Mù Tōng (木通), known in English as Akebia stem (Akebia quinata), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Drain damp category. It enters the Heart, Small Intestine and Bladder channels. Its main action: promotes urination, clears Damp-Heat from Lower Jiao.
| Pinyin | Mù Tōng (Mu Tong) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 木通 |
| English | Akebia stem |
| Botanical name | Akebia quinata |
| Category | Drain damp |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder |
| Dosage | 3–6g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Kidney deficiency; nephrotoxic in large doses (use Akebia not Aristolochia species) |
Actions
- Promotes urination, clears Damp-Heat from Lower Jiao
- Clears Heart Fire through Small Intestine
- Promotes lactation, unblocks channels
Indications
- Hot dysuria
- Heart Fire transmitting to Small Intestine
- Insufficient lactation
- Damp-Heat Bi
How to remember Mù Tōng
Drain damp herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Bladder channel.
- You can work these out
- Cold: like most Drain damp herbs
- Heart and Small Intestine channels: from its action “Clears Heart Fire through Small Intestine”
- Bladder channel: from its action “Promotes urination”
- Learn by heart
- Bitter: unusual for Drain damp herbs (most are sweet)
Formulas containing Mù Tōng
Other Drain damp herbs
- Fú Líng
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Zé Xiè
- Huá Shí
- Chē Qián Zǐ
- Qú Mài
- Bì Xiè
- Yīn Chén Hāo
- Jīn Qián Cǎo
- Hǎi Jīn Shā
- Zhū Líng
- Dēng Xīn Cǎo
- Tōng Cǎo
- Biǎn Xù
- Shí Wéi
- Dōng Kuí Zǐ
- Dì Fū Zǐ
- Dōng Guā Zǐ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Mù Tōng?
Mù Tōng is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Mù Tōng enter?
Mù Tōng enters the Heart, Small Intestine and Bladder channels.
What are the actions of Mù Tōng?
Promotes urination, clears Damp-Heat from Lower Jiao; Clears Heart Fire through Small Intestine; Promotes lactation, unblocks channels.
What is Mù Tōng used for?
Hot dysuria; Heart Fire transmitting to Small Intestine; insufficient lactation; Damp-Heat Bi.
Which formulas contain Mù Tōng?
Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān Tāng, Xiāo Fēng Sǎn, Dǎo Chì Sǎn, Bā Zhèng Sǎn, Dāng Guī Sì Nì Tāng and Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān.
Practise Mù Tōng 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.