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Birthwort Fruit (Ma Dou Ling)
⚠ Do not use. Birthwort fruit (Ma Dou Ling) is an Aristolochia species. Plants of this kind contain, or are routinely confused with plants that contain, aristolochic acid, which causes kidney failure and urinary-tract cancer. The U.S. FDA has banned their import and sale. This page is kept for historical reference only; nothing here is a recommendation.
馬兜玲
Birthwort fruit (Madouling)
Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Aristlochiae
Botanical Name: 1. Aristolochia contorta Bge.; 2. Aristolochia debilis Sieb. et Zucc.
Common Name: Aristolochia fruit, Birthwort fruit
Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun
Part Used: The ripe fruit is gathered in autumn and dried in the sun.
Natural Properties & Taste: Bitter, slightly pungent and cold
Meridians: Lung and large intestine
Therapeutic Effects:
1. To clear the lungs and resolve phlegm;
2. To stop cough and soothe asthma
Indications:
1. Heat in the lungs manifested as cough with profuse yellow sputum and asthma. Birthwort fruit (Madouling) is used with Loquat leaf (Pipaye), Peucedanum root (Qianhu), Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi) and Scutellaria root (Huangqin).
2. Deficiency of the lungs manifested as cough with scanty sputum or with bloody sputum and shortness of breath. Birthwort fruit (Madouling) is used with Glehnia root (Shashen), Ophiopogon root (Maidong), Aster root (Ziwan) and Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao).
Dosage: 3-10 g
Cautions & Contraindications: Overdosage of the herb may cause nausea and vomiting.
Traditional use is not proof of safety or effect. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb if you are pregnant, nursing, or take medicine.
