Caulis Trachelospermi (Luoshiteng)

Naming
Luo Shi Teng (Caulis Trachelospermi)-Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

Origin
The foliferous stem of Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. of family Apocynaceae.

Location
Jiangsu, Hubei and Shandong provinces, etc.

Harvest
Collected from winter to next spring.

The actual smell and taste
Light smell and slightly bitter taste.

Best quality
Dry and long stem, leafiness, and green color.

Processing
Dried in sunlight, cur into segments and unprocessed.

Property
Bitter, slightly cold; heart, liver and kidney meridians entered.

Actions
Dispel wind-damp, unblock collaterals, cool blood and relieve swelling.

Indications
A. Arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and heat
It excels in dispelling wind-damp, unblocking collaterals and clearing heat with slightly cold nature, and is suitable to treat arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and heat characterized by spasm of tendons and vessels, aching pain of waist and knees. It can be used singly or combined with other wind-damp-dispelling and heat-clearing, and collaterals-unblocking herbs, for example, Ren Dong Teng, Qin Jiao and Di Long, etc.

B. Swelling pain of throat, sore and abscess
It enters heart, liver meridians and blood system, and is bitter and cold in nature, and has the actions of clearing heat and cooling blood, relieving sore throat and swelling. For red swelling and sore throat, it can be decocted singly and then swallowed slowly, or combined with toxicity-removing and sore-throat-alleviating herbs such as Rhizorna Cimicifugae (Shengma), She Gan and Radix Platycodi (Jiegeng). For sores and abscess marked by swelling and pain, it is often combined with heat-clearing and toxicity-removing, and blood-activating and abscess-curing herbs, for example, Pu Gong Ying, Olibanum (Ruxiang), Zao Jiao Ci and Gua Lou.

In addition, it can unblock collaterals and relieve swelling to stop pain, and is also indicated for traumatic injury, swelling pain due to blood stagnation. It is often combined with blood-activating and collaterals-unblocking herbs to enhance the effects of relieving swelling to stop pain, for instance, Shen Jin Cao, Tou Gu Cao, Hong Hua and Semen Persicae (Taoren), etc.

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 6~12 g. Proper dosage of pounded fresh products is for topical administration.