Why is Chuanmu Tong still used even though it is poisonous?

Although Chuanmutong is a Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese herbal medicine also has certain side effects. Let's take a look at what are the toxic side effects of Chuanmutong.

Contemporary research shows that Sichuan Akebia has relatively minor toxic side effects, the toxic components of which are Akebia alkaloids (aristolochic acid), magnolamine and Akebia ginsenosides. Excessive aristolochic acid can cause degeneration of blood vessels in internal organs, obstruction of blood supply to the kidneys, and cause renal tubular necrosis. Aristolochic acid may have direct harmful effects on kidney cells. Mutong contains more calcium ions, and it is difficult for uremic patients to excrete potassium, and potassium cannot be excreted from the body, causing hyperkalemia. In addition, the toxins in Akebia can cause capillary diseases in internal organs, leading to symptoms such as internal organ bleeding, edema, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Chuanmutong is very bitter and slightly cold, and penetrates deeply into the human heart and the bladder meridian. It can clear the heart and reduce fire, and it will also help urination and release heat, and make cold and dampness slide down. It comes out from urine since childhood. It is used to treat painful and astringent discharge from the body or excessive internal heat that sinks into the colon, causing ulcers in the mouth and tongue, upset stomach and red urine. The slight coldness enters the blood, which is beneficial for clearing the nine orifices, blood vessels and joints, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. It can be used to treat heat arthralgia, which is caused by the obstruction of evil heat in the meridians and joints, stagnation of blood and qi, resulting in joint pain, local heat and swelling, or accompanied by fever, cold limbs, and restlessness. Mu Tong has a slightly cold effect and can clear the meridians, remove blood stasis and relax the meridians. It can be used to relieve stagnation in the joints. It can eliminate cold and dampness.

The main side effects are poisoning reactions, and the clinical symptoms are: upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distension, loss of appetite, headache, facial edema, frequent and urgent urination, inability to hold urine, frequent urination at night, low back pain, oliguria, anuria, increased blood pressure, confusion, proteinuria, tubular urine, blood and increased non-protein nitrogen and urea nitrogen in urine, decreased carbon dioxide binding, hyperkalemia, hypochloremia, and ultimately leading to renal failure and death.

Physiological characteristics

This product is long cylindrical, slightly curved, 50 to 10 cm long and 2 to 87.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellow-brown or brown-brown, with vertical grooves and convex lines; the nodes are mostly swollen and have leaf and branch marks. The remaining leather is easy to tear. It is hard and not easy to break. The slices are 2 to 4 mm thick with uneven edges. The remaining bark is yellow-brown, the wood is light yellow-dark brown or light yellow, with reddish-brown radial lines and cracks, covered with soft holes in between, the pith is smaller, milky white or yellow-brown, and occasionally has a cavity. Slight odor, light taste.

country of origin

Produced in Sichuan, Guizhou Province, Hunan Province and other places.