Sichuan lovage

As mentioned earlier, this species is the source of two separate TCM herbs. These herbs are assigned different meridians. Chuanxiong is considered more valuable than gaoben, and adulteration using gaoben is not uncommon. It is used in China, with portions of other plants and herbs (such as monkshood and Rosa banksiae) to make a liniment to treat a painful swelling of the joints. According to Chinese sources, it can also be used to treat ischemic strokes, improve brain microcirculation and inhibit thrombus formation and platelet aggregation. Chuanxiong is popularly used in the traditional chinese medicine space as Suxiao Jiuxin Wan, an oral medication which is composed of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Borneolum syntheticum. It is commonly used as fast acting angina relief as well as a daily use angina prevention medication. Studies on its mechanisms in human vessels suggest that the medication's inhibitory effect on the vasoconstriction in human arteries is mainly mediated by tetramethylpyrazine- the key component of chuanxiong. The main physiological response it produces is thought to be increased production of nitric oxide (NO), which is similar to the mechanism of action of Nitroglycerin, the medicine commonly prescribed for acute angina attacks in western medicine. …