钩藤 Gou Teng / Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis / Uncaria Vine / Gambir

The Effect of Gambir Plant

Property

Sweet, slightly cold; liver and pericardium meridians entered.

Actions

Extinguish wind and stop spasm, clear liver heat and pacify liver.

Indications

A. Syndrome of stirring of liver wind

It has moderate actions of extinguishing wind and stopping spasm, and clearing liver heat, so it is usually indicated for stirring of liver wind, convulsive epilepsy and convulsions, especially for generation of wind by extreme heat and infantile convulsions due to high fever. It is often combined with other heat-clearing, wind-extinguishing and apasm-stopping herbs to reinforce the actions. For generation of wind by extreme heat, spasm and convulsions in epidemic warm diseases, it is often combined with Ling Yang Jiao, Bai Shao and Ju Hua, etc, in Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang from Tong Su Shang Han Lun (Popular Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases). For infantile convulsions with symptoms high fever, coma, locked jaw and spasm of limbs, it is often combined with Tian Ma, Quan Xie and Chan Tui and so on.

B. Syndrome of liver yang hyperactivity

It can both clear liver heat and pacify liver yang, so it is usually indicated for fullness sensation of head, headache and dizziness due to up-flaming of liver fire or hyperactivity of liver yang. For up-invading of liver fire, it is often combined with herbs to clear liver heat and purge liver fire, such as Xia Ku Cao, Long Dan Cao and Zhi Zi, etc. For hyperactivity of liver yang, it is often combined with herbs to pacify liver and subdue yang, such as Tian Ma and Shi Jue Ming, etc., in Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin from Za Zheng Zheng Zhi Xin Yi (New Explanation on syndrome differentiation on Miscellaneous Symptoms).

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 3~12 g. Decoct later than other herbs to protect the active ingredient from being destroyed.