Mu Tong
Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne.
☯ TCM Properties
Promotes Urination and Relieves Stranguria; Clears Heart Fire; Promotes Lactation; Dispels Dampness and Unblocks Painful Obstruction; Breaks Blood Stasis and Unblocks Menstruation
Western Herbalism Properties
Used In Formulas (46)
Showing 1 of 46.
Botanical Description
Akebia quinata (Houtt.) Decne. (Lardizabalaceae), the chocolate vine, is a semi-evergreen twining woody vine native to China, Korea, and Japan, climbing to 10 m, with palmately compound leaves of five obovate leaflets and pendent racemes of fragrant purple-brown monoecious flowers in spring. The stems are slender, cylindrical, with a characteristic radiating wedge-shaped pith pattern visible in cross-section. For Mu Tong, the stems are harvested in autumn, sliced into transverse disks, and sun-dried. In TCM, Mu Tong is bitter in flavor and cool in nature, entering the Heart, Small Intestine, and Urinary Bladder channels; it drains heat from the Heart and Small Intestine, promotes urination, unblocks blood vessels, and promotes lactation. (Note: this is the safe Akebia source, replacing toxic Aristolochia manshuriensis.)
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mu Tong (akebia stem, mutong) is a cold herb that promotes urination and clears Heat from the Heart and Small Intestine, directing it out through the urine. It is used for Heart Heat manifestations including mouth sores and urinary burning and difficulty — the classical correspondence between Heart Fire and Small Intestine Heat. It also promotes lactation by opening the channels of the breast and stimulating milk production. An important safety note: authentic akebia-derived Mu Tong should be used, not the aristolochia-derived variant, which has been banned due to nephrotoxicity.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
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.