☯ TCM Properties
Breaks up Blood Stasis and unblocks menstruation; Eliminates parasites; Eliminates Wind-toxin; Clears Heat, cools the Blood and stops bleeding
Traditional Chinese Uses
Gui Jian Yu is the cork-winged twig of Euonymus alatus (Celastraceae), recorded since the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. Bitter and cold (some sources neutral) and entering the Liver channel, it invigorates the Blood and breaks Blood stasis to unblock menstruation, and it kills parasites. It is used chiefly for stasis patterns: amenorrhea and irregular menses, postpartum abdominal pain from retained lochia, fixed abdominal masses, and traumatic injury; classically it also addresses intestinal parasites and, in some texts, cools the Blood to stop bleeding and disperses wind-toxin skin lesions.
It is typically decocted around 4-9 g, or taken as pill, powder, or soaked in wine, and is combined with Blood-invigorating and menstruation-regulating herbs. As a Blood-breaking agent it is contraindicated in pregnancy and used cautiously with heavy menstrual bleeding.
Botanical Description
Gui Jian Yu is derived from Euonymus alatus, the winged spindle tree or burning bush, a deciduous shrub of the family Celastraceae reaching 2 to 4 metres in height. The species is immediately recognisable by its young branches, which develop two to four prominent, longitudinal, corky wings of suberous tissue running along the green stems; these winged twigs are the part collected for medicinal use. Leaves are opposite, elliptic to obovate, 3 to 8 centimetres long, with finely serrate margins, turning a brilliant crimson in autumn. Inconspicuous greenish-yellow four-petalled flowers borne in spring give rise to small, four-lobed, reddish-purple capsules that split to expose seeds enveloped in bright orange arils. The shrub grows in mixed woodland, on slopes, and along stream banks throughout much of northeastern Asia.
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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