Mu-tong

Clematis armandii Franch. C. heracleifolia DC C. heracleifolia DC var. davidiana (Decaisue ex Verlot) O. Kuntze Mu Tong (Clematis) (stem) Aristolochic acid, saponin akebin, tri terpenoids.25-33 Diuretic, antibacterial. 

Mu Tong (Mutong caul is), Dan Zhu Ye (1 ophatheri herba) and Zhi Zi (Gardeniae fructus)... 

Mu Tong is the strongest of these herbs at clearing heat, but it is very cold, bitter and poisonous. It can only be used for a short period of time to reduce the intensive fire. Dan Zhu Ye is the weakest herb but a safe one. It can be used in a mild or medium case of Heart-fire. 

Zhi Zi is the most commonly used herb. It has a stronger function than Dan Zhu Ye and is not a poisonous herb like Mu Tong. As it enters the San Jiao meridian, it can clear the heat from the San Jiao and regulate the water passage, reduce Heart-fire and increase urination to leach out heat. 

Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix) 3 g Mu Tong (Mutong caulisf 3 g Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri herba) 3 g Sheng Gan Cao Shao (tips of Glycyrrhizae radix) 3 g... 

This formula demonstrates the principle of offering the pathological factor a way to leave the body by using Mu Tong and Dan Zhu Ye to promote urination and leach out heat. 

Mu Tong and Dan Zhu Ye, the deputies, enter the Heart and Small Intestine meridians and can drain the heat by promoting urination. 

Ze Xie, Mu Tong and Che Qian Zi are used as assistants to strengthen the function of Long Dan Cao to increase urination and eliminate dampness. 

Mu Tong is bitter and cold. It can strongly clear heat and promote urination so as to leach out damp-heat from the body. 

Hua Shi, Zhi Zi, Mu Tong and Dan Zhu Ye serve as assistants. They clear the heat and increase urination in order to eliminate damp-heat in the Lower-Jiao. 

Huang Lian (Coptidis rhizoma), Zhi Zi fGardeniae fructus) and Mu Tong (IVIutong caulis) ... 

These herbs can be used as deputies in the formula to treat acute and excess conditions where excess heat is blazing in the Heart. They are all bitter and cold, and enter the Heart and Liver meridians. They can strongly reduce the excess fire from the Heart and Liver, and therefore calm the mind. Zhi Zi and Mu Tong can also drain heat by promoting urination. These herbs can be used to treat agitation, difficulty falling asleep, a bitter taste in the mouth, mouth ulcers and scanty and difficult urination. 

Since Mu Tong is a poisonous herb and its use is forbidden in many countries, it can be substituted by Ku Zhu Ye (Bambusae amarae folium) or Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis medulla] with Huang Lian (Cop-tidis rhizoma] or Long Dan Cao (Gentianae radix). 

In a related action, Health Canada first issued a warning on aristolochic acid in November 1999 that this ingredient posed a Class I Health Hazard with a potential to cause serious health effects or death (2) and warned consumers not to use the pediatric product Tao Chih Pien. This Chinese product, sold in the form of tablets, is said to be a diuretic and a laxative. It is not labeled to contain aristolochic acid. However, the Chinese labeling says that it contains Mu Tong, a traditional term used to... 

For damp heat in the lower burner with frequent urination, urgency, and pain, add Caulis Akebiae Mutong Mu Tong), Rhizoma Alismatis Ze Xie), and Semen Plantaginis Che Qian Zi). 

Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui), 12g Ramulus Cinnamomi (Gui Zhi), 9g, remove the skin Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Shao Yao), 9g Herba Cum Radice Asari (Xi Xin), 1.5g Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), 5g, mix-fried Caulis Akebiae Mutong (Mu Tong), 3g Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae (Da Zao), 8 pieces... 

For painful urinary strangury in the elderly due to fallen yang qi, add Rhizoma Alismatis ZeXie) and Caulis Akebiae Mutong Mu Tong). 

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