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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Wind-Damp Dispelling, Blood-Cooling, Tendon-Relaxing & Throat Sovereign (祛风通络 / 凉血消肿利咽解毒清热止痛 — 传统风湿热痹与喉痹第一络石藤 / 关节红肿热痛药王 / 夹竹桃科清热通络君药)

    络石藤 / 络石 / 络石草 / 云丹 / 筋骨草同称 / 白花藤 — Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. (syn. Rhynchospermum jasminoides)

    Pinyin: Luòshíténg / Luòshí / Báisīténg · Malay: Bunga Melur Hutan / Star Jasmine / Confederate Jasmine / Chinese Ivy · Family: Apocynaceae (夹竹桃科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold (微寒 / 苦寒)

    Flavor

    Bitter, slightly acrid (苦、微辛、微寒)

    Meridians

    Heart (心), Liver (肝), Kidney (肾)

    Traditional Edict

    Star Jasmine / Chinese Ivy (Luo Shi Teng / Luo Shi). Evergreen climbing vine with fragrant white windmill blossoms. Sovereign for Wind-Damp Heat Bi Syndrome (Feng Shi Re Bi): cools blood, unblocks red hot swollen painful joints in rheumatoid arthritis/gout, clears acute tonsillitis.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Take primarily for Wind-Damp Heat (red, hot, swollen joints). CONTRAINDICATED in Cold-Damp Bi syndrome without heat signs (pale joints, aggravated by cold). CONTRAINDICATED in Spleen-deficiency cold diarrhea.

    Clinical Applications

    • Rheumatoid arthritis and acute gouty flares with localized joint erythema, heat, and swelling (Feng Shi Re Bi), acute follicular pharyngotonsillitis, and traumatic contusion hematomas.

    Quality Markers

    Tracheloside (络石苷) >= 0.45%, Arctigenin, Matairesinol & Total Lignans >= 1.20% (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Tracheloside and arctigenin selectively inhibit NF-kB, iNOS, and COX-2 in synovial fibroblasts, resolving joint erythema and effusion. 2. Arctigenin downregulates IL-6 and IL-1b. 3. Antiviral and antimicrobial throat clearing.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN LUO SHI TENG HEAT-ARTHRITIS DECOCTION: 10 to 15 g dried climbing stem segments boiled with Lonicera japonica vines (Ren Dong Teng) and Chuan Niu Xi in 600 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily for burning joint pain. Sore throat tea: 10 g with Platycodon.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Rheumatoid Heat-Bi & Gout Synergy with Lonicera japonica stems (Ren Dong Teng) and Mulberry twigs (Sang Zhi). 2. Acute Pharyngotonsillitis Draught with Arctium lappa (Niu Bang Zi).

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