lei gong teng

雷公藤·Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii

Tripterygium Root

Very toxic

Toxicity graded by American Dragon.

About lei gong teng

Lei Gong Teng (雷公藤) is the root of tripterygium, a plant of the Celastraceae, recorded as Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii. It is bitter and acrid in flavour and cold in temperature, and enters the Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it under obsolete substances and marks it toxic, noting that its use has caused deaths.

Names

Pinyin	lei gong teng
Chinese	雷公藤
Latin Name	Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii
English Name	Tripterygium Root
Korean	noegongdeung

Classification

Category: Obsolete Substances
Channels: Spleen, Liver
Flavour: Acrid, Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Part used: Root
Family: Celastraceae
Species: Tripterygium Wilfordii
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Dispels Wind-Damp, strongly clears Heat, resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and relieves pain

Stubborn Bi with swollen joints that are hard to move

Dries Damp, kills parasites and stops itching

Persistent skin disorders, including tinea, particularly with severe itching
Applied topically against maggots and rats, and for snake venom

Combinations

wei ling xian + du huo + qin jiao
Stubborn Bi
fang feng + bai ji li + tu fu ling
Stubborn pruritic skin conditions
huang qi + dang she + gou qi zi + ji xue teng
Somewhat ameliorates its toxicity
han fang ji
Bi syndrome

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any	5-12 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

caution Highly toxic; its use has caused many deaths
contraindication Disease of the heart, liver, kidneys or digestive tract
contraindication Arrhythmia or anemia
pregnancy Not for use in pregnancy
lactation Not for use while breastfeeding
contraindication Debilitated patients