Sang Ji Sheng桑寄生
Taxilli Herba · Mulberry Mistletoe · Taxillus Stems and Leaves
Overview
A mistletoe that lives half-parasitically on the branches of mulberry and other trees; the leafy stems are cut, sliced and dried. Bitter, sweet and neutral, entering Liver and Kidney, it is the gentle member of the wind-damp group — where the strong ones dry and scatter, this one dispels wind-damp while supplementing what long-standing joint disease has worn away, so it suits chronic, deficient painful obstruction in older or depleted patients rather than an acute flare. It also nourishes blood to steady a restless fetus, which is unusual in this category. Wine-frying sharpens its channel-freeing side for stubborn cold pain; the plain slice is the default.
Nature & Flavor
Bitter, sweet · NeutralChannels
Liver · KidneyTypical Dosage
9–15 g in decoctionActions
4 core actions
- Dispels wind-damp, eases painful obstructionLong-standing aching and stiffness of the lower back, knees and joints, worse in cold or damp weather, in a patient who is not strong.
- Supplements Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinew and boneA sore, weak lumbus and knees, weak legs, slow recovery after injury — the reason it sits in the classic prescriptions for chronic joint disease with underlying deficiency.
- Nourishes blood and steadies the fetusRestless fetus, lower back ache and spotting in pregnancy where the pattern is Liver-Kidney and blood deficiency. Used only on prescription.
- Wine-frying frees the channelsThe wine-fried slice is warmer and moves more freely through the channels, chosen when the pain is fixed, cold and stubborn; the unprocessed herb is preferred when supplementing is the main aim.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Sang Ji Sheng
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Chronic wind-damp painful obstruction with underlying deficiency
- Sore, weak lower back and knees
- Numbness or weakness of the limbs in a depleted patient
- Restless fetus with lower back ache or spotting (on prescription)
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
The herb itself is mild, but its identity depends entirely on the tree it grew on: mistletoe harvested from toxic host trees has caused poisoning, so only clearly identified pharmacopoeial material should be used and wild-gathered stems of unknown origin should be refused. Several related mistletoes are sold under overlapping names — Sang Ji Sheng and Hu Ji Sheng are different herbs and are not interchangeable without the practitioner's decision. Persistent joint disease deserves a diagnosis, and any bleeding in pregnancy needs an obstetric assessment first, not a herb alone.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: Traditionally used during pregnancy to steady a restless fetus and to ease lower back ache — but on a practitioner's prescription only, never self-administered.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.