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Botanical illustration of Cnidium officinale
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Cnidium Rhizome

천궁 (芎藭) · Cnidium officinale Makino
Blood-invigorating herb Warm Pungent Liver, Gallbladder
NatureWarm
TastePungent
MeridiansLiver, Gallbladder
Part usedRhizome
FamilyApiaceae
CategoryBlood-invigorating herb
Find by concern: HeadacheDizzinessMenstrual irregularity

Overview

Cnidium rhizome is celebrated in Korean tradition as the premier herb for blood-related headache, prized enough that the finest grade — shaped like a small bird's brain — was given the special name 'sparrow-brain cheongung.' It is a core ingredient of Samul-tang alongside danggwi, peony, and rehmannia.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑
性溫, 味辛, 無毒. 治一切風ㆍ一切氣ㆍ一切勞損ㆍ一切血. 破宿血, 養新血.
Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)
TranslationIts nature is warm, its taste pungent, and it is non-toxic. It treats all manner of wind, qi, taxation-damage, and blood disorders; it breaks up old stagnant blood and nourishes new blood.

Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam

  • Invigorates blood, dispels stasis
  • Moves qi, relieves pain
  • Dispels wind, stops headache
  • Nourishes new blood

Traditional applications recorded in the classical text

  • Headache from blood stasis or blood deficiency
  • Menstrual irregularity and cramping
  • Dizziness
  • Pain from blood stagnation

Traditional preparation

Decoction 4–8g; a core ingredient of Samul-tang (Four-Substance Decoction) alongside danggwi, peony, and rehmannia.

Cautions

Caution: The Donguibogam itself cautions that prolonged solo use may dissipate genuine qi; not recommended for long-term use alone, and traditionally avoided in heavy menstrual bleeding or during pregnancy without guidance. Consult a professional.
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Frequently asked questions

Can Cheongung be taken long-term on its own?

The Donguibogam explicitly warns against it: taken alone for a long period, it may 'dissipate genuine qi' — it is traditionally used within formulas alongside other herbs rather than as a standalone long-term tonic.

Why is it paired with danggwi, peony, and rehmannia?

This combination, Samul-tang, is the foundational blood-nourishing formula in Korean herbal tradition — cheongung's blood-moving action balances the more purely nourishing roles of the other three herbs.

Sources