Gualou Tong has a bitter taste and a cold nature. It has the effect of clearing heat and promoting bowel movements, as well as promoting menstruation and lactation. It is similar to Mutong and Chuanmutong, making it difficult for people to distinguish between them. Let's understand the differences between the three below.
1. Mutong
Mutong refers to the dried stems of plants in the Aristolochiaceae family, including Aristolochia debilis, Aristolochia manshuriensis, or Aristolochia contorta. It has a slightly bitter and astringent taste and a cold nature. It enters the heart, small intestine, and bladder meridians. It can clear heat from the heart, promote urination, and expel heat, allowing dampness and heat to descend.
It has the effects of diuresis, clearing the heart, relieving restlessness, promoting menstruation, and lactation. It is used for conditions such as urinary disorders, edema, restlessness, dark and red urine, oral ulcers, amenorrhea, and insufficient lactation, as well as damp-heat arthralgia.
Mutong is usually grey-brown in color with irregular cracks on the surface. The skin is thicker.
2. Chuanmutong
Chuanmutong refers to the dried stems of plants in the Ranunculaceae family, including Clematis armandii or Clematis chinensis. It has a mild odor and a light taste, and a cold nature. It enters the heart, small intestine, and bladder meridians.
It has the same effects as Mutong in terms of diuresis, clearing the heart, relieving restlessness, promoting menstruation, and lactation. It is used for conditions such as urinary disorders (urinary tract infections), edema, restlessness in the chest, dark and red urine, oral ulcers, amenorrhea, postpartum insufficient lactation, and joint pain caused by damp-heat.
The surface of Chuanmutong is yellow-brown or yellowish-brown, with longitudinal grooves and ridges. The nodes are often swollen, with leaf scars and lateral branch scars. The remaining bark is easily torn, and the texture is hard and not easy to break.
3. Gualou Tong
Gualou Tong refers to the dried stems of plants in the Aristolochiaceae family, specifically Asarum heterotropoides. It has a mild odor, a bitter taste, and a cold nature. It is toxic and enters the heart, small intestine, and bladder meridians.
It has the effects of clearing heart fire, promoting urination, and promoting menstruation and lactation. It is used for conditions such as oral ulcers, restlessness in the chest, short and red urine, edema, painful urination, abnormal vaginal discharge, amenorrhea, and damp-heat arthralgia.
The surface of Gualou Tong is grey-yellow or brown-yellow, with shallow longitudinal grooves and brown spots of residual rough bark. It is lightweight, hard, and not easy to break. The cross-section is yellow or light yellow.
