Qianjinba is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the root of the climbing plant Flemingia prostrata Roxb. (family Fabaceae). It is produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, and other regions. This herb has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening tendons and bones, and promoting blood circulation to eliminate toxins. It is primarily used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, lumbar muscle strain, weakness and limpness of the limbs, trauma, and sore throat.
Qianjinba
Qianjinba is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the root of the climbing plant Flemingia prostrata Roxb. (family Fabaceae). It is produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, and other regions. This herb has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening tendons and bones, and promoting blood circulation to eliminate toxins. It is primarily used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, lumbar muscle strain, weakness and limpness of the limbs, trauma, and sore throat.
Chinese Name : 千斤拔
Aliases : Golden Rooster’s Foot, Earth-Yellow Chicken, Rat’s Tail, Earthworm, Ox’s Strength, Thousand-Mile Horse, Newton’s Head, Single-Root, Hanging Horse Pillar, Thousand-Jin Hang, Strong Yellow, Thousand-Tail Swing, Three-Strand Silk, Golden Ox Tail, Thousand-Gold Pendant
Authentic Producing Area : Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet and slightly astringent in taste; neutral in nature; enters the Liver and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Dispels wind and dampness; strengthens tendons and bones; promotes blood circulation and detoxifies.
Indications
Qianjinba is primarily used to treat rheumatic pain, lumbar muscle strain, weakness and limpness of the limbs, trauma, and sore throat.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal use: Decoct 15–30 g in water. 2. External use: Apply an appropriate amount of freshly ground juice; or mix the powder with a carrier to form a poultice.
Precautions
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate herbal formula.
Chemical Constituents
The roots contain various flavonoid compounds: vine-like Qianjinba glycosides C and D. Additionally, they contain 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,8-diisopentenyl isoflavone, Qianjinba glycoside D, lupeol, β-sitosterol, and n-alkanoic acids with carbon numbers ranging from 22 to 30.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Illustrated Compendium of Plant Names and Realities*: Tonifies qi and blood; supports yang function.
2. *Selected Compendium of Guangxi Materia Medica*: Strengthens the lower back and kidneys; promotes blood circulation and unblocks meridians. Indicated for rheumatic bone pain, lumbar muscle strain, hemiplegia, chronic nephritis, chronic bronchitis, erectile dysfunction, and mastitis.
3. *Pharmacology of Southern Chinese Herbs*: Relaxes tendons and strengthens bones; astringes the lungs and clears the throat. Indicated for lumbar muscle strain, hemiplegia and paralysis, rheumatic pain, leg swelling due to qi deficiency, chronic cough due to lung deficiency, and sore throat.
4. *Fujian Materia Medica*: Dispels wind and dampness; reduces swelling and neutralizes toxins. Mainly used to treat rheumatic joint pain, sciatica, lumbar muscle strain, fatigue and weakness, chronic dysentery, chronic nephritis, postpartum lower back and knee pain, sore throat, trauma, boils and abscesses, and toothache.
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. For rheumatoid arthritis and lower back and leg pain: 30 g of Qianjinba, 15 g of Banfenghe. Decoct in water and take orally. (*Hong Kong Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
2. For sciatica: 30g each of climbing Qianjinba root and Xiao Fantianhua root. Decoct in water and take orally.
3. For fatigue and exhaustion: 15g of climbing Qianjinba root and 30g of Chengxing Shu (plum-leaf holly). Decoct in water and take orally. (Formulas 2 and 3 are from *Fujian Materia Medica*)
4. For contusions and bruises: 20–30 g of Qianjinba. Decoct in equal parts wine and water, then take orally. (From *Jiangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine*)
5. For sore throat: 6–12 g of Qianjinba root and 6–9 g of Wanggu root. Decoct in water and gargle frequently. One dose per day.
6. For rabid dog bites: An appropriate amount of Qianjinba root. Roast until dry, grind into powder, mix with white liquor, and apply as a poultice; change the dressing once daily. (Formulas 5 and 6 are from *Jiangxi Herbal Medicine*)
7. For mastitis: Pound fresh Qianjinba root with brown sugar until pulpy, mix thoroughly with cold boiled water, soak gauze in the solution, and apply as a wet compress several times daily. (*Selected Compendium of Guangxi Materia Medica*)
8. For chronic dysentery: Equal parts Qianjinba root, Yijianxi, and alum. Grind into a powder. Take 3–4.5 g each time, washed down with boiling water. (*Fujian Materia Medica*)
9. For leukorrhea in women: 20–30 g of Qianjinba and 60–90 g of lean pork. Simmer together in plenty of water, then strain out the solids. Consume the meat and broth. (*Jiangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine*)
Notes
References: 1. *Chinese Materia Medica, Vol. 4* 2. *Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicines*
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest after autumn, wash thoroughly, cut into sections, and sun-dry.
Processing Methods
Take the raw herb, remove impurities, soak in clean water, wash thoroughly, moisten thoroughly, cut into thick slices, and dry.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a well-ventilated, dry place.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The root is oblong-cylindrical, thicker at the top and tapering gradually toward the bottom, with very few branches; it is 30–70 cm long, with a diameter of 1–2 cm at the upper part.The surface is brownish-yellow, grayish-yellow to brownish-black, with slightly raised, elongated transverse lenticels and fine wrinkles; near the apex, it often forms a rounded shoulder, and the lower half occasionally shows traces of fibrous roots; the cork layer is thin and easily scraped off when fresh; after scraping off the cork, a brownish-red or brownish-black cortex is visible. The texture is tough and resilient, making it difficult to break.On a cross-section, the cortex is reddish-brown, and the xylem is broad, pale yellowish-white, with fine radial striations. It has a faint odor and a slightly sweet, astringent taste. The best quality is characterized by thick, long root segments that have been thoroughly cleaned of reed stems and fibrous roots, with a yellowish-white cross-section.
Properties of Processed Slices
It consists of round slices of varying sizes, with a white, powdery surface resembling the center of a chrysanthemum flower; the periphery is brownish-red with visible lenticels, and the cortex peels off easily; the texture is hard. It has a faint odor and a mild, slightly astringent taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
A climbing plant of the genus Polygonum in the Fabaceae family.
Morphological Characteristics
An erect or prostrate subshrub. Young branches are angular and covered with short soft hairs. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 2–3 cm long and covered with long downy hairs; there are two stipules, triangular in shape, approximately 1 cm long, and sparsely covered with downy hairs;ternate compound leaves; the terminal leaflet is ovate-lanceolate, 4–8 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, with a blunt apex and rounded base, sparsely covered with short soft hairs on the upper surface and densely covered with soft hairs on the lower surface; the lateral leaflets have oblique bases and three basal veins; the petioles are pubescent. The raceme is axillary, 2–2.5 cm long, with densely arranged flowers;Calyx with 5 lobes, lanceolate; the lowermost lobe is longer, densely covered with long, stiff white hairs, and bearing dense glandular dots; corolla purple, slightly longer than the calyx; standard elliptic, narrowing at the base, without a distinct claw; stamens 10, in two whorls; ovary hairy. Pod oblong, 7–8 mm long, with short yellow soft hairs.Seeds: 2, globose, black. Flowering period: October–November.
Distribution Area
It is distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other areas.