Herb

Lei Gong Teng

Tripterygium root & stem | 雷公藤

Also known as:

Thunder duke vine , Huáng Téng (黄藤) , Duàn Cháng Cǎo (断肠草)

Lei Gong Teng

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Properties

Wind-Damp-Heat clearing herbs (祛风湿热药) · Cold

Traditionally supports*

Joint and Muscle Health Autoimmune Conditions Skin Health Kidney Health

Parts Used

Root (根 gēn)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

Thunder god vine is a powerful but highly toxic herb used in Chinese medicine primarily for stubborn joint pain, swelling, and autoimmune conditions. It has strong anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing properties, making it clinically significant for rheumatoid arthritis and certain kidney diseases. Because of its extreme toxicity, it must only be used under close medical supervision with careful dosage monitoring.

Herb Category

Wind-Damp-Heat clearing herbs (祛风湿热药) Toxic herbs requiring caution (有毒药)

Main Actions

  • Dispels Wind-Dampness
  • Invigorates Blood and Unblocks the Channels and Collaterals
  • Reduces Swelling and Alleviates Pain
  • Kills Parasites and Resolves Toxicity
  • Clears Heat

How These Actions Work

'Dispels Wind-Dampness' (祛风除湿) means this herb drives out the pathogenic influences of Wind and Dampness that lodge in the joints and muscles, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. This is its primary traditional use, particularly for stubborn, chronic joint conditions (called 'obstruction patterns' or Bì syndrome in TCM) where the joints are hot, red, and swollen. Because Lei Gong Teng is cold in nature, it is especially suited for the 'Heat-Bi' type where inflammation is prominent.

'Invigorates Blood and unblocks the collaterals' (活血通络) means it promotes blood circulation through the fine network of channels that supply the joints and limbs. When Blood flow stagnates in these areas, it causes persistent pain and restricted movement. By moving Blood through the collaterals, Lei Gong Teng helps relieve pain and restore mobility in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

'Reduces swelling and alleviates pain' (消肿止痛) refers to this herb's potent ability to bring down joint and tissue swelling and provide pain relief. Modern research attributes this largely to its strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, making it effective for autoimmune conditions with significant swelling.

'Kills parasites and resolves toxins' (杀虫解毒) describes its traditional external use for skin conditions like scabies, ringworm, and boils. The herb's highly toxic compounds can 'fight poison with poison' (以毒攻毒), killing parasites and clearing toxic skin lesions. Historically, it was also used as a plant-based insecticide.

Critical safety note: Lei Gong Teng is classified as greatly toxic (大毒) in Chinese medicine. All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the bark being the most toxic. It must only be used under strict professional supervision with careful dosage control and monitoring. Ingesting even small amounts of the leaves or bark can cause serious organ damage or death.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Lei Gong Teng is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.

The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.

Why Lei Gong Teng addresses this pattern

In Wind-Damp-Heat Bi syndrome, pathogenic Wind, Dampness, and Heat invade the joints and channels, causing red, hot, swollen, and painful joints with restricted movement. Lei Gong Teng's bitter, acrid, and cold properties make it especially effective for this pattern. Its cold nature directly counteracts the Heat component, its bitter taste dries Dampness and descends, and its acrid taste disperses Wind and moves stagnation. By entering the Liver channel (which governs the sinews) and the Kidney channel (which governs bones), it reaches the musculoskeletal system where the pathology resides. Its ability to invigorate Blood and unblock the collaterals addresses the Blood stasis that commonly accompanies chronic obstruction patterns.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Moving Pain

Red, hot, swollen joint pain that is worse with heat

Skin Swelling

Persistent joint swelling that is difficult to resolve

Weakness And Stiffness

Joint stiffness with restricted movement

Skin Inflammation

Chronic inflammatory joint conditions

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ), Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels Entered
Liver Kidneys
Parts Used

Root (根 gēn)

This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page

Product Details

Manufacturing, supplier, and product specifications

Product Type

Granules

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Botanical & Sourcing

Quality Indicators

The medicinal root should be cylindrical, 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter, with a rough, earthy-yellow to yellowish-brown surface showing fine longitudinal grooves and ring-shaped or semi-ring cracks. Where the cork layer has peeled away, the exposed surface should be orange-yellow. The root should be hard and firm. When broken, it should produce a fibrous fracture with visible fine dust. On cross-section, the cork layer should appear orange-yellow and layered, the phloem (bark layer) should be reddish-brown, and the xylem (woody core) should be yellowish-white with clearly visible needle-eye-like pores and distinct radial lines. The root should have a faint, distinctive odor and a bitter, slightly pungent taste. The bark must be completely removed in properly processed material; any remaining bark indicates poor or dangerous preparation.

Primary Growing Regions

Primarily produced in Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Hunan provinces in China. Also found in Jiangsu, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Taiwan. Grows naturally in mountainous regions south of the Yangtze River at elevations of 200 to 2,400 meters, in shaded and moist habitats. The herb from Jiangxi was historically noted for being especially potent. Also distributed in Korea and Japan. There is no single dominant "daodi" (terroir) region, but Fujian and Zhejiang are the most commonly cited primary producing regions in modern materia medica sources.

Harvesting Season

Roots are harvested in autumn. Leaves are collected in summer. Flowers and fruits are gathered in summer to autumn.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

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Miscellaneous Info

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Usage & Safety

How to use this herb and important safety information

Important Medical Disclaimer

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. This herb is a dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking other medications. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions.

Recommended Dosage

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Instructions for safe storage and consumption

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Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

10-25g (root woody core only, decocted)

Maximum

Do not exceed 25g of the root woody core in decoction. This is already at the upper limit. All doses carry significant toxicity risk and require practitioner supervision with regular organ function monitoring.

Notes

The standard decoction dose is 10 to 25g of the root woody core ONLY (bark must be completely removed). The root must be decocted by slow fire for at least 2 to 4 hours with the pot uncovered, which helps volatilize some toxic components. When using powdered herb in capsules, the daily dose is 1.5 to 4.5g. Treatment courses should generally not exceed 3 months continuously. If no therapeutic effect is seen after 1 to 2 months, the herb should be discontinued rather than the dose increased. During treatment, regular monitoring of liver function (ALT, AST), kidney function (BUN, creatinine, urinalysis), complete blood count, and ECG is essential. Treatment must be stopped immediately if abnormal liver enzymes, proteinuria, blood cell decreases, or cardiac abnormalities appear. Older and weaker patients require reduced doses. Only one Lei Gong Teng preparation should be used at a time; never combine different Lei Gong Teng products. The herb is often combined with Gan Cao (licorice) in a ratio of approximately 60:9 (Lei Gong Teng to Gan Cao) to reduce toxicity, or with Bai Shao (white peony) to protect the liver.

Processing Methods

Processing method

The root is thoroughly stripped of both inner and outer bark layers, leaving only the woody core (木质部). The peeled root is then sliced and dried.

How it changes properties

Removing the bark dramatically reduces toxicity, as the bark contains the highest concentration of toxic alkaloids and diterpenes. The woody core retains the therapeutic anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating compounds at safer levels. The core properties (cold, bitter, acrid) remain the same but with significantly reduced risk of organ damage.

When to use this form

This is the standard form for internal use. The unpeeled root is considered too toxic for oral administration. Even with the bark removed, careful dosage control and prolonged decoction (1-2 hours over low heat) are required.

Toxicity Classification

Very toxic

Lei Gong Teng is classified as having "great toxicity" (大毒, dà dú). The entire plant is toxic, with the root bark containing the highest concentration of toxic compounds. The bark must be completely stripped (including inner bark and bark trapped in crevices) before any internal use. The main toxic components are diterpenoid triepoxides (especially triptolide), celastrol, and a group of sesquiterpene alkaloids (wilfordine, wilforgine, etc.). These are also the same compounds responsible for the herb's therapeutic effects, creating an extremely narrow therapeutic window. Toxicity symptoms include: severe gastrointestinal irritation (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially bloody stool), central nervous system damage (headache, dizziness, blurred vision, muscle tremors, convulsions), hepatotoxicity (elevated liver enzymes, hepatomegaly, jaundice, potentially liver failure), nephrotoxicity (proteinuria, hematuria, renal failure), cardiotoxicity (arrhythmias, toxic myocarditis, heart failure), bone marrow suppression (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia), and severe reproductive damage (amenorrhea, ovarian failure, sperm reduction, testicular atrophy). Ingestion of as few as 2 to 3 leaves can cause poisoning. Approximately 7g of tender shoots or 30 to 60g of root bark can be lethal. Death from acute poisoning typically occurs within 24 hours, primarily from cardiac and respiratory failure. Emergency treatment involves induced vomiting, gastric lavage, and supportive care. Traditional antidotes include fresh radish juice, lamb blood, and decoctions of black beans, mung beans, and Gan Cao (licorice). Safe clinical use requires: (1) thorough removal of all bark, using only the inner woody core; (2) prolonged decoction (at least 2 to 4 hours uncovered to volatilize some toxic components); (3) strict dose control; (4) regular monitoring of liver function, kidney function, complete blood count, and cardiac function during treatment; and (5) limiting treatment courses, generally not exceeding 3 months continuously.

Contraindications

Avoid

Pregnancy. Lei Gong Teng is a potent toxin with documented reproductive toxicity. It can cause severe harm to the developing fetus and must never be used during pregnancy under any circumstances.

Avoid

Breastfeeding. Active toxic compounds, including triptolide and alkaloids, may transfer through breast milk and are potentially harmful to infants.

Avoid

Children and adolescents. The narrow therapeutic window and severe toxicity profile make this herb extremely dangerous for pediatric use.

Avoid

Individuals of reproductive age who plan to conceive. Lei Gong Teng causes significant reproductive damage in both sexes: ovarian failure and amenorrhea in women (up to 95% incidence at cumulative doses above 8g of glycoside extract), and reduced sperm count, sperm deformity, and testicular atrophy in men.

Avoid

Pre-existing liver disease or liver dysfunction. Lei Gong Teng is strongly hepatotoxic and can cause drug-induced hepatitis, liver necrosis, and liver failure.

Avoid

Pre-existing kidney disease or renal insufficiency. The herb can cause nephrotoxicity including proteinuria, hematuria, and acute renal failure.

Avoid

Pre-existing heart disease or cardiac insufficiency. The herb can cause toxic myocarditis, arrhythmias, and heart failure.

Avoid

Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or bone marrow suppression. Lei Gong Teng can further suppress blood cell production.

Avoid

Gastrointestinal ulcers or active GI bleeding. The herb causes strong irritation to the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Caution

Elderly or debilitated patients. Use only at reduced dosage under very close supervision, as toxicity risk is significantly increased.

Caution

Concurrent use of other immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine, etc.). Additive immunosuppression and toxicity may result. Only combine under expert supervision with dose adjustments.

Avoid

Use of the root bark (as opposed to the peeled woody core). The bark contains the highest concentration of toxic alkaloids and must be completely removed before medicinal use.

Classical Incompatibilities

Lei Gong Teng does not appear on the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) or Nineteen Mutual Fears (十九畏) lists.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. Lei Gong Teng is a potent cellular toxin with documented severe reproductive toxicity. Triptolide and related diterpenoids have direct cytotoxic effects on ovarian tissue and can cause ovarian failure. The herb's alkaloids and diterpenoids have teratogenic potential and can cause embryonic death. Animal studies show that triptolide damages germ cells. There is no safe dose during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should have a confirmed negative pregnancy test before treatment and must use reliable contraception throughout and for a period after treatment ends.

Breastfeeding

Absolutely contraindicated during breastfeeding. The herb's toxic compounds, including triptolide, celastrol, and multiple alkaloids, are small molecules with cytotoxic properties that are likely to be transferred through breast milk. Given the extreme toxicity of these compounds (triptolide LD50 is less than 1 mg/kg in animal studies), even trace amounts in breast milk could pose serious risks to an infant. There is no data establishing a safe level of exposure for nursing infants. Breastfeeding must be discontinued if treatment with Lei Gong Teng is absolutely necessary for the mother.

Pediatric Use

Lei Gong Teng is strictly contraindicated in children and adolescents. The herb has an extremely narrow therapeutic window, and its toxic effects on the reproductive system, liver, kidneys, heart, and bone marrow are especially dangerous for developing bodies. Children are more vulnerable to its toxicity due to lower body weight, immature organ function, and developing reproductive systems. No safe pediatric dosage has been established. It should never be used in the pediatric population.

Drug Interactions

Immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate): Lei Gong Teng has potent immunosuppressive activity comparable to conventional immunosuppressants. Concurrent use may cause additive or synergistic immunosuppression, significantly increasing the risk of severe infections, bone marrow suppression, and organ toxicity. If combination therapy is used (as in some rheumatology protocols combining Tripterygium glycosides with methotrexate), doses of both agents typically need to be reduced and monitoring must be intensified.

Hepatotoxic drugs (acetaminophen/paracetamol, statins, certain antibiotics, antifungals like ketoconazole): Lei Gong Teng is strongly hepatotoxic. Combined use with other hepatotoxic medications increases the risk of liver damage. Liver function must be closely monitored.

Nephrotoxic drugs (aminoglycoside antibiotics, NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors): Given Lei Gong Teng's nephrotoxicity, concurrent use with other kidney-damaging drugs may compound renal injury.

CYP enzyme substrates and inhibitors: Research shows that Lei Gong Teng components, particularly triptolide, are metabolized through cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP3A4 in particular). Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 (ketoconazole, erythromycin, grapefruit juice) may increase triptolide levels and toxicity. CYP3A4 inducers may reduce therapeutic effect.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (warfarin, heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel): Lei Gong Teng can suppress platelet production and may increase bleeding risk when combined with blood-thinning medications.

Hormonal contraceptives and fertility treatments: The herb's powerful anti-fertility effects (ovarian suppression, sperm toxicity) will interfere with fertility treatments and may reduce the reliability of hormonal contraception by causing hormonal disruption.

Dietary Advice

While taking Lei Gong Teng, avoid alcohol and any other hepatotoxic substances, as the herb already places significant stress on the liver. Avoid cold, raw, and hard-to-digest foods to minimize additional gastrointestinal irritation. A bland, easily digestible diet is recommended. Adequate protein and nutrient intake should be maintained to support liver and kidney recovery. Foods traditionally considered liver-protective in Chinese dietary therapy, such as mung bean soup and fresh radish (莱菔), have traditionally been used alongside Lei Gong Teng to mitigate its toxicity.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this formula is typically safe for most individuals, it may cause side effects in some people. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, postpartum women, and those with liver disease should use the formula with caution.

As with any Chinese herbal remedy, it is advisable to seek guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning treatment.