Ji Xue Teng - 鸡血藤 - Caulis Spatholobi - Millettia

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Caulis Spatholobi
Common English:	Millettia Root and Vine Spatholobus Root and Vine Sub-erect Spatholobus Stem

Category

Herbs That Invigorate Blood:

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter Sweet (Slightly Sweet) (Astringent)	Warm	Heart Liver Spleen	9-20g Tincture: 2-4ml 9-15g (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Invigorates and tonifies the Blood	Blood Deficiency with dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, or amenorrhea along with abdominal pain
Activates the channels and relaxes the sinews	Numbness of the extremities, lower back pain, knee pain or general soreness of the joints due to Wind-Damp Bi with either Blood Deficiency or Stasis Weak extremities in the elderly Paralysis and vertigo due to Blood Stasis or Wind-Stroke

*Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao	Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui	Hb. Taxilli Sang Ji Sheng Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi (Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis) (Du Huo)
Blood Deficiency after traumatic injury. Leukopenia due to radiation or chemotherapy for tumors. Aplastic anemia.	Blood Deficiency induced menstrual irregularity or amenorrhea with abdominal pain.	Wind-Damp Bi, especially chronic painful obstruction in women and the elderly where there is also Blood Deficiency.
Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong	Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo Caulis Trachelospermi Luo Shi Teng (Rx. Clematidis) (Wei Ling Xian) (Rx. Angelicae Sinensis) (Dang Gui)	Rx. Astragali Huang Qi Fr. Jujube Da Zao
Weakness, numbness and paralysis of the limbs as well as vertigo due to Wind-Stroke. (once condition has stabilized)	Bi pain with significant Blood Stasis.	Leukopenia.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
Menstrual disorders.

Notes

1. It treats leukopenia caused by radiation or chemotherapy.
2. An enriched syrup is made from it by boiling, with polished rice and malt added to produce a malt sugar syrup. Flos Carthami Hong Hua, Rx. Dipsaci Xu Duan and black beans are likewise boiled down to a liquid and mixed in with the other ingredients. The resulting preparation is slightly sweet, aromatic and warm, with a stronger action of tonifying Blood and strengthening sinews. Dosage is 4.5-9g, dissolved into a strained decoction.
3. It is used for pain syndromes involving Cold and Blood Deficiency.
4. It is generally given to debilitated patients.
5. Research shows that it effectively inhibits cancer cell growth.
6. Combined with Flos Carthami Hong Hua, Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui and Fr. Oryzae Germinatus Gu Ya and cooked into a paste, it is regarded as a sacred herb for Blood diseases.
7. For malnutrition, Blood loss and anemia, decoct 2kg Ji Xue Teng with 800g sugar, strain, and add 100ml water to take orally.
8. Ji Xue Teng and Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui both tonify and invigorate Blood, relieve pain and regulate menstruation. Dang Gui tonifies and invigorates the Blood and also moistens the Intestines, whereas Ji Xue Teng mainly invigorates the Blood and only secondarily tonifies it; it also invigorates the collaterals and soothes the sinews to treat Wind-Damp Bi.
9. Ji Xue Teng and Fr. Luffae Si Gua Luo are both harmonizing and sweet, and both invigorate the collaterals and expel Wind. Ji Xue Teng is slightly warm and enters the Blood, enriching it and invigorating it within the collaterals. Si Guo Luo promotes the smooth movement of Qi and Blood and transforms Phlegm in the collaterals.
10. In some regions of China, Caulis Sargentodoxae Hong Teng is occasionally used in place of Ji Xue Teng. Both activate Blood circulation, open the channels and collaterals and relieve pain. Hong Teng treats Intestinal abscess, while Ji Xue Teng tonifies Blood. In reality they are not similar enough to substitute for one another.