ji xue teng

鸡血藤·Caulis Spatholobi

Spatholobus Root And Vine

About ji xue teng

Ji Xue Teng (鸡血藤) is the stem of spatholobus, a woody legume vine, recorded as Caulis Spatholobi. It is bitter and sweet in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that invigorate the Blood.

Names

Pinyin	ji xue teng
Chinese	鸡血藤
Latin Name	Caulis Spatholobi
English Name	Spatholobus Root And Vine·suberect spatholobus stem
Japanese	keikitto
Korean	kyehyeoldeung

Classification

Category: Invigorate the Blood
Channels: Spleen, Heart, Liver
Flavour: Sweet, Bitter
Temperature: Warm
Part used: Root, Vine
Family: Fabaceae
Species: Spatholobus Suberectus
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Invigorates and tonifies Blood

Painful, irregular or absent periods with abdominal pain, from Blood deficiency
Menstrual disorders from Blood stasis, Blood deficiency or both together, since it builds Blood while moving it

Opens the channels and relaxes the sinews

Wind-Damp Bi complicated by Blood deficiency or stasis: numb limbs, aching lower back or knees, and joints that are sore all over
Weakness of the limbs in older people
Paralysis or vertigo from Blood stasis or Wind-stroke
Numbness or weakness of the limbs after Wind-stroke where stasis and deficiency exist together

Combinations

dang gui + shu di huang + bai shao
Blood Deficiency following trauma. Low white cell count from radiation or chemotherapy for tumors. Aplastic anemia
shu di huang + chuan xiong + dang gui
Blood Deficiency causing irregular or absent menstruation with abdominal pain
sang ji sheng + huai niu xi + du huo
Wind-Damp Bi, particularly long-standing painful obstruction in women and older people with Blood Deficiency
dan shen + du zhong
Once Wind-stroke has stabilized, limb weakness, numbness and paralysis with vertigo
qiang huo + luo shi teng + wei ling xian + dang gui
Bi pain with marked Blood Stasis
huang qi + da zao
Leukopenia.
dang gui + chuan xiong + bai shao
Menstrual disorders.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 9-20g; Tincture: 2-4ml	9-20 g	—	2-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Heavy menstrual bleeding, which moving the Blood could make heavier
pregnancy Use with caution in pregnancy; traditionally avoided because it moves Blood
caution Where bleeding tendencies or pregnancy are a factor, best given under a qualified practitioner