Uncaria, Gou Teng 钩藤
Gou Teng (TCM)
Khung sder ཁུང་སྡེར་ (Tibet)
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Ohwi, J. , Flora of Japan (1965)
Uncaria Gou Teng
(Adam, 2025)
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Botanical name:
Uncaria spp.
Various species are used:
- U. rhynchophylla
- U. macrophylla
- U. hirsuta
- U. sinensis
- U. sessiliffructus
- U. scandens (syn. U. pilosa, also used in Tibet)
- U. lancifolia
- U. yunnanensis
Parts used:
Vine stem with hooks. Formerly the vine bark was used.
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Sweet
Classifications:
Uses:
1. Settles Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Spasms, Tremors, Seizures
-Convulsions including those from high Fever; Epilepsy
-Dizziness, Vertigo
2. Clears Liver Wind-Heat:
-Headache, Irritability, dizziness, red eyes
-Hypertension
-‘eliminates Heat in the Heart’ (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Clears Wind, Relieves the Exterior:
-Fever, Headache, Red and itchy eyes
-‘infantile disease with chills and fever’ (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-Heat diseases from Toxin; Poisoning (Tibet)
Dose:
Decoction: 6–15 grams. It should not be decocted too long, so should be added in the last few minutes of boiling.
Powder: 1–4 grams
Main Combinations:
1. Convulsions, Childhood Convulsions, Seizures:
i. Childhood convulsions from Internal Wind, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
ii. from High Fever, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
iii. Childhood Convulsions, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
iv. Childhood Convulsions, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
v. Antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao) with Uncaria Gou Teng and … available in PRO version
vi. Febrile Convulsions, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
vii. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
viii. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
ix. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
x. Seizure disorders, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
2. Childhood Epilepsy, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
3. Night Terrors in Children, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
4. Dizziness, Vertigo:
i. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
ii. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
5. Liver Heat with Headache, Dizziness:
i. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
ii. Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
6. Hypertension, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
7. External Wind-Heat, Uncaria Gou Teng with … available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Bo Ying Compound (TCM patent)
Zheng Tian Wan (TCM Patent)
Yi Gan San
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Cautions:
1. Generally not used in the markedly weak (severe Qi deficiency)
2. Generally only used for Wind-Heat disorders.
3. Occasional adverse reactions occur including bradycardia, dizziness, rashes, reduced menstrual flow; these symptoms usually disappear spontaneously.
