The dried stem of the plant Northeast Mahonia in the Berberidaceae family is known as Guanmutong. Although Guanmutong has high medicinal value, it is also highly toxic. Therefore, we often use Mutong as a substitute for Guanmutong in medicine. Let's now understand the differences between Mutong and Guanmutong.
Image of Guanmutong
【Toxicity of Guanmutong】
Guanmutong is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with the function of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It was once the main ingredient in the widely used Chinese patent medicine Longdan Xiegan Wan.
However, Guanmutong contains aristolochic acid, which has strong toxicity to the kidneys and can damage the function of renal tubules, leading to renal failure. Because of the close association between the three, the names used to refer to the condition are different but refer to the same thing.
The aristolochic acid contained in Guanmutong is a toxic component. Excessive consumption of Guanmutong can cause acute renal failure and even death.
Symptoms of poisoning include upper abdominal discomfort, followed by vomiting, headache, chest tightness, abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea, facial swelling, frequent urination, urgency, gradual onset of generalized edema, and confusion.
Causes of poisoning include excessive and prolonged use. Therefore, it must be strictly used in accordance with the prescribed dosage and usage.
Treatment for poisoning includes gastric lavage and enema. According to reports, early administration of adrenal cortical hormones can delay the progression of the disease. Timely blood dialysis can achieve favorable treatment timing and effects. For patients with significant impairment of renal function and end-stage renal disease, alternative treatments such as kidney transplantation are needed.
Image of Guanmutong
【Medicinal Effects of Guanmutong】
1. Diuresis and reducing swelling
Diuresis and reducing swelling is one of the important functions of traditional Chinese medicine Guanmutong. It can treat common diseases such as painful edema, dysuria, and difficult urination in humans. It can be used in combination with other traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Cheqianzi and Mutong. If the edema is severe, some Sangbaipi can also be added.
2. Promoting menstruation and lactation
Promoting menstruation and lactation is another important function of traditional Chinese medicine Guanmutong. It has the most obvious effect in the treatment of blood stasis and amenorrhea. In usual treatment, Guanmutong can be used in combination with Honghua, Taoren, Danshen, and other traditional Chinese medicinal materials.
In addition, when Guanmutong is used to treat blocked lactation in women, it can be used in combination with traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Wangbuliuxing and Chuanshanjia, which has a particularly obvious effect in promoting lactation.
3. Clearing heat and detoxifying
Guanmutong can also treat symptoms such as painful and difficult urination. It can be taken with traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Cheqianzi. If treating edema, it can be used with Zhuling and Sangbaipi.
For the treatment of oral ulcers, it can be used in combination with traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Shengdihuang, Gancao, and Zhuye.
Image of Guanmutong
【Differences between Guanmutong and Mutong】
1. Difference in appearance
Mutong is a relatively long herb, and the length of vigorously grown Mutong can reach about 170 centimeters. The surface color is dark brown or grayish-brown, and it is covered with protruding pores.
Guanmutong is the rhizome of the plant, and it has a hard texture, so it is not easy to break. The outer appearance is brownish-yellow, and the skin is covered with tiny pores.
2. Difference in medicinal effects
Guanmutong has the function of clearing heat, but because it contains a toxic substance called aristolochic acid, and due to its high toxicity, its use as a medicine has been discontinued in clinical practice.
Mutong, on the other hand, does not have this toxicity. Its main function is to promote diuresis.
3. Difference in odor
Although both Mutong and Guanmutong have medicinal properties, Mutong does not have any odor. However, Guanmutong has a very unpleasant smell, especially wild Guanmutong, which has a strong odor similar to camphor.
