$6.95 USA Shipping • 90-Day Hassle-Free Returns

Home » Gou Teng – Uncaria Vine – Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis

Gou Teng – Uncaria Vine – Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis

Gou Teng

English Name: gambir, uncaria vine

Literal Translation: “hook vine”

Pharmaceutical Name: Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis

Medica Category: Liver-Calming and Wind-Extinguishing Herbs

Properties: Gou Teng enters the Liver and Pericaridum channels; it is sweet in nature and cool in temperature.

What is Gou Teng?:

The Chinese Herb Gou Teng comes from several species of flowering, tropical shrubs in the genus Uncaria (common name: Gambir– Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.); and several others used in various regions of China). Also known as “cat’s claw herb” or “fishhook vine”, its distinguishing feature is a recurved hook that grows out of the stem at intervals (which the plant uses to attach itself to a growing surface/anchor). These twig-like sections are collected from the vines in the spring and autumn and dried for use as medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Gou Teng:

Gou Teng sedates Liver fire, extinguishes internal wind, and alleviates spasms. It is considered an essential herb for this purpose and is used to address such clinical presentations as: convulsions (infantile and adult), clenching of the jaw, tremors, seizures, high fever, and eclampsia.

Gou Teng drains Liver heat and pacifies rising Liver yang patterns (i.e. anchors Liver yang) that may present clinically as headaches, irritability, red eyes, and dizziness. In China, this pattern is often the cause of hypertension, and Gou Teng is used (e.g. in the formula Tian Ma Gou Teng) to control high blood pressure.

Latest Blog Posts

  • Chinese Herbs for Male Fertility  

    When it comes to infertility challenges, much of the focus often falls on the female side of things – uterine lining, egg quality, and female hormone balance. Yet, male fertility challenges are more common than you might think, and they play an equally important role in conception. If you and your partner have been trying…

  • 6 Ways to Leverage Chinese Medicine and Reach Your Health Goals

    Starting a new health journey is exciting. You set your sights on goals like better energy, improved focus, or simply feeling good in your body. You imagine how you’ll feel in a few months or even this time next year and start to feel unstoppable. That is, until that early motivation wears off. As the…

  • 5 Lifestyle Shifts to Reach Your Wellness Goals in 2025 

    New Year’s resolutions are motivating in January, when the excitement of a new start is fresh. By February, however, that initial excitement of those goals you set often starts to wane. But who says meaningful change has to be tied to January 1st? True transformation comes from consistent, sustainable shifts in how we live every…