Many people confuse Chuanmutong with Guanmutong because their names differ by only one character, and they also look very similar. The editor will introduce to you how to distinguish between Chuanmutong and Guanmutong.
Image of Chuanmutong
[Functions of Chuanmutong]
1. Treats cold and hot diseases, relieves urinary discomfort;
2. Relieves water retention and fever, clears the heart and promotes blood circulation; treats kidney disease, acute nephritis with urinary discomfort, damp-heat strangury, urinary tract infections, women's amenorrhea and galactostasis, etc.; 3. Clears heat and promotes diuresis, regulates menstruation and promotes lactation. Used for edema, urinary tract infections, urinary retention, joint pain, amenorrhea, and low milk production.
[Selecting Chuanmutong]
Long cylindrical shape, slightly twisted, 50-100cm long, 2-3.5cm in diameter. The surface is yellow-brown or yellow-brown, with longitudinal grooves and ridges; the nodes are often swollen, with leaf marks and lateral branch marks. The remaining bark is easy to peel. The texture is hard and not easily broken.
Slice thickness is 0.2-0.4cm, with irregular edges, yellow-brown remaining bark, light yellow-brown or light yellow wood, with yellow-white radial texture and cracks, filled with duct holes, small pith, pale or yellow-brown, occasionally with cavities. Odorless, tasteless.
Image of Guanmutong
[Functions of Guanmutong]
1. Treats mouth ulcers and urinary pain. Guanmutong can clear the fire in the heart meridian and dispel the heat in the small intestine, allowing damp-heat evil to descend and be expelled through urine. Therefore, it has the function of reducing fire and promoting diuresis.
2. Treats abdominal distension and edema. This herb clears heat, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling. It is used for edema caused by damp-heat accumulation. It can be used together with Shanglu, Ze Xie, and Chi Xia Dou.
3. Regulates menstrual disorders and unblocks milk flow. This herb promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation, relieves pain, and promotes lactation. It is used for blood stasis causing amenorrhea and irregular menstruation.
4. Treats joint pain. This herb promotes diuresis and removes dampness, and also promotes blood circulation in the joints. Its cold and cool properties are suitable for damp-heat joint pain. It can be used together with Huangbai, Niuxi, and Yiyiren.
Therefore, when choosing Chuanmutong and Guanmutong, we must pay attention. If we can't distinguish them, we must not blindly purchase. It is best to operate under the guidance of a doctor.
