Akebia is a deciduous creeping woody plant belonging to the family Akebiae, and its stems are used medicinally. Because its stems have fine pores that are open at both ends, it is called Akebia. The fruits and vines are used as medicine, detoxifying, diuretic, stimulating menstruation and dehumidifying; the sweet taste is edible and can also be used to make wine; the stems and vines can be used to make utensils and replace ropes.

The currently used medicinal materials of Akebia are mainly related to four categories: Akebia, Akebia, Huaiton and Akebia. Among them, the most widely used Akebia acuta is the woody stem of Aristolochiaceae of the Aristolochiaceae family; the second one is Akebia chuanmutong. It is the woody stem of Hydrangea vine, etc. of the Ranunculaceae family. The Akebia bark recorded in the Materia Medica of the past dynasties is Akebia Akebiae. Currently rarely used.

Efficacy: purges fire and circulates water, and promotes blood circulation. It can be used to treat red and astringent urine, turbid stranguria, edema, dysphoric heat in the chest, sore throat, sore throat, general body cramping, amenorrhea, and lactation obstruction in women.

Contraindications: Do not take it if there is no internal dampness and heat, fluid deficiency, weak qi, slippery sperm, frequent urination and pregnant women.

Diuretic effect: Experiments have shown that Akebia has a significant diuretic effect. Akebia tinctures given to rabbits orally and Akebia decoctions given orally or intravenously to rabbits have obvious diuretic effects. However, its ash content has no diuretic effect. It shows that it is not the potassium salt that causes the diuretic effect, but other active ingredients.

Antibacterial effect: According to preliminary in vitro test results, Akebia acuta water infusion or decoction has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on a variety of pathogenic fungi.

Effects on the cardiovascular system: Guanmutong decoction has a digitalis-like effect on the hearts of isolated toads and guinea pigs. Studies have shown that this effect is caused by the calcium and tannic acid contained in it.

Effects on smooth muscle: Guanmutong decoction has an excitatory effect on the small intestine of isolated mice and an inhibitory effect on the uterus of unpregnant and pregnant mice. Aristolochic acid has a contractile effect on both in vivo and isolated rabbit intestines and on the in vivo uterus of cats.

Cardiotonic effect: Guanmutong decoction has cardiotonic effect on the isolated guinea pig heart.

Hypertension reduction: Guanmutong decoction has a sustained antihypertensive effect on rabbit blood pressure.

Anti-tumor: Akebia scutellariae and Akebia sibiricum have inhibitory effects on the growth of various animal models such as mouse S180.

Other effects: Aristolochic acid can increase the activity of phagocytes and counteract the inhibitory effect of prednisone on phagocytes.