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Photo of Climbing Nightshade

Climbing Nightshade

白毛藤 · Bái Máo Téng

Cools jaundice and inflamed joint pain

Properties

CoolingCooling botanicalSweet, Bitter

What it does

Climbing nightshade clears damp-heat patterns linked to jaundice, edema, and red urinary infections. In TCM, it also disperses skin swellings like erysipelas and clove sores, plus eases rheumatic joint pain. Slightly toxic from solanaceous alkaloids, so it stays short-term and is rarely used alone.

How to take it

Drink

Decoct 15–30g of dried climbing nightshade in 4 cups water for 30 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily, short-term. Often used in cancer adjuvant formulas.

See a practitioner before using. Self-prescribing is risky

Safety

  • Slightly toxic from solanaceous alkaloids. Stay within prescribed doses
  • Skip during pregnancy
  • Stop if you develop nausea, dizziness, or palpitations
  • Avoid in cases of weak digestion or chronic loose stools
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Climbing nightshade (Solanum lyratum) is a vining nightshade native to East Asia, related to potato, tomato, and deadly nightshade. The whole plant has been used in TCM for over 1,000 years for damp-heat patterns. Modern Chinese pharmacopoeia includes it for cancer adjuvant therapy alongside its traditional uses, with lab studies exploring its anti-tumor compounds. Like all solanums, it contains alkaloids that can be toxic at high doses.