Clematis Root

위령선 (威靈仙) · Clematis chinensis Osbeck

Wind-damp dispelling herb Not specified in the source text Not specified in the source text Bladder

NatureNot specified in the source text

TasteNot specified in the source text

MeridiansBladder

Part usedRoot

FamilyRanunculaceae

CategoryWind-damp dispelling herb

Find by concern: Joint pain

Overview

Clematis root earned its reputation as "the essential medicine for pain" through a curious folk method of quality-checking: gatherers sought roots from plants that grew where they could not hear running water, believing — as the Donguibogam records — that the sound made the plant's energy restless and prone to "wandering," weakening its potency.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑

主諸風, 宣通五藏, 去腹內冷滯, 心膈痰水, 癥瘕痃癖, 膀胱宿膿惡水, 腰膝冷痛. 久服無瘟疫瘧.

Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)

TranslationIt mainly treats all manner of wind, unblocks and opens the five viscera, removes cold stagnation in the abdomen, phlegm-fluid in the chest and diaphragm, hardened masses and abdominal concretions, old pus and malign fluid in the bladder, and cold pain of the lower back and knees. Taken long-term, it prevents epidemic disease and malarial fever.

Traditional functions

Dispels wind-damp
Relieves joint pain
Resolves phlegm-fluid accumulation
Unblocks the viscera

Traditional applications

Cold-damp joint pain of the lower back and knees
Phlegm-fluid accumulation in the chest
Abdominal masses
Old, stubborn wind-damp conditions

Traditional preparation

Decoction 4–12g, traditionally wine-washed and roasted.

Cautions

Caution: The source text does not state this herb's nature or taste explicitly. It is a strongly dispersing herb traditionally reserved for stubborn cold-damp pain. Consult a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Why did gatherers avoid roots near running water?

The Donguibogam records the folk belief that hearing flowing water made the plant's energy restless and prone to "wandering," weakening its potency — so roots from quiet spots were considered superior.

What is clematis root's main traditional use?

It was called "the essential medicine for pain," especially cold-damp joint pain of the lower back and knees, alongside dispersing phlegm-fluid accumulation in the chest.

Sources

동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)

DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.