☯ TCM Properties
Tonifies the Kidneys and fortifies sperm; Invigorates the Blood, disperses swelling and removes toxicity; Expels Wind-Dampness
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bi Li (Fructus Fici Pumilae) is the receptacle-fruit of Ficus pumila, the creeping fig. Sweet and sour with a neutral nature, it tonifies the Kidneys and secures Essence, and is used for impotence, spermatorrhea and seminal emission, and for Kidney-related weakness of the low back and knees. In southern China its fruit and vine are also known as "Guangdong Wang Bu Liu Xing," where it invigorates the Blood and promotes lactation and the free flow of milk in nursing mothers.
Additionally it invigorates Blood, disperses swelling and resolves toxicity for abscesses, scrofula and inflammatory swellings, and expels Wind-Dampness for aching joints. The mucilage pressed from the achenes is set into the familiar cooling "ice jelly" (aiyu/love-fig jelly) consumed in Taiwan and Fujian. Being astringent and mild, it is generally combined with other tonifying or Blood-moving herbs rather than used alone.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Ficus pumila L. (Moraceae), the creeping fig or climbing fig, is an evergreen woody vine native to East Asia, widely cultivated in southern China, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam. The plant exhibits striking dimorphism: juvenile stems are slender, densely clinging by adventitious roots, bearing small ovate-cordate leaves 1.5-2.5 cm long; mature fertile branches are stout and free-climbing with larger, leathery, elliptic leaves up to 10 cm long. Like other figs, the inflorescence is a syconium, here pear-shaped, 4-7 cm long, ripening from green to purple, containing many tiny achene-like fruits embedded in a gelatinous pulp. The pulp of mature receptacles is used to make liang fen jelly in Taiwan. In TCM, Bi Li (the receptacles and stems) tonifies the kidneys, strengthens sinews, invigorates blood, and relieves swelling.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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