mu tong

木通·Caulis Akebiae

Akebia Caulis

About mu tong

Mu Tong (木通) is the stem of akebia, recorded as Caulis Akebiae. It is bitter in flavour and slightly cold, entering the Heart, Small Intestine and Bladder channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness. The name has a long history of confusion between species, and the record for Ba Yue Zha carries a caution about it.

Names

Pinyinmu tong
Chinese木通
Latin NameCaulis Akebiae
English NameAkebia Caulis·akebia stem
Japanesemokutsu
Koreanmoktong

Classification

Channels
Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder
Flavour
Bitter
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Family
Lardizabalaceae
Species
Akebia quinata|Akebia Trifolata
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Promotes urination and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

  • Damp-Heat Lin with painful, rough, dribbling urination
  • Edema and ascites

Drains Heart Heat downward through the Small Intestine

  • Excess Heat in the Small Intestine with irritability, sores of the mouth or tongue and scanty urine

Promotes lactation and unblocks the Blood vessels

  • Insufficient breast milk
  • Amenorrhea
  • Hot Bi with painful, stiff joints

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-10g; Tincture: 1-4ml3-10 g1-4 ml

Cautions