About ren dong teng

Ren Dong Teng (忍冬藤) is the stem of honeysuckle, recorded as Caulis Lonicerae. It is sweet in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity. Its flower is entered separately as Jin Yin Hua.

Pinyin

ren dong teng

Chinese

忍冬藤

Latin Name

Caulis Lonicerae

English Name

Honeysuckle Vine

Japanese

nindoto

Korean

indongdeung

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and resolves toxicity

Skin eruptions and sores from milder Heat toxin

Dispels Wind-Damp, soothes the sinews and unblocks the channels

Bi from Wind, Damp or Heat, including Wind-Damp-Heat Bi
Itching from Wind

Cools the Blood

Heat in the Blood with early or heavy periods
Mastitis
Hot abdominal pain, as a supporting herb

Relieves inflammatory abdominal pain

Dysentery from Heat in the Blood

Clears Damp-Heat from the Lower Jiao

Lower Jiao Damp-Heat

Releases the Exterior and disperses Wind-Heat

Wind-Heat

Combinations

gan cao

Topical application for sores.

jin yin hua

Wind-Heat through the whole body lodged in the channels and collaterals, with pain and stiffness

sang zhi

Heat in the joints.

hong teng + bai jiang cao

Abdominal pain from inflammation

sheng di huang + di gu pi

Blood Heat with early periods

di yu + qian cao gen

Blood Heat with excessive bleeding

pu gong ying + tian hua fen + zao jiao ci

Mastitis.

wei ling xian + qin jiao + qiang huo + du huo + tou gu cao

Heat Bi, red and swollen with burning pain

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-30g; Tincture: 2-5ml

9-30 g

—

2-5 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Diarrhea from Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach

contraindication Qi-deficient sores

contraindication Yin-type ulcers

caution Suited only to true Heat patterns: being sweet and cold, prolonged use without Heat, or with Spleen and Stomach Cold (loose stools, poor appetite, dislike of cold), can weaken digestive Yang