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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Tendon-Relaxing, Frozen Shoulder-Unblocking & Bone-Strengthening Sovereign (舒筋活络 / 祛风除湿散瘀止痛接骨生肌清热解毒治肩周炎关节僵硬第一宽筋藤 — 骨伤科与风湿痹痛第一筋藤 / 藏药二十五味驴血丸核心主药)

    宽筋藤 / 伸筋藤 / 中华青牛胆 / 舒筋藤 / 春根藤 / 藏药宽筋藤 — Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. (syn. Tinospora malabarica, Tinospora tomentosa)

    Pinyin: Kuānjīnténg / Shēnjīnténg / Zhōnghuá Qīngniúdǎn · Malay: Patawali Bulu / Akar Patawali Berbulu / Patawali Gajah / Malabar Gulbel · Family: Menispermaceae (防己科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Neutral (平 / 微凉)

    Flavor

    Bitter, acrid, sweetish, slightly astringent (苦、微辛、甘、微凉)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Kidney (肾), Spleen (脾)

    Traditional Edict

    Chinese Tinospora / Tendon-Relaxing Vine (Kuan Jin Teng / Shen Jin Teng / Patawali Bulu). Soft velvety-tomentose climbing stems. Chief Orthopedic Sovereign (Er Shi Wu Wei Lu Xue Wan): unblocks frozen shoulder (Jian Zhou Yan), relieves lumbar disc herniation, knits fractures.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Distinguish from Tinospora crispa (sinensis has soft-tomentose stems, milder bitterness, primary orthopedic action). CONTRAINDICATED in active pregnancy for high-dose decoctions.

    Clinical Applications

    • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), lumbar disc herniation and sciatica, knee osteoarthritis (cartilage MMP-13 inhibition), post-stroke spastic limb contractures, and sports sprains.

    Quality Markers

    Tinosponone (Clerodane diterpene) >= 0.80%, Columbin, Palmatine >= 0.40% & Magnoflorine (HPLC Chinese/Tibetan Pharmacopoeia)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Tinosponone and columbin suppress synovial NF-kB, IL-1b, and MMP-13, preventing cartilage degradation. 2. Magnoflorine and palmatine relax spastic striated muscle fibers. 3. Stimulates osteoblast ALP for callus union.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN KUAN JIN TENG FROZEN SHOULDER DECOCTION: 20 to 30 g dried stem chips boiled with Ji Xue Teng (15 g), Gu Sui Bu (15 g), and Gui Zhi in 700 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily. Medicated bone-setting wine: 50 g stems in 1 L rice wine.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Frozen Shoulder & Tendon-Relaxing Quadriad with Spatholobus (Ji Xue Teng) and Morus alba twigs (Sang Zhi). 2. Lumbar Disc Herniation Draught with Drynaria (Gu Sui Bu).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only