Herb module

Chuan Niu Xi

Cyathula RootCyathula officinalis

A guiding root that moves Blood, strengthens sinews and bones, and carries a formula's action down toward the legs.

Chuan Niu Xi is a root that gets Blood moving and is used to support the sinews and bones. It also has a special job as a guide herb, steering the whole formula downward into the lower body. In Pain Release™ it helps direct the formula's work toward the low back, knees, and legs.

Best functions

Invigorates the Blood and dispels stasis
Used to strengthen the sinews and bones
Guides the formula's action downward to the lower body
Supports the Liver and Kidney channels

Fascinating facts

Chuan Niu Xi is a 'guide' herb. In a formula, its role is to direct the other herbs toward the lower half of the body.
Pain Release™ also contains an herb that carries the formula's effects upward, so the two directions balance each other.
'Niu Xi' means 'ox knee,' because the swollen joints on the plant's stems look like the knees of an ox. 'Chuan' points to Sichuan province, where this variety is traditionally grown.
Cyathula belongs to the amaranth family, and the root is the part used.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chuan Niu Xi is neutral in nature, with a bitter and sour flavor. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels, and it is a Blood-regulating herb.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Pain Release page

Biomedical deep dive

Chuan Niu Xi Cyathula Root

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Chuan Niu Xi (Cyathula officinalis) is neutral and enters the LIV and KI meridians; invigorates Blood and dispels stasis, strengthens sinews and bones, and guides the formula's action downward to the lower body. Pain · Release sheet

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

With Fang Feng, Chuan Niu Xi contributes to pain relief by acting on mediators and pathways linked to chronic pain and tissue degeneration (breakdown).

What the research says

The Pain Release sheet cites a review of Achyranthes bidentata and Cyathula officinalis studied in rheumatoid arthritis (Zhang et al., Front Pharmacol 2025).

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
The Pain Release fact sheet cautions that the formula contains multiple blood-moving herbs, so use caution with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel), as effects may be stronger.
Avoid in pregnancy. Noa’s notes
Use caution with heavy bleeding. Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

Pain Release (#9 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.