Ren Dong Teng, « the vine that endures winter »
Ren Dong Teng reads « the vine that endures winter »: Tao Hongjing already explained that its leaves bear the cold season without withering, which is rare for a vine. It is the stem of Japanese honeysuckle, whose highly fragrant flowers open white and turn gold within two or three days, hence the name « gold and silver flower » given to their bud, Jin Yin Hua. Yet Ren Dong is the oldest name for the whole plant, and it was the stem and leaves that were used first. Its reference growing region is Fengqiu county, in Henan; a good vine is a « jujube red » brown, and hollow at its centre.
Clearing Heat, without harshness
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the vine is cold and sweet, associated with the Lung, the Stomach and the Heart. Like the flower, it clears Heat without harshness, where so many cold plants are bitter: it does not harm the upright Qi. But it lacks the lightness of the flower, and that is the whole point: the flower disperses upwards and to the surface, while the stem, thicker in flavour and in Qi, penetrates. A Ming text sums it up thus: « neither too cold nor drying, it supplements without encumbering ».
The vine of the meridians and joints
Tradition applies the same reasoning to all vines: what grows as a vine goes into the branches. A long, supple stem is held to reach the meridians and collaterals of the limbs and joints, where the flower would not go. According to TCM, Wind and Dampness lodge there and create obstruction; cold and penetrating, the vine expels Wind and Dampness and frees the collaterals, on the hot side of this blockage. Gao Shishi saw in it a substance that « opens the meridians and harmonises the Qi and the Blood ». It is readily combined with another cool vine, star jasmine.
Key benefits
Gentle Coolness & Cleared Heat
Cold yet sweet, the vine clears Heat without harshness, and is used on a sustained basis according to Chinese tradition.
Joint Comfort
Traditionally used to expel Wind and Dampness from the joints, it supports joint comfort.
Freed Meridians & Qi in Motion
Being a vine, it reaches the collaterals of the limbs, harmonises the meridians and helps the Qi and the Blood to circulate.
