Goose Velvet Vine, also known as Erteng, is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is derived from the white latex and roots of the stem of the goose velvet vine, a plant in the family Menispermaceae. It is widely distributed in regions such as Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and Shandong, and is commonly used for pediatric food accumulation, malnutrition, gastritis, duodenal ulcers, nephritis edema, and common warts.
Image of Goose Velvet Vine
How to identify Goose Velvet Vine
Does Goose Velvet Vine look familiar to you? It is actually closely related to the Erteng plant and they do look quite similar.
If you simply look at the leaves, it can be a bit confusing and difficult to distinguish between the two.
But if you look at their fruits, the difference becomes more apparent. The fruits of Goose Velvet Vine are slender and resemble the grass roots we used to eat as children. On the other hand, the fruits of Erteng are clearly much larger.
Just like Erteng, when it reaches maturity in late autumn, the fruits of Goose Velvet Vine also turn into a yellowish-brown color, split open, and the seeds float away with a thread-like silver line carried by the wind.
Functions and Indications of Goose Velvet Vine
Roots: Expels wind, detoxifies, and promotes digestion to relieve pain. Used to treat pediatric food accumulation, take 5 grams of the root, decoct in water, and drink.
Latex: Used to treat common warts. Apply the latex from the stem several times, and the warts will gradually peel off.
Applications of Goose Velvet Vine in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Treatment for postpartum lack of milk in livestock: Take appropriate amounts of Goose Velvet Vine, Rabbit Vine, Wang Bu Liu Xing, Dang Gui, and Licorice. Decoct in water, mix with feed, and administer (from "The Experiences of Veterinarian Yang Zhongqi in Gansu Province").
