What are the effects and uses of Cayratia japonica

Alternative names for Cayratia japonica include Wuliancao, Wuyeteng, and Muzhuteng, among others. It is a perennial climbing vine of the genus Cayratia in the grape family (Vitaceae). Used as medicine, it has the effects of clearing heat and draining dampness, and of resolving toxin and reducing swelling. It is used to treat heat-toxin carbuncles and swellings, boils, erysipelas, sore swollen throat, snake and insect bites, scalds and burns from water and fire, wind-dampness joint pain, jaundice, diarrhea and dysentery, turbid urine, blood in the urine, and more. Let us now take a look at the effects and uses of Cayratia japonica.

The medicinal effects of Cayratia japonica

[Nature and flavor] Bitter and sour in taste, cold in nature.

[Meridians entered] Heart, liver, and stomach meridians.

[Effects] Clears heat and drains dampness, resolves toxin and reduces swelling. It mainly treats heat-toxin carbuncles and swellings, boils, erysipelas, sore swollen throat, snake and insect bites, scalds and burns from water and fire, wind-dampness joint pain, jaundice, diarrhea and dysentery, turbid urine, and blood in the urine.

Related discussions of Cayratia japonica

1. "Bencao Jing Jizhu": Pound and apply to sores, swellings, and snake and insect bites.

2. "Xinxiu Bencao": Mainly treats wind-toxin heat swellings, wandering erysipelas, and snake bites; pound and apply, and also drink the juice.

3. "Lüchan Yan Bencao": Treats carbuncles, abscesses, and dorsal boils; pound to a paste and spread on the affected area.

The pharmacological effects of Cayratia japonica

1. Cayratia japonica has an inhibitory effect on hemolytic Staphylococcus, hemolytic Streptococcus, Shigella dysenteriae, and Escherichia coli.

2. The water decoction of Cayratia japonica has an inhibitory effect on Leptospira.

3. Cayratia japonica can markedly resist thrombus formation and platelet adhesion in vitro, and significantly inhibits ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in rats.

4. Cayratia japonica has an enhancing effect on cellular immunity, and can also enhance the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages.

5. Cayratia japonica has an antipyretic effect on elevated body temperature in rabbits caused by subcutaneous injection of pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae.

6. The water-decocted alcohol-precipitated liquid and the alcohol-precipitated liquid of Cayratia japonica have varying degrees of antagonistic effect on different inflammation models, and have an inhibitory effect on inflammatory processes dominated by exudation and granulation tissue proliferation; its anti-inflammatory effect has no obvious relationship with the pituitary-adrenal system.

Medicinal selected formulas of Cayratia japonica

1. To treat breast carbuncles and the early stage of malignant sores: take one handful of the vine or root of Cayratia japonica and one piece of fresh ginger. Pound them together, add one bowl of good liquor, squeeze out the juice, and take it hot to induce sweating, while applying the dregs to the affected area. In this formula, garlic may also be used in place of the ginger.

2. To treat traumatic injuries: pound Cayratia japonica to obtain juice, add child's urine, and take it with hot liquor.

3. To treat all kinds of swelling and toxin, including dorsal boils, breast carbuncles, venereal buboes, and the early stage of malignant sores: take one handful of Wuyeteng or its root and one piece of fresh ginger. Pound them, add one cup of good liquor, squeeze out the juice and take it hot to induce sweating, and apply the dregs to the affected area. Garlic may also be used in place of ginger.

4. To treat venomous snake bites with blackening before the eyes and blurred vision: pound fresh whole Cayratia japonica and squeeze out two liang of juice, and take it mixed with rice wine. Externally, pound fresh whole plant and apply to the wound.

5. For bloody urine from Cayratia japonica: dry Cayratia japonica in the shade, grind it into powder. Take two qian per dose, swallowed with boiled water.

6. For heat swelling under the neck (commonly known as toad plague): pound Cayratia japonica and apply it as a poultice.

7. To treat chronic shin ulcers: pound fresh Cayratia japonica leaves and apply to the affected area, bind and protect with a wide cloth strip, and change once daily. Or sun-dry and grind into powder; for every one liang of the medicinal powder, mix with three liang of raw pork fat, pound into an ointment, spread the ointment on paper, and apply it to the affected area.

8. To treat throat obstruction: one handful each of horse mint chrysanthemum, Wuzhualong grass, and plantain herb. Pound these three items to obtain juice and drink it slowly.

9. To treat wind-dampness joint pain: one liang of Cayratia japonica root, soaked in liquor and taken.

10. To treat bloody urine: dry Wuyeteng in the shade and grind into powder; take two qian per dose, swallowed with plain water.

11. To treat traumatic injuries: pound Wuzhualong to obtain juice, mix with child's urine and hot liquor, and take it to induce sweating.

12. To treat bee stings: decoct fresh Wuzhualong leaves in water and wash with it.

13. To treat traumatic injuries and set bones: sun-dry Xuewujia root, grind it fine, mix with boiled water and brown sugar, and wrap the affected area.

14. To treat itching from Jiuzi lan: Muzhuteng, Jiuzi lianhuan grass, and He Shou Wu. Stew with meat and take.

15. To treat coughing blood from pulmonary tuberculosis: three to four qian of Cayratia japonica root, decocted and taken. Or add three qian each of arborvitae, Sanguisorba officinalis, and Qingshidan, and decoct together and take.

16. To treat dorsal boils, buttock carbuncles, and venereal buboes: decoct the whole Cayratia japonica plant in water twice and filter; combine the two decoctions together, then concentrate by double boiling into an ointment, spread it on gauze, apply it to the affected area, and change once daily.

17. To treat unnamed swelling and toxin: pound Cayratia japonica leaves, fry them hot, splash with vinegar, and spread on the affected area.

18. To treat turbid urine and promote urination: pound Cayratia japonica root to obtain juice and drink it.