Iron Package Gold (Mouse Ear): Benefits, Correct Methods of Use, and Contraindications

Iron Package Gold, also known as Mouse Ear, is generally used medicinally for its stems and roots. Iron Package Gold is a vine-like shrub; just like its name suggests, the surface of its main root is dark brown while the inside is yellow. This plant has a relatively long flowering and fruiting period. Iron Package Gold is commonly found in Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, China and other places. So what are the benefits and effects of Iron Package Gold? How should it be taken for the best results? Are there any contraindications?

I. What are the benefits and effects of Iron Package Gold?

1. Chemical composition of Iron Package Gold

Iron Package Gold is distributed throughout southern China. Its aerial parts contain quercetin, rutin and β-sitosterol, catechin, taxifolin, naringenin, and eriodictyol. It has the effects of reducing swelling and detoxifying, stopping bleeding and relieving pain, and dispelling wind and removing dampness.

2. Benefits of Iron Package Gold

① Stopping bleeding and relieving pain

“Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine of China”: “Dissolves blood stasis and stops bleeding, suppresses cough and relieves pain. Mainly used for hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers, schizophrenia, rheumatic bone pain, boils and abscesses, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, and testicular swelling and pain.”

② Detoxifying and healing sores

“Records of Herb Collection in Lingnan”: “Neutralizes snake venom, treats malignant sores, apply pounded fresh herb topically; treats traumatic injuries, can set bones and relieve pain; treats small intestine qi pain, decoct in water and take orally.”

③ Clearing heat and suppressing cough

“Hunan Materia Medica”: “Clears heat, suppresses cough and resolves phlegm, stops bleeding and relieves pain. Mainly used for pulmonary tuberculosis, stomach pain, and scald and burn injuries.”

④ Dispelling wind and removing dampness

“Fujian Materia Medica”: “Strengthens the kidneys and boosts qi, dispels wind and removes dampness, reduces swelling and detoxifies. Mainly used for wind-toxin migratory abscesses, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes, gastric ulcers, orchitis, spermatorrhea, rheumatic joint pain, soreness and pain of the waist and knees, traumatic injuries, lymphatic tuberculosis, urticaria, carbuncles and toxic swellings, multiple abscesses, and wind-fire toothache.”

3. Effects of Iron Package Gold

① According to antibacterial tests, this herb has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, and others.

② Iron Package Gold can dissolve blood stasis and stop bleeding, suppress cough and relieve pain. It is mainly used for hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers, schizophrenia, rheumatic bone pain, boils and abscesses, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, and testicular swelling and pain.

③ Iron Package Gold can dissolve blood stasis, eliminate hemoptysis and coughing up blood, and has the effect of removing dampness and toxin and relieving pain.

II. How should Iron Package Gold be taken for the best results?

1. Iron Package Gold 60 g, Cudrania cochinchinensis (piercing stone) 30 g, Bletilla striata 12 g, donkey-hide gelatin 10 g; pound into powder and take with water, or decoct in water. It has the effect of treating hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis.

2. Iron Package Gold 30 g, Bletilla striata and lily 15 g each, peach kernel 6 g, and imperata rhizome 10 g; decoct in water. It has the effect of treating nosebleeds, hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, and gastric bleeding.

3. Iron Package Gold stems and leaves 60 g, decocted in water and concentrated into 100 mL of syrup, taken in 3 divided doses. 15 days constitutes one course of treatment. It has the effect of treating chronic bronchitis.

4. ① Iron Package Gold 45 g, gambir vine, Sichuan lovage rhizome, and Dahurian angelica 15 g each. ② Iron Package Gold 45 g, elephantopus scaber, shiny prickly ash, Millettia reticulata, Flemingia philippinensis, Evodia lepta, and Schefflera octophylla 15 g each. Take formula ① first; if there is no change in the condition after about 20 days, then take formula ②. One dose daily, decocted in water and taken in 2 divided doses. It has the effect of treating concussion.

5. Iron Package Gold 30-60 g, decocted in water. It has the effect of relieving internal injury with vomiting of blood, ulcer bleeding, stomach pain and abdominal pain, and migraine and general headache.

6. Grind Iron Package Gold leaves into powder, mix with liniment oil and apply externally to the affected area. It has the effect of relieving scald and burn injuries.

7. An appropriate amount of Iron Package Gold root, soaked in liquor and applied externally. It has a certain relieving effect on traumatic injuries and snake bites.

III. Are there any contraindications to taking Iron Package Gold?

Iron Package Gold has outstanding medicinal value, but this has also led many people to worry about its contraindications. In fact, at present, the contraindications for using Iron Package Gold are not very clear, so under normal circumstances, Iron Package Gold can still be taken with confidence. Moreover, for ordinary people like us, it can be taken internally or used externally according to the body's condition, and either is fine. Both children and adults can choose to use it with confidence, and this is beneficial to our health to a certain extent.

However, if we use Iron Package Gold to treat diseases, we should still follow the doctor's requirements and pay attention to the methods and approaches, such as decocting in water for oral use, or pounding it and applying it to the affected area, or decocting in water to clean the affected area, so as to better utilize its medicinal effects and improve conditions such as traumatic injuries.