Jī Xuè Téng (鸡血藤) — Spatholobus

By Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto — registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner (BAcC, RCHM) with over 25 years’ clinical experience.

On this page

Overview
Properties
Actions and indications
Key formulas
Cautions
Treatment at my clinic
Frequently asked questions

1. Overview

Jī Xuè Téng (鸡血藤, literally "chicken-blood vine") — the stem of Spatholobus suberectus, named for the red sap that resembles blood — is a bitter, slightly sweet, warm Chinese herb that simultaneously tonifies and invigorates the Blood, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the channels. Its dual tonify-and-move action makes it uniquely useful in gynaecology and in chronic bi syndromes with Blood deficiency. It is also used as adjunctive support in low blood count, including post-chemotherapy anaemia.

2. Properties

Pinyin name	Jī Xuè Téng
Chinese characters	鸡血藤
Latin name	Caulis Spatholobi / Spatholobus suberectus
English name	Spatholobus stem, chicken-blood vine
Nature	Warm
Flavour	Bitter, slightly sweet
Channels entered	Liver, Heart, Spleen
Category	Invigorate Blood
Dosage	9–15 g, decocted

3. Actions and indications

Principal actions

Tonifies and invigorates Blood — for irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and Blood-deficient anaemia. Particularly useful where the pattern is mixed Blood deficiency with Blood stagnation — very common in long-standing gynaecological complaints.
Relaxes the sinews and unblocks the channels — for numbness in the extremities, muscular weakness, and bi-syndrome (rheumatic) joint pain with Blood deficiency.
Supports low blood counts — commonly prescribed during and after chemotherapy as a supportive Blood-building herb (consult oncologist).

4. Key formulas

Modern gynaecology formulas pair Ji Xue Teng with Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong for irregular menstruation.
Combined with Du Huo and Sang Ji Sheng for bi-syndrome with Blood deficiency.

5. Cautions

Generally well tolerated. Caution in pregnancy (Blood-invigorating action). Caution with anticoagulant medication.

6. Treatment at my clinic

I prescribe Ji Xue Teng frequently in granule formulas for gynaecological complaints with combined Blood deficiency and Blood stagnation, and as adjunctive support for chronic numbness and Blood-deficient joint pain. Online Chinese herbal consultations are available. See prices for costs.

7. Frequently asked questions

What is Ji Xue Teng used for?

Ji Xue Teng is unusual in both tonifying and invigorating the Blood, and in freeing the channels — so it suits Blood deficiency combined with stasis: irregular, scanty or painful periods, numbness and tingling, and aching, stiff joints and muscles.

What are the benefits of Ji Xue Teng?

Because it nourishes Blood while also moving it and relaxing the sinews, it is a favourite for menstrual complaints and for numbness or joint pain where circulation is poor, without being harshly draining.