Huoteng, also known as Diaoteng, Daoguajin, and Shuanggouteng, is recorded in the book "Mingyi Bie Lu". It refers to the hooked stems and branches of plants in the Rubiaceae family, including Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks., Uncaria macrophylla Wall., Uncaria hirsuta Havil., Uncaria sinensis (Oliv.) Havil., and Uncaria sessilifructus Roxb. It is harvested in autumn and winter, the leaves are removed, and the stems are cut into sections and dried.
【Processing method】"Scrape the skin of Huoteng." "Grind it into powder." "Remove the stalk, use only the tender hooks..." "Slightly stir-fry." Currently, the original medicinal material is taken, impurities are removed, if it is not sliced, impurities are removed, then it is washed with water, soaked until soft, cut into sections, and dried.
【Appearance of herbal medicine】It is irregularly shaped, with a pair or a single downward curved hook on the stem nodes. The surface is reddish-brown or brownish-brown, the cut surface is yellowish-brown, and the medulla is yellowish-white or hollow. It is light and hard. It has a slight aroma and a mild taste.
【Processing effect】Huoteng has a sweet and cooling taste. It enters the liver and pericardium meridians. It has the functions of clearing heat, calming the liver, extinguishing wind, and calming convulsions. It is mostly used to treat headaches and dizziness, colds with convulsions, epilepsy seizures, and eclampsia during pregnancy; as well as hypertension. For example, for the treatment of infantile convulsions with abdominal distension and thin neck, Huoteng drink is used ("Shengji Zonglu"). For the treatment of infantile fever and various types of convulsions with crying, Yanling Powder is used ("Taiping Shenghui Fang"). Processing cleans the medicinal material, making it easier to mix and dissolve the ingredients.
