Sundance Acupuncture

Herb & Acupuncture Database

(This is my own personal database of teachers, teachings and notes that I use in my practice. I’ve decided to share it freely with anyone who would like to reference it.)

Chuan Niu Xi - 川牛膝 - Radix Cyathulae

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Radix Cyathulae
Common English:	Cyathula Root Hookweed Root

Category

Herbs That Invigorate the Blood

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Bitter (Sour)	Neutral	Kidney Liver	4.5-15g May use up to 30g Tincture: 2-5ml 4.5-9g (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and unblocks the menses	Blood Stasis leading to dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea Pain due to traumatic injury
Expels Wind and drains Dampness	Wind-Damp Bi pain (especially in the lower back) and atrophy and spasm of the lower extremities
Promotes urination and treats dysuria	Painful urinary dysfunction
Descends Blood and Fire	Abnormal bleeding due to Fire Flaring Upwards with hematemesis, epistaxis, toothache ulceration of the mouth and tongue, dizziness and headache
Tonifies the Kidneys and Liver and strengthens the tendons and bones	Lower back and knee soreness, weakness and pain

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated during Pregnancy.
Contraindicated with excessive menstruation.
Contraindicated with spermatorrhea and nocturnal emissions.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Major Combinations

Flos Carthami Hong Hua Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Sm. Persicae Tao Ren	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong Plastrum Testudinis Gui Ban	Flos Carthami Hong Hua Olibanum Ru Xiang Myrrh Mo Yao
Gynecological disorders.	Difficult labor.	Musculoskeletal pain.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Hb. Dianthi Qu Mai Talcum Hua Shi	Hb. Cirsii Xiao Ji Rz. Imperatae Bai Mao Gen Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi	Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang Rx. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao
Hematuria with burning sensations and pain during urination.	Hematemesis and epistaxis.	Toothache or ulcerations on the tongue and mouth from Yin Deficiency Fire.
Haematitum Dai Zhe Shi Concha Ostreae Mu Li Plastrum Testudinis Gui Ban	Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang Plastrum Testudinis Gui Ban Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong Hb. Cynomorii Suo Yang	Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren
Liver Yang rising with Liver Wind.	Weakness of the low back and knees.	Redness, swelling and pain in the joints of the lower body due to Damp-Heat.
Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae Han Fang Ji Rz. Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Bei Xie
Pain in the joints of the lower body due to Wind-Dampness.

Notes

In some sources it is regarded as an herb that expels Wind-Dampness.
It works very well for the shoulders, back, hands and arms, and it eases the movement of the joints.
Like Huai Niu Xi, it guides the action of a formula downward.

For educational reference only; not a substitute for care from a qualified practitioner.