WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the rattan and stalk of the caulis hocquartiae,Akebia quinata( Thunb.)Decne.,Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.)Koidz. var.australis( Diels)Rehd., Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz.,family Caulis hocquartiae. It is collected in the autumn. After the stem part is cut, the pith is removed ,it is dried in the shade and the raw form is utilized as medicine.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Bitter and slightly cold; relate to the heart, small intestine and bladder meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Promote diuresis to relieve stranguria; clear away heart-heat; promote menstruation and lactation.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Scanty and brown urine, dripping and astringent pain in urination due to damp-heat in bladder     In treating heat stranguria manifesting with astringent pain in urination, it is often combined with Cheqianzi, Huashi and Bianxue, such as the in Bazheng Powder.

2. Heart-fire flaring-up, manifesting as aphthae, restlessness and darkish urine      This medicinals has the function of clearing away heart-meridian fire in the upper energizer, and eliminaitng small intestine heat, in th lower energizer. It is suitable for treating aphthae,due to flaring up of hart-fire, or heart-fire involving the small intestine. It is marked by restlessness and darkish urine, and is usually combined together with Shengdihuang, Gancao and Zhuye.

3. Amenorrhea and insufficient lactation     In treating amenorrhea, due to blood stasis, it is combined together with Honghua, Danshen and Taoren. Also, to treat post-partum galactostasis, it is often combined with Tongcao, Chuanshanjia and Wangbuliuxing . In addition, it can boiled with Pig's feet and taken orally.

This medicinal also can dredge the collaterals and joints, so it is able to treat dampness-heat type arthralgia, when combined with wind-damp dispelling medicinals.

八月扎木通为木通科植物木通Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne.、三叶木通 Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz. 或白木通 Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz. Var. australis (Diels) Rehd. 的干燥藤茎。木通主产于陕西、山东、江苏、安徽等地；三叶木通主产于河北、山西、山东、河南等地；白木通主产于西南地区。秋季采收，截取茎部，除去细枝，阴干即得，洗净润透，切片，晒干，生用。