Regarded as one in Guangdong’s top ten Southern medicines, Cibotium barometz, or Gou Ji in mandarin, is a Chinese herb that has been commonly used for so many ailments, in particular low back pain, for so long. This herb has not only ornamental but high medicinal value. It is named Gou Ji herb or Jinmao Gouji, literally translated as golden hair dog back, due to its root looks like dog’s back and comes with golden wool. Main habitats include both sides of gutter at the foot of a hill and shade and moist places under forests. Medicinally it is primarily produced in Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi and other places.

Cibotium barometz health benefits
When it comes to herbs for lumbago, it always invites comparison with another commonly used Chinese herb – Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong). However, they differ from each other by acting on various parts. Simply put, the former is good at treating pain in the middle of the waist while the latter on both sides of the waist. And the following explanation based on its pharmacology may help further understand this amazing herb.

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TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) tends to think that it is bitter and sweet in flavor and warm in properties. And it goes to meridians of liver, kidney, heart, and bladder. Basic functions are removing wind and dampness, toning up waist and feet, and lubricating joint. Prime cibotium barometz uses and indications are kidney deficiency-induced lumbago and stiff back, weak and feeble feet and knee, pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis, frequent urination, Spermatorrhea, leukorrhagia, and more. Clinically recommended dosage is from 10 to 15 grams in decoction or soaked in wine.

1. Go Ji Wan. This prescription comes from Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang (Taiping Holy Prescriptions for Universal Relief). It benefits feet and knee and commonly used for five kinds of lumbago. Other two herbal ingredients are Bi Xie (dioscorea root) and Tu Si Zi (Chinese Dodder Seeds).

2. Si Bao Dan. Si Bao Dan comes from Pu Ji Fang (Prescriptions of Universal Relief). It is basically formulated for all wind-induced syndromes such as wandering arthritis and hemiplegia in both men and women. Other three herbs are dioscorea root, Su Mu Jie (Sappan Wood Joint), and Wu Tou (Radix Aconiti Carmichaeli).

3. Bai Lian Wan. Bai Lian Wan is from Prescriptions of Universal Relief. It is mainly designed for leukorrhagia and thin leucorrhea due to cold and deficiency of Chong and Ren Channels. Other two herbs are Lu Rong (Elk/Deer Horn) and Bai Lian (Radix Ampelopsis).

4. Gou Ji Juice (Yin). Gou Ji Juice is from Grand Dictionary of Chinese Medicine. It is primarily used for liver-kidney deficiency accompanied with low back pain and stiff back. Other key herbs are Eucommia Bark, Xu Duan (Japanese Teasel Root), Hai Feng Teng (Kadsura Stem), and so on.