ABSTRACT
Chuanxiong Chatiaosan was first recorded in Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, which was made up of 8 herbs, including Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, Asari Radix et Rhizoma, Schizonepetae Herba, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. This prescription mainly contains a variety of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, volatile oils and other compounds, which play the biological activity of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Chuanxiong Chatiaosan can reduce blood viscosity, improve cerebral circulation, and has central analgesic effect to treat migraine effectively. However, the mechanism for treating migraine of this prescription is still unclear. The author elaborated the research status of Chuanxiong Chatiaosan from four aspects, including quality control method, chemical composition, preparation technology and pharmacological research, hoping to provide references for rational clinical application and explanation of pharmacological mechanism of this prescription.