Materia Medica Data
- Temperature
- Cold
- Nature & Flavour
- Bitter, Slightly Spicy, Cold, Toxic
- Channels Entered
- LI, LU
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Aristolochiae Fructus
- Chinese
- 马兜铃
- Tone Marks
- mă dōu líng
- Translation
- Bell of a horses Hat
Chinese Herb Actions
- Clears Lungs, Transforms Phlegm, Stops Cough and Wheeze For cough and wheezing of all types due to Phlegm and Heat
- Clears Heat in the Large Intestine, Reduces Swelling and Pain Treats hemorrhoids by clearing Large Intestine Fire
- Lowers Blood Pressure For hypertension, especially early stage primary hypertension due to Liver Yang Rising with dizziness and red face
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 3-10 grams in decoction (Chen)
- 3-9 grams in decoction (Bensky)
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Do not use in cases with coughing due to deficiency or cold
- Do not use in cases with loose stools due to Spleen Deficiency
- Do not use long term or in large doses
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- This herb contains aristolochic acid, a compound that can cause permanent kidney damage, including kidney failure. It has also been shown to cause cancer, specifically urothelial carcinoma.
- Position paper on the risks associated with the use of herbal products containing Aristolochia
European Medicines Agency (EMEA) -
This herb is considered toxic.
(while some Chinese herbs are toxic, it must be noted that many come prepared, or are combined, to mitigate their toxicity)
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK
https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh
https://amzn.to/42aMz73
https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt