Jī Xuè Téng (鸡血藤), known in English as Spatholobus stem (Spatholobus suberectus), is a warm, bitter and sweet Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: invigorates and tonifies Blood.
| Pinyin | Jī Xuè Téng (Ji Xue Teng) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 鸡血藤 |
| English | Spatholobus stem |
| Botanical name | Spatholobus suberectus |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sweet |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy (use with caution); heavy menstruation |
Actions
- Invigorates and tonifies Blood
- Regulates menstruation, relieves pain
- Relaxes sinews, unblocks collaterals
Indications
- Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea
- Wind-Damp Bi pain
- Numbness and paralysis
- Sallow complexion from Blood deficiency
How to remember Jī Xuè Téng
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Relaxes sinews”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Kidney channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Jī Xuè Téng?
Jī Xuè Téng is warm and bitter and sweet.
Which channels does Jī Xuè Téng enter?
Jī Xuè Téng enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Jī Xuè Téng?
Invigorates and tonifies Blood; Regulates menstruation, relieves pain; Relaxes sinews, unblocks collaterals.
What is Jī Xuè Téng used for?
Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea; Wind-Damp Bi pain; numbness and paralysis; sallow complexion from Blood deficiency.
Practise Jī Xuè Téng and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.