Qing Feng Teng
StarSinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson
☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind-Damp Bi , unblocks the channels and collaterals and relieves pain; Facilitates urination
Traditional Chinese Uses
Qing Feng Teng is the woody stem of Sinomenium acutum (Menispermaceae), a bitter, pungent, neutral herb entering the Liver and Spleen channels. Its principal use is to dispel Wind-Dampness, unblock the channels and collaterals, and relieve pain in Wind-Damp painful obstruction—rheumatic and arthritic joint pain, swelling, numbness, and limited movement—for which it is decocted or, traditionally, soaked in wine. By promoting urination it also drains Dampness and reduces edema. Its alkaloid sinomenine is the basis of widely used anti-rheumatic preparations (e.g., zhengqing fengtongning) with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects. Usual dose is 6-12 g. Sinomenine can provoke histamine release causing itching, rash, or flushing, and occasionally GI upset or reduced blood counts, so it is used cautiously and generally avoided in pregnancy.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Qing Feng Teng is the dried stem of Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson (Menispermaceae), a deciduous twining woody vine of central and southern China, Japan, and Korea reaching 10 to 20 m in length. Stems are cylindrical, longitudinally striated, with a porous yellowish wood whose cross section shows radiating medullary rays; alternate broadly cordate to palmately lobed leaves and small dioecious yellow-green flowers in axillary panicles produce small dark drupes. The chief active constituent, the alkaloid sinomenine, has well-characterized anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory activity and is the basis of the marketed drug Zheng Qing Feng Tong Ning. In traditional Chinese medicine the stem is bitter, acrid, and neutral, entering the Liver and Spleen channels; it dispels wind-damp, unblocks channels, and promotes urination for rheumatic and arthritic joint pain.
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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