Guang Fang Ji
StarAristolochia fangchi Y.C.Wu ex L.D.Chow & S.M.Hwang
☯ TCM Properties
Expels Wind-Dampness and clears Heat; Promotes urination and reduces edema
Traditional Chinese Uses
Safety warning: Guang Fang Ji is the root of Aristolochia fangchi and contains aristolochic acid, a nephrotoxin and carcinogen responsible for aristolochic acid nephropathy (notably the 1990s Belgian slimming-clinic cases) and urothelial carcinoma. Its medicinal standard was removed from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2004 and it is banned in many countries; the description below is historical only and it must not be used.
It was formerly classed among the Dampness-dispelling herbs: pungent, bitter and cold, entering the Bladder, Lung, Spleen and Kidney channels, and used to expel Wind-Dampness while clearing Heat, and to promote urination and reduce edema. Because it shares the name element “Fang Ji,” it was dangerously confused with and substituted for Han Fang Ji (Stephania tetrandra), the intended safe herb for these indications.
Botanical Description
Aristolochia fangchi is a woody, deciduous climbing vine of the Aristolochiaceae, native to subtropical broadleaf forests of southern China (notably Guangdong and Guangxi) and northern Vietnam. The slender twining stems may reach 5–10 m. Alternate, long-petioled leaves are oblong-ovate to narrowly cordate, 8–18 cm long, glabrous and dull green above with paler pubescence beneath. The bilaterally symmetrical pipe-shaped flowers, characteristic of the genus, are yellow-green flushed with purple-brown markings. The cylindrical, longitudinally six-ribbed capsule splits at maturity. The medicinal organ is the dried root, cylindrical or somewhat tortuous, with a thick yellow-brown bark and pale yellow woody centre. The species contains nephrotoxic aristolochic acids and is the documented causative agent of the Belgian 'Chinese-herb nephropathy' outbreak; it is now banned or withdrawn from medicinal use in most jurisdictions.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
Safety Warnings
- Aristolochic acid — nephrotoxic and carcinogenic (aristolochic-acid nephropathy, urothelial cancer). Not for internal use; illegal to dispense.
Regulatory Status
- Banned in China (removed from the Pharmacopoeia in 2004); prohibited or restricted in the US/EU. Contains aristolochic acid.
⚠ Toxicity Information
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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