☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind, dries Dampness and stops pain; Strengthens tendons and muscles and opens the channels
Traditional Chinese Uses
Song Jie (Lignum Pini Nodi) is the dense, resin-saturated knotwood of Pinus tabuliformis and related Chinese pines, classed among the herbs that dispel Wind-Dampness. Bitter, pungent and warm, entering the Liver and Kidney channels, it dispels Wind, dries Dampness and unblocks the channels to relieve painful obstruction (Bi syndrome). It is favored for chronic, Cold-predominant joint and sinew pain, wandering aches, numbness and stiffness of the extremities, and difficulty flexing and extending, where its warm, drying nature both strengthens the tendons and stops pain.
Because it moves Blood and eases pain in the channels, Song Jie is also applied to traumatic injury, sprains and post-injury swelling, and to toothache. It is typically decocted or, more commonly, extracted in wine (a medicated liquor) for rheumatic complaints. Being warm and drying, it is used cautiously in Yin-deficient or Heat patterns.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Song Jie is the dried resinous knotwood of Pinus tabuliformis, P. massoniana or related Chinese pines (Pinaceae), harvested where a branch joins the trunk and the dense, resin-saturated heartwood persists after the surrounding sapwood has decayed. The source trees are evergreen conifers 15–30 m tall with reddish-brown, scaly bark in plates, paired (or sometimes triple) needles 8–18 cm long in bundles, and ovoid seed cones 4–9 cm long with thickened, often umbonate scale apophyses. The pine-knot itself is a dense, hard, dark amber-brown to reddish-brown chunk of wood, highly aromatic and oily, traditionally split into shards for decoction or soaked in wine.
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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