雞血藤
Naming
Ji Xue Teng (Caulis Spatholobi)——Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (A Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica)
Origin
The vine of bush Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. of family Pulse.
Location
Guangxi and Yunnan provinces in China.
Harvest
Collected in autumn and winter.
The actual smell and taste
Light smell and astringent taste.
Best quality
Full of resin-like substance.
Processing
Unprocessed or made ointment.
Property
Bitter, lightly sweet, warm; Liver and kidney meridians entered.
Actions
Move blood and nourish blood, relax tendon and activate collateral.
Indications
A. Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea
This herb is neither dry nor drastic. It tends to move without breaking and tonify blood without stagnant. It is indicated for irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and unsmooth menstruating caused by blood stasis or deficiency through combinations especially for stasis with blood deficiency. It is respectively combined with blood-activating and blood tonics and menstruation-regulating herbs according to deficiency or excess syndromes. For irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to stasis, it is combined with blood-activating and menstruation-regulating herbs such as Chuan Xiong, Dan Shen and Hong Hua, etc. For irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to blood deficiency, it is combined with blood-tonifying and menstruation-regulating herbs such as Dang Gui, Shu Di and Bai Shao, etc.
B. Wind-damp arthralgia, numbness of hands and feet, paralysis
This herb can both move and tonify blood accompanied by the actions of soothing tendon and activating collaterals. It is indicated for body numbness, weakness and pain of lower back and knees, paralysis resulted from blood deficiency failing to nourish tendon, and stasis blocking meridians and collaterals through combinations. It does not work as a major herb, but when combined with wind-damp-dispelling herbs such as Du Huo, Wei Ling Xian and Sang Ji Sheng etc., the action is enhanced in treating arthralgia due to wind and dampness. For paralysis due to apoplexy, it is combined with qi tonics, blood-activating and collateral-dredging herbs.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 3~10g. Or soaked in wine or made ointment.