Uncaria Stem with Hooks – 1 lb (454 g)

Uncaria Stem with Hooks, known in Chinese as 钩藤 (Gōuténg) and scientifically as Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis, 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 Uncaria Stem with Hooks carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Uncaria Stem with Hooks 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, Uncaria Stem with Hooks provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Uncaria Stem with Hooks 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 Uncaria Stem with Hooks, 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 Diaoteng, Shuanggouteng, and Gouding. It consists of the hooked twigs of plants from the Rubiaceae family: Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Gack., Uncaria macrophylla Wall., Uncaria hirsuta Havil., Uncaria sinensis (Oliv.) Havil., or Uncaria sessilifructus Roxb. It is mainly produced in Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces. The hooked tender twigs are harvested in autumn and winter, cut into small sections about 3 cm long, then sun-dried or steamed and sun-dried.

[Properties] Sweet in taste, cool in nature. Enters the Liver and Pericardium meridians.

[Actions] Pacifies wind and arrests convulsions; clears Liver heat and calms the Liver.

[Applications]
1. Used for high fever with convulsions, epilepsy, and night crying. For heat-induced wind agitation with high fever, irritability, and convulsions, it is often combined with Lingyangjiao (Antelope Horn), fresh Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), and Sheng Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), as in Lingjiao Gouteng Tang. For pediatric acute or chronic convulsions due to Liver heat, it is commonly combined with Cicadae Periostracum, Bombyx Batryticatus, and Gentianae Radix; for spleen deficiency chronic convulsions, it is combined with Gastrodiae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Poria. For various convulsions with crying, it may be combined with Tianzhuhuang (Bamboo Sugar), Cicada Molting, Coptidis Rhizoma, and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, as in Gouteng Yinzi. For pediatric night crying due to Liver heat, it can be combined with Cicadae Periostracum, Lophatheri Herba, and Arisaema cum Bile.
2. Used for headache and dizziness. For headaches, dizziness, and vertigo caused by Liver Yang rising, it is often combined with Gastrodiae Rhizoma, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, and Abalone Shell, as in Tianma Gouteng Yin. For severe headache and head distension caused by Liver fire blazing upward, it is combined with Prunellae Spica, Gentianae Radix, and Scutellariae Radix. Currently, this herb is commonly used to treat headaches and dizziness caused by hypertension.
3. Used for stroke with hemiplegia, facial paralysis, and limb spasm and pain. It is often combined with Mori Ramulus, Red Peony Root, Lumbricus, and Processed Earth Dragon. For wind-phlegm obstructing the channels, it is combined with Bombyx Batryticatus and Scorpio. Additionally, decoction of this herb with Polygonum multiflorum can treat facial nerve paralysis; combined with Mori Folium and Red Peony Root, it can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes due to wind-heat; combined with Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, it can treat whooping cough.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoct 6–12 g, add late in the decoction process; or used in pills and powders.

[Cautions] Use with caution in patients with spleen and stomach deficiency cold.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The stems, leaves, and roots of Uncaria rhynchophylla contain 2-oxindole alkaloids such as isorhynchophylline, isocorynoxeine, rhynchophylline, methyl rhynchophyllinate; indole alkaloids including dehydrogeissoschizine, geissoschizine, corynoxeine, dihydrocorynoxeine, etc. The stems of Uncaria sinensis contain 2-oxindole alkaloids such as isopteropodic acid, pteropodic acid, capilliposide, isorhynchophyllinic acid, rhynchophyllinic acid; indole alkaloids including tetrahydroalstonine, isopteropodine, isorhynchophylline, rhynchophylline, etc. The leaves of Uncaria macrophylla contain isorhynchophylline, rhynchophylline, and corynoxine.
2. Pharmacological effects: Decoctions of Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis have good sedative and anticonvulsant effects; they can lower blood pressure, though prolonged decoction reduces this effect. Total alkaloids antagonize arrhythmias induced by aconitine, calcium chloride, and barium chloride. Total alkaloids significantly promote disaggregation of ADP-induced rabbit platelet aggregation and markedly inhibit venous thrombosis and cerebral thrombosis formation in rats. Decoctions reduce tension of isolated ileum muscle while quickly increasing contraction amplitude and antagonizing histamine effects.
3. Clinical reports: (1) Hypertension: Using 30 g of the herb with 1000 ml water, decocted for 10 minutes, taken twice daily, treated 175 cases; total effective rate was 77.5% for stage II hypertension and 73.33% for stage III hypertension. [Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1988, (2):23] (2) Migraine: Using 18 g Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis, 18 g roasted Scorpio, and 18 g Placenta Hominis, ground into fine powder and made into capsules (each containing 0.3 g crude drug), 0.9 g per dose. Treated 26 cases; headache gradually relieved within 12 hours, significantly reduced after 48 hours, and disappeared thereafter. Follow-up after one year for 18 cases showed only 1 case relapsed twice (responded again to original medication), others had no relapse. [Jiangsu Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1988, (4):10]