releasing Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Wind-Cold
- Primary Function
- Disperse wind, stop headache
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Disperse exterior wind and relieve headache
- Classical Source
- Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Song dynasty)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for exterior wind causing headache, often taken with tea. It addresses wind-cold or wind-heat headache with nasal congestion and a floating pulse.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for exterior wind headache — a dispersing formula rather than damp-dispelling, orifice-opening or Liver-calming approaches.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
白芷Bai Zhi6g
Angelica Dahurica Root- scatters and dissipate wind pathogen
- relieves headache especially effective for treating yangming headaches
羌活Qiang Huo6g
Notopterygium Root- scatters and dissipate wind pathogen
- relieves headache especially effective for treating taiyang headaches
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
細辛Xi Xin3g
Asarum / Wild Ginger- dispels wind to relieve pain especially effective for treating shaoyin headaches
防風Fang Feng6g
Saposhnikovia Root- dispels wind
荊芥Jing Jie9g
Schizonepeta / Japanese Catnip- scatters and dissipates pathogenic windr
- releases the exterior
薄荷Bo He6g
Mentha / Peppermint- scatters and dissipates pathogenic wind
- benefits the head and eyes prevents warm-dry medicinals from producing side effects at high dosages
Classical Composition
- 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)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Scatters wind and relieves pain.
Indications
- 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.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is floating.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- 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.
- Externally-contracted wind produces the headache.
Clinical presentation
- A thin, white tongue coating and a floating pulse are indications of externally-contracted wind.
Treatment strategy
- The therapeutic principles used to remedy this pattern are to scatter and dissipate wind in order to relieve pain.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San disperses wind for exterior-type headache. Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang dispels wind-damp for heavier body pain. Cang Er San focuses on nasal orifices. Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin calms Liver Yang for interior wind headache.
Clinical 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.
Safety notes: It is not applicable for patients diagnosed with headache due to internal damage.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San?
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San has the actions of dispersing Wind and relieving pain. It is the classic formula for headaches caused by external Wind invading the head and face, guiding the medicinals upward with tea to clear the head and stop pain.
Which modern diseases is Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within external Wind attacking the head, including Wind-type migraine or tension headache, common-cold headache, rhinitis or sinusitis accompanied by headache, and certain vascular or neurovascular headaches of Wind pattern.
Is Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San suitable for improving one-sided or vertex headache with nasal congestion after exposure to wind?
For presentations of one-sided, frontal, occipital, or vertex headache that worsens with wind exposure, often with nasal congestion, mild dizziness, possible chills or fever, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms external Wind — TCM commonly applies Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical evaluation of headache.
Related Products
Hoi Tin Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San (Ligusticum Powder with Tea) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
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Related Articles
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San: Classic TCM Formula for Headache due to Exterior Wind
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Cang Er Zi San: Classic TCM Formula for Nasal Congestion, Sinusitis & Wind-Heat in the Nose
Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Wind-Damp Bi, Heavy Body, Headache & Joint Pain
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.