Studies of Mu-tong, Akebiae Caulis (1) Herbological study of Classical Name and Origin

  • MIKAGE Masayuki
    Herbal Garden, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University
  • TATSUKAWA Sanae
    Herbal Garden, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University

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Other Title
  • 漢薬「木通」の研究 (1) 正品の名称と原植物に関する史的考察
  • カンヤク モクツウ ノ ケンキュウ 1 セイヒン ノ メイショウ ト ゲン ショクブツ ニ カンスル シテキ コウサツ

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Abstract

The Chinese crude drug “Mu-tong, ” “Mokutsu” in Japanese, is standardized as the stem of Akebia quinata Decne. and A. trifoliata Koidz. of Lardizabalaceae in the modern Japanese pharmacopoeia. On the other hand, the botanical origin of Mu-tong is rather complicated in China, and many different plants among several families are used as a kind of Mu-tong. The herbological study clarified that Chinese doctors in the Tang dynasty had changed the original name “Tong-tsao” to “Mu-tong, ” meaning “woody Tong-tsao, ” to distinguish it from another type of Tong-tsao derived from the soft pith of Tetrapanax papyrifera Koch of the family Araliaceae plant. The classical botanical origin of Mu-tong is Akebia plants. Though the pith of Tetrapanax papyrifera is used as “Tong-tsao” in modern China, Akebiae Caulis is the true botanical source of ancient prescriptions such as those found in Shang-han-lun, an ancient Chinese medical book.

Journal

  • Kampo Medicine

    Kampo Medicine 51 (5), 1077-1085, 2001

    The Japan Society for Oriental Medicine

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