Xun Gu Feng

Xun Gu Feng is the dried stem and root of Aristolochia mollissima Hance or A. debilis Sieb. & Zucc. (Aristolochiaceae), perennial twining herbs native to central and southern China bearing cordate leaves and curious S-shaped tubular brown-purple flowers typical of the birthwort family. WARNING: All Aristolochia species contain aristolochic acids, which are potent nephrotoxins and proven human carcinogens implicated in aristolochic acid nephropathy and upper urinary tract cancers; the herb is banned or restricted in the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada, and many other jurisdictions, and modern Chinese pharmacopoeia editions since 2005 have removed Aristolochia drugs from clinical use. Historically in traditional Chinese medicine Xun Gu Feng was bitter and neutral, dispelling wind-damp and unblocking channels for rheumatic joint pain, but contemporary practice strongly discourages its use.