Ren Dong Teng

English: Honeysuckle stems

Chinese: 忍冬藤

Parts used: Stems

TCM category: Herbs that clear Heat and relieve Toxicity

TCM nature: Cold

TCM taste(s): Sweet

Organ affinity: Stomach Lung

Scientific name: Lonicera japonica

Other names: Honeysuckle vine, Lonicera vine

Use of Ren Dong Teng (honeysuckle stems) in TCM

Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.

Preparation: Harvest every year in autumn and winter, remove impurities, bundle together or roll into balls, and dry in the sun.

Dosage: 9-30g

Main actions according to TCM*: Clears Toxic-Heat. Clears Wind-Damp and removes obstacles of the Channel to sooths the sinews. Clear Wind-Heat of the Channel so as to stop pain.

Primary conditions or symptoms for which Ren Dong Teng may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Sores Skin eruptions Mastitis

Contraindications*: Not recommended for patients with Cold in Spleen and Stomach.

Key TCM concepts behind Ren Dong Teng's properties

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ren Dong Teng belongs to the 'Herbs that clear Heat and relieve Toxicity' category. Herbs in this category are used to clear inflammatory and infectious conditions, referred to as 'Internal Heat' in TCM. This is why most of the herbs in this category will have both antibacterial and antiviral properties. In TCM one has too much 'Internal Heat' in their body as a result of a deficiency of 'Yin' (which is Cold in nature, see our explanation on Yin and Yang) or, more commonly, an Excess of Yang (Hot in nature). Herbs that clear Heat and relieve Toxicity treat the latter while, at the same time, removing infectious toxins from the body. As such they tend to be Cold or Neutral in nature.

As suggested by its category Ren Dong Teng is Cold in nature. This means that Ren Dong Teng typically helps people who have too much 'Heat' in their body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much Heat in their body are said to either have a Yang Excess (because Yang is Hot in nature) or a Yin deficiency (Yin is Cold in Nature). Depending on your condition Ren Dong Teng can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.

Ren Dong Teng also tastes Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Sweet ingredients like Ren Dong Teng tends to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.

The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Ren Dong Teng is thought to target the Stomach and the Lung. In TCM the Stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.