Qing Mu Xiang

Qing Mu Xiang in current Chinese pharmacopoeia tradition denotes the dried root of Aristolochia debilis Sieb. & Zucc. (Aristolochiaceae), a slender perennial twiner of central and southern China with cordate-hastate leaves and small S-curved trumpet-shaped purple-veined flowers, also the source of the fruit drug Ma Dou Ling. WARNING: All Aristolochia species contain aristolochic acids, potent nephrotoxins and IARC Group 1 human carcinogens implicated in aristolochic acid nephropathy and urothelial carcinoma; these herbs are banned or restricted in the United States, European Union, and many other jurisdictions and were removed from the 2005 and later Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Historically classified as acrid, bitter, cold, and slightly toxic in TCM, it moved qi, relieved pain, and clear heat for epigastric pain, dysentery, and snakebite. Note: in some older materia medica the name Qing Mu Xiang was also applied to Saussurea costus root, distinct from the modern Aristolochia identity.