Witnessed by: TCM

Ma dou ling (Aristolochia debilis), of the Aristolochiaceae family. Slender twining vine with heart-shaped leaves, pipe-shaped flowers and a six-ribbed hanging capsule; native range: thickets and hillsides of central and eastern China. Globally recognized as ma dou ling (馬兜鈴), the ripe fruit; tian xian teng (天仙藤), the vine in Chinese, and Dutchman's pipe fruit, slender Dutchman's pipe in English. The part used is ripe fruit (ma dou ling); the stem/vine used separately as tian xian teng. Papery six-parted fruit, bitter and faintly acrid.

In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.

MA DOU LING

IDENTITY

Name

Common: ma dou ling
Scientific name: Aristolochia debilis Siebold & Zucc.
Family: Aristolochiaceae

Form

Part used: ripe fruit (ma dou ling); the stem/vine used separately as tian xian teng

PROPERTIES

Nature

Taste

how the plant declares itself on the tongue

TCM: bitter

Temperature

TCM: cold

Affinity

where in the body it travels

Organs / channels

TCM: Lung · Large Intestine

PRACTICE

Virtue

Actions

TCM: clears lung heat and directs lung qi downward, stops coughing and wheezing, and clears heat from the large intestine (the vine tian xian teng instead moves qi and invigorates blood to stop pain)

Cautions

Contraindications: contraindicated in cough from cold or deficiency, and in weak digestion with loose stool
Toxicity: contains aristolochic acid, which is nephrotoxic and carcinogenic; the herb is now restricted or withdrawn in many jurisdictions and should not be used
Sourcing status: legally-restricted

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