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Photo of Asiatic Moonseed

Asiatic Moonseed

北豆根 · Běi Dòu Gēn

Cools throat infections and eases joint pain

Properties

CoolingCooling botanicalBitter

What it does

Asiatic moonseed cools sore throats, throat infections, and inflammatory joint pain. In TCM, it removes toxic heat from the body's surface and channels. The bitter, cooling root is most often given as part of a multi-herb formula for acute throat conditions. Slightly toxic, so it's used short-term and within standardized doses.

How to take it

Capsule

Decoct 3–9g of dried moonseed rhizome in water for 25 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 2x daily, short-term. Common in throat-support formulas.

See a practitioner for throat-pain formulas. Do not self-prescribe

Safety

  • Slightly toxic. Stay within practitioner-prescribed doses
  • Skip during pregnancy
  • Cooling and bitter. Avoid in cold-pattern conditions or weak digestion
  • Stop use if you experience nausea, dizziness, or palpitations
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Asiatic moonseed (Menispermum dauricum) grows wild across northeastern China, Mongolia, Korea, and Russia. The crooked, dark-skinned rhizome is the part used. The Chinese name Běi Dòu Gēn means 'northern bean root,' a folk name reflecting its appearance and habitat. The slug 'chinese-cinquefoil' in some databases is a misidentification: actual cinquefoil is Potentilla, an unrelated plant.