Stephania Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Stephania Root, known in Chinese as 防己 (Fángjǐ) and scientifically as Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Stephania Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Stephania Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Stephania Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Stephania Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Stephania Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Han Fangji, Gua Fangji, Shi Chan Chu, and Shan Wu Gui. It is the tuberous root of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore, a plant of the Menispermaceae family. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and other regions. It is harvested in autumn by digging up, then washed clean, coarse skin removed, sun-dried to half dry, cut into sections, larger pieces are further longitudinally sliced, and then fully dried.

[Properties] Bitter and pungent in taste, cold in nature. Enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians.

[Actions] Promotes urination to reduce edema, dispels wind and relieves pain.

[Applications]
1. Used for edema caused by internal retention of dampness and water, and difficulty urinating. For example, when the spleen fails to transport and transform fluids, causing water to overflow to the skin and swelling of the limbs, it is often combined with Huangqi (Astragalus), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fuling (Poria), etc., as in Fangji Fuling Tang (防己茯苓汤). If there is edema with wheezing and cough, difficulty urinating, and constipation, it is combined with Tinglizi (Descurainia seed), Jiaomu (Sichuan pepper), Dahuang (Rhubarb), etc., as in Ji Jiao Li Huang Wan (己椒苈黄丸). If damp-heat sinks downward causing painful swollen beriberi, it can be combined with Cangzhu (Atractylodes), Yiren (Coix seed), Huangbai (Phellodendron), etc.
2. Used for wind-damp painful obstruction, especially suitable for damp-heat predominance with limb soreness and heaviness, joint redness, swelling, and pain. Often combined with Yiren (Coix seed), Cansha (Silkworm feces), etc., as in Xuanbi Tang (宣痹汤). When combined with Wutou (Aconite), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Baizhu (Atractylodes), etc., it can also treat wind-cold-damp painful obstruction with limb spasm and rigidity, as in Fangji Tang (防己汤).
Additionally, this herb has antihypertensive effects and can be used for hypertension due to liver yang rising, often combined with Yejuhua (Wild chrysanthemum), Jue Ming Zi (Cassia seed), Xiakucao (Prunella), etc.

[Dosage and Administration] Oral administration: decoction, 4.5–9 g; or used in pills and powders.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of poor appetite or yin deficiency without damp-heat.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The tuberous root of Stephania tetrandra contains tetrandrine, fangchinoline, cyclanoline, oxytetrandrine, stephanine, berberine, 2,2′-N,N-dichloromethyl tetrandrine, and tetrandrine A, B, C, D.
2. Pharmacological actions: Tetrandrine significantly inhibits left ventricular function in dogs, reducing myocardial contractility and various cardiac pump function indices; it dilates coronary arteries and increases coronary blood flow, providing some protection against experimental myocardial infarction; it also has antiarrhythmic and calcium antagonist effects; tetrandrine lowers blood pressure and inhibits platelet aggregation; various alkaloids from Stephania relax skeletal muscle; tetrandrine inhibits uterine smooth muscle; it suppresses multiple tumor cell lines. Additionally, Stephania exhibits antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and diuretic effects.
3. Clinical reports: (1) Angina pectoris: Han Fangji alkaloid was intravenously injected at 2–3 mg/kg, diluted in 20 ml saline, twice daily for 2 weeks. Among 20 cases, 8 showed marked effect, 10 improved, 2 ineffective, with a 90% effective rate. [Zhonghua Neike Zazhi, 1985, 24(11):682] (2) Silicosis: Fangji 4 parts, Qingmuxiang 7 parts, ground and mixed, then Huangqi 1 part decocted and made into small pills. 3 g taken before sleep nightly for 3 months per course, with a one-month interval between courses. Among 69 cases, symptom improvement rate was 55%–90%; X-ray comparison showed 4 cases improved, 63 stable, 2 cases showed delayed progression. [Sichuan Zhongyi, 1986,(1):17]