- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- China
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Herb · № 742
Spatholobus suberectus (syn. Millettia reticulata)
Herb · Asia
Spatholobus stem (ji xue teng)
Spatholobus suberectus (syn. Millettia reticulata)
Traditionally attributed effects: both moves and nourishes the blood; for weakness, numbness and painful joints.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Discuss blood abnormalities after radiotherapy with the treating doctor.
Preparation
Stem. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that move the blood'. Ji xue teng means 'chicken blood vine': the cut stem oozes a red sap. It nourishes and moves the blood, for irregular menstruation, numbness and joint pain.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- bitter, sweet, warm
- Meridians
- heart, spleen, liver
Attributed effects
For complaints where the blood needs both to flow and to be nourished: irregular menstruation, numbness and paralysis in older people, painful joints from wind, cold and dampness with blood deficiency. Also used for a shortage of white blood cells after radiotherapy.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 9–30 g a day, usually in a decoction.
Combinations
- With dang gui and chuanxiong
- With mu gua, sang ji sheng and huai niu xi for painful joints
Caution: Discuss blood abnormalities after radiotherapy with the treating doctor.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction