☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind, unblocks the channels and collaterals and eliminates Dampness; Promotes urination, resolves toxicity and reduces swellings
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mu Fang Ji is anchored here to Cocculus orbiculatus (syn. C. trilobus, Menispermaceae), the 'wood' Fang Ji. Bitter, pungent and cold, entering the Spleen, Bladder, Kidney and Lung channels, it dispels Wind and Dampness, unblocks the channels and collaterals, and promotes urination while resolving toxicity and reducing swelling. It is used for Wind-Damp painful obstruction (bi syndrome) with joint pain and swelling, and for edema and difficult urination.
Critical safety note: the market name 'Fang Ji' has historically been confused with, or adulterated by, Aristolochia species (Guang Fang Ji, Aristolochia fangchi), which contain aristolochic acid, a potent nephrotoxin and carcinogen now banned worldwide. Only correctly identified Cocculus (or Stephania tetrandra, Han Fang Ji) should be used; any Aristolochia-derived Fang Ji must be avoided entirely. Cocculus itself contains bioactive alkaloids, so moderate dosing is warranted.
Botanical Description
Cocculus orbiculatus (syn. C. trilobus) is a deciduous woody climbing vine of the Menispermaceae family widespread across East Asia from China and the Himalayas to Korea and Japan, where it scrambles over fences, shrubs, and forest margins. The slender twining stems are pale brown to greenish when young and become finely longitudinally striate with age. Leaves are alternate, variable in shape from broadly ovate and entire to distinctly three-lobed on the same plant, with cordate to truncate bases and softly pubescent surfaces. The plant is dioecious, producing small inconspicuous yellowish-green unisexual flowers in axillary panicles during summer, followed on female plants by small spherical drupes that ripen blue-black with a whitish bloom and contain a characteristic horseshoe-shaped seed typical of the family.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | 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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