Ma Dou Ling
StarAristolochia debilis Sieb. et Zucc.; Aristolochia contorta Bge.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Lung Heat; Descends Lung Qi and Stops Cough; Resolves Phlegm and Stops Cough; Calms Wheezing; Clears the Large Intestine and treats hemorrhoids
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ma Dou Ling (birthwort fruit, Aristolochia fruit) is a cold herb that descends Lung Qi, clears Lung Heat, and calms wheezing. It addresses hot-type cough and asthma with yellow phlegm, as well as hemorrhoids with bleeding from Heat in the Large Intestine. Due to the presence of aristolochic acid — a compound with known nephrotoxicity — this herb is subject to regulatory restrictions in many countries and should only be used under medical supervision with strict dosage controls.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Aristolochia debilis (and the related A. contorta) are slender perennial twining vines in the family Aristolochiaceae, native to China, Korea, and Japan. The stems are herbaceous to weakly woody and climb to 1–2 m; the alternate leaves are triangular-ovate to halberd-shaped with cordate bases. Flowers are solitary, axillary, and bilaterally symmetrical with a curved trumpet-shaped perianth tube about 3 cm long, yellowish-green with purple-brown veining, functioning as a fly trap for pollination. The fruit (Ma Dou Ling) is a six-valved pendulous capsule 3–6 cm long, splitting from the apex into six sections that resemble a hanging bell or horse bell — the source of the Chinese name. In TCM the dried ripe fruit is bitter and cold, clearing lung-heat and arresting cough. The genus contains nephrotoxic and carcinogenic aristolochic acids; its sale is restricted or banned in many countries.
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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