北豆根（Beidougen），also known as Bat's Wing Bean, is a dried root and rhizome of the medicinal plant Tetrastigma hemsleyanum, which belongs to the Menispermaceae family. It is mainly distributed in Northeast China, North China, East China, as well as Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and Shandong provinces. North Bean Root has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, dispelling wind and relieving pain, and promoting diuresis. It is commonly used for sore throat, heat-toxin diarrhea, rheumatic pain, lung heat cough, jaundice, snake bite, hemorrhoids, and other conditions.
Clearing Heat and Detoxifying
North Bean Root has a bitter and cold taste and is known for its excellent ability to clear heat and detoxify, as well as soothe the throat and reduce swelling. Therefore, it is often used for conditions such as sore throat caused by excessive heat-toxin, lung heat cough, heat-toxin diarrhea, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and parotitis.
Dispelling Wind and Relieving Pain
North Bean Root belongs to the lung, stomach, and large intestine meridians. It is good at dispelling wind, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It can be used for conditions such as rheumatic pain and painful hemorrhoids.
Promoting Diuresis and Reducing Swelling
North Bean Root has a bitter and cold nature, which can clear heat, promote diuresis, reduce swelling, and detoxify. Therefore, it is often used for conditions such as damp-heat diarrhea, jaundice, and swollen hemorrhoids.
Lowering Blood Pressure
The alkaloids in North Bean Root have a blood pressure-lowering effect. In clinical practice, it is often used for hypertension.
Antiarrhythmic Effects
North Bean Root contains alkaloids, such as Tetrastigma alkaloids, which have a broad-spectrum antiarrhythmic effect, especially in the treatment of ischemic arrhythmias.
Cardioprotective Effects
The alkaloids in North Bean Root can stabilize the cell membrane structure and maintain cellular metabolic function, thereby exerting a certain cardioprotective effect.
Antibacterial Effects
The lipophilic total alkaloids, polyphenolic hydroxyalkaloids, and Tetrastigma alkaloids in North Bean Root have antibacterial effects, especially against respiratory pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae.
