Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San

Ligusticum Powder with Green Tea

Dispel External Wind • Relieve Headache • Restore Clear Yang to the Head

Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is one of the most widely used classical formulas for headaches caused by external Wind, particularly Wind-Cold invasion. Designed to expel pathogenic Wind while promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood to the head, it is especially effective for headaches affecting the temples, vertex, occiput, and behind the eyes.

Unlike formulas that simply reduce pain, Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San addresses the underlying external pathogen while restoring the smooth circulation needed for healthy head and neck function. Whether treating the early stages of a common cold, recurrent weather-triggered headaches, or tension that develops after exposure to wind, this formula remains a staple in every practitioner's herbal pharmacy.

Its versatility makes it an indispensable formula for treating both acute presentations and patients prone to recurring Wind-related headaches.

Traditional Indications

• External Wind-Cold headache
• Occipital headache
• Vertex headache
• Temporal headache
• Headache behind the eyes
• Neck stiffness
• Chills with headache
• Aversion to wind
• Nasal congestion
• Early-stage common cold

TCM Pattern

External Wind-Cold Invading the Head and Channels

Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San dispels Wind, scatters Cold, promotes the circulation of Qi and Blood, opens the sensory orifices, and alleviates pain by restoring the free flow through the head and neck channels.

Modern Clinical Applications

Many practitioners reach for Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San when supporting patients experiencing:

• Acute tension headaches
• Wind-triggered headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Early-stage colds accompanied by headache
• Weather-related migraines
• Cervicogenic headaches
• Occipital headaches
• Headaches after exposure to wind or cold
• Recurrent headaches aggravated by seasonal changes

Its ability to both release the exterior and improve circulation makes it especially useful for patients whose headaches consistently worsen with wind, cold, or changes in weather.

With appropriate modifications, practitioners also frequently adapt this formula for migraine, sinus, and chronic headache presentations.

Ingredients

• Chuan Xiong — 17.5%
• Bai Zhi — 15%
• Qiang Huo — 15%
• Green Tea — 15%
• Xi Xin — 10%
• Jing Jie — 10%
• Fang Feng — 10%
• Gan Cao — 7.5%

Crafted using our signature Two-Cured Decoction™ process—combining a traditional hot water decoction with a secondary high-proof alcohol extraction—to capture both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble herbal constituents for a full-spectrum tincture.

Practitioner Favorites

Sinus Congestion + Headache

60% Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San + 40% Cang Er Zi San

An excellent combination for headaches accompanied by nasal congestion, sinus pressure, facial pain, and seasonal allergies.

Single Herb Pairings

For further customization, consider adding:

• Bo He — for headaches involving the temples, eye pain, or heat affecting the head.
• Shi Chang Pu — when headaches are accompanied by brain fog, poor concentration, or a sensation of mental heaviness.

Urban Herbs Practitioner Advantage

Every 16 oz amber bottle is designed for fast, customized dispensing in clinical practice. Blend Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San with complementary formulas to create individualized prescriptions in minutes—giving your patients the convenience of a liquid tincture while providing your practice with a flexible, space-saving herbal pharmacy.

Double-extracted. Ready to dispense. Built for practitioners.

Why Practitioners Keep Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San on the Shelf

Headaches are among the most common reasons patients seek treatment—and not all headaches have the same root cause.

When headache begins after exposure to wind, cold weather, seasonal changes, or the onset of an external illness, Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San often becomes the formula of choice. Rather than masking pain, it addresses the underlying Wind invasion while restoring healthy circulation to the head and neck.

Practitioners frequently reach for this formula when treating:

• Wind-Cold headaches
• Early-stage colds with significant headache
• Occipital headaches
• Temporal headaches
• Headaches behind the eyes
• Weather-related migraines
• Sinus headaches
• Patients whose headaches worsen on windy days

Because Urban Herbs tinctures are designed for blending, Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San easily combines with sinus, allergy, migraine, or circulation-supporting formulas to create highly individualized prescriptions for complex headache presentations.

Every comprehensive herbal pharmacy needs a dependable formula for acute Wind-related headaches—and this is the classical standard.

One bottle. A cornerstone formula for Wind-related headaches and early exterior patterns.

Practitioner Snapshot

Category

Exterior-Releasing Formulas

Primary Actions

• Dispels External Wind
• Releases Wind-Cold
• Relieves Headache
• Moves Qi & Blood to the Head
• Opens the Nasal Passages
• Improves Channel Circulation

Best For

• Wind-Cold headaches
• Temporal headaches
• Vertex headaches
• Occipital headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Early-stage colds
• Weather-triggered headaches
• Neck stiffness

Pairs Well With

• Cang Er Zi San
• Yin Qiao San
• Jing Fang Bai Du San
• Ge Gen Tang
• Chai Hu Shu Gan San (when external Wind overlays underlying Qi stagnation)

Clinical Personality

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exterior Releasing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Headache Relief
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Wind Dispelling
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Channel Opening
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Qi & Blood Moving

Clinical Pearl

One of the defining features of Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is that the headache often has a clear trigger—a windy day, sleeping under a fan, the first signs of a cold, or exposure to cold weather. When patients say, "Every time I'm out in the wind, I get a headache," this formula should be high on your differential. It also serves as an excellent base formula that can be customized for migraine, sinus, or allergy-related headaches with a few well-chosen additions, making it one of the most versatile headache formulas in a practitioner's dispensary.