Ji Xue Teng
English Name: spatholobus stem/vine
Literal Translation: “chicken blood vine”
Pharmaceutical Name: Caulis Spatholobi
Medica Category: Blood-Invigorating and Stasis-Removing Herbs
Properties: Ji Xue Teng enters the Liver channel; it is bitter and slightly sweet in nature and warm in temperature.
What is Ji Xue Teng?:
The Chinese Herb Ji Xue Teng is the dried caulis (stem) of a plant called Spatholobus suberectus, which grows naturally in the forests of Fujian, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guanxi provinces in Southern China. It starts out like a shrub, then the vines crawl and wrap up around the trunks of tree.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Ji Xue Teng:
Ji Xue Teng activates blood circulation and tonifies blood to address irregular menstruation, pain, and cramps from either blood deficiency or blood stagnation.
Ji Xue Teng opens the channels and collaterals to relax tendons and address musculoskeletal pain from bi zheng (painful obstruction syndrome) with blood stagnation or deficiency at its root.
–safety note:
Contraindicated during pregnancy due to its stimulating effect on the uterus.
Use with caution in cases of profuse menstrual bleeding.