Pharmaceutical Name:

Radix Stephaniae Ttetrandrae

Botanical Name:

Stephania tetrandra S. Moore
Cocculus trilobus (Thunb.) DC.
Aristolochia fangchi Wu et L. D. Chou et S. M. Hwang

Common Name:

Stephania Root
Tetrandra Root

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The roots are dug in autumn.  After the root bark has been removed, the roots are cleaned, dried in the sun and cut into pieces or slices.

Properties and Taste:

Bitter, pungent and cold

Meridian:

Urinary bladder, kidney and spleen

Functions:

To dispel wind and dampness
To stop pain
To relieve edema

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Wind-damp obstruction syndrome or damp-heat obstruction syndrome.
*Use with Coix seed (Yiyiren), Talc (Huashi), Silkworm excrement (Cansha) and Chaenomeles fruit (Mugua) .

2.      Cold-damp obstruction syndrome.
*Use with Cinnamon twigs (Guizhi) and Prepared aconite root (Fuzi).

3.     Edema:

a)       Edema with heat signs.
*Use with Lepidium seed (Tinglizi) and Zanthoxylum (Jiaomu) in the formula Ji Jiao Li Huang Wan .

b)       Edema with signs of weakness of the spleen .
*Use with Astragulus root (Huangqi) and White Atractylodes (Baizhu) in the formula Fangji Huangqi Tang.

Dosage:

5-10 g

Cautions:

This herb is contraindicated in cases with deficient yin.