Guanyutong is the dried stem of the plant Akebia quinata, which belongs to the Lardizabalaceae family. It has high medicinal value, but also has strong nephrotoxicity, so the dosage and usage must be carefully observed.
【Characteristics of Guanyutong】
The stem of this medicinal material is long and cylindrical, slightly twisted, measuring 1-2m in length and 1-6cm in diameter. The surface is grayish-yellow or brownish-yellow, with shallow longitudinal grooves and brownish spots of residual rough bark.
The nodes are slightly swollen with one branch scar. The material is lightweight and hard, not easy to break, with a yellow or pale yellow cross-sectional surface. The bark is thin, the wood is wide and has multiple layers of neatly arranged circularly arranged vessels, the rays are radiate, and the pith is not obvious.
When the residual rough bark is rubbed, it has a camphor-like odor. It has a mild aroma and a bitter taste.
The fruit of Guanyutong is hexagonal in shape, pale yellow-green, and later turns dark brown, splitting into 6 lobes from the top. The seeds are heart-shaped triangles and are pale grayish-brown. It flowers in May and fruits in August to September.
【Applications of Guanyutong】
1. Guanyutong can promote diuresis and reduce swelling, relieve damp-heat, and excrete damp-heat through urine. It is used to treat bladder damp-heat, short and red urine, and painful dribbling. It is often used in combination with Plantago seed and Akebia quinata.
For edema, it is used in combination with Poria cocos and Morus alba bark.
2. Guanyutong can clear the heart fire and relieve the heat in the small intestine. It is commonly used to treat heart fire yangming, oral ulcers, or symptoms of heart irritation and red urine caused by the downward movement of heart fire to the intestines. It is often used in combination with Rehmannia glutinosa, licorice, and bamboo leaves.
3. Guanyutong can promote lactation, treat blood stasis and amenorrhea, and is used in combination with safflower, peach kernel, and Salvia miltiorrhiza. It can also be used in combination with Herba Epimedii, pangolin, etc. to treat insufficient or blocked lactation.
Guanyutong can also invigorate blood circulation, promote joint health, and is used in combination with mulberry twigs, coix seed, etc. to treat damp-heat arthralgia.
【Contraindications of Guanyutong】
Long-term use of Guanyutong can lead to renal insufficiency, and it is also not suitable for pregnant women.
Many people believe that traditional Chinese medicine has minimal side effects, so they do not pay attention to the correct use of medication when taking Chinese medicine. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine also has side effects, and common medicinal materials like Guanyutong need to be used properly.
If Guanyutong is used for a long time, it may cause damage to the kidneys, such as mitochondrial deformation and swelling in the renal interstitium.
When the kidney function is impaired, the ability to produce and excrete urine decreases, leading to the accumulation of waste toxins in the body, which often causes physical damage. Therefore, when using Guanyutong to treat diseases, it is important to use it properly.
