Canton Love-Pea Vine Leaf
Canton Love-Pea Vine Leaf
鸡骨草 · Jī Gǔ Cǎo
Abrus cantoniensis Hance
A beloved Cantonese herb for liver wellness — Canton Love-Pea Vine clears heat, resolves dampness, and soothes the Liver and Stomach with its cooling, gentle action.
Taste & Nature
Sweet, Bitter & Cool
Part Used
Whole Herb
Channels Entered
Liver & Stomach
TCM Category
Heat-Clearing & Dampness-Resolving
Family
Fabaceae
What Is Canton Love-Pea Vine Leaf?
Canton Love-Pea Vine (Ji Gu Cao, 鸡骨草) is a slender climbing herb native to the Guangdong and Guangxi regions of southern China. Its name — "chicken bone herb" — refers to the delicate, bone-like appearance of its stems and leaves. It is one of the most characteristic herbs of Cantonese food therapy and herbal soup culture.
Sweet, bitter, and cool in nature, Ji Gu Cao enters the Liver and Stomach channels. It clears heat, resolves dampness, and soothes Liver Qi stagnation — making it particularly valued in Cantonese medicine for supporting liver function, relieving the discomfort of hepatitis and jaundice patterns, and addressing Liver-Stomach disharmony. It has been a cornerstone ingredient in Guangdong herbal soups for generations.
History & Origin
Canton Love-Pea Vine (Ji Gu Cao) is a treasured Lingnan (southern China) folk herb, famed in Cantonese tradition for clearing Liver Damp-Heat and protecting the liver.
Traditional Lingnan Use
Long used in Guangdong and Guangxi folk medicine to clear Damp-Heat, relieve jaundice, and soothe the Liver, often as a cooling soup.
Qing to Republican Era
Documented in regional Lingnan materia medica for liver complaints and Damp-Heat patterns.
20th Century
Adopted into modern Chinese herbal references and made famous by Ji Gu Cao herbal soups and teas across southern China and Hong Kong.
Modern Research
Studies highlight liver-protective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity.
Traditional Uses
Clears Liver Heat
Cools and detoxifies the Liver, used for patterns of Liver heat: irritability, red eyes, bitter taste, and restlessness.
Resolves Dampness & Jaundice
A key herb for Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder, used for jaundice, hepatitis patterns, and yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes.
Soothes Liver Qi Stagnation
Relieves the discomfort of stagnant Liver Qi affecting the Stomach — used for bloating, nausea, and flank pain from Liver-Stomach disharmony.
Clears Heat & Toxicity
Resolves heat toxin from the body, traditionally used for swelling, pain, and inflammation associated with heat-related conditions.
Promotes Urination
Clears damp-heat through urination, supporting fluid metabolism and reducing dampness in the lower body.
Supports Liver Function
One of the primary Cantonese herbs for liver health — used in preventative food therapy for those with high-stress, heat-generating lifestyles.
Health Benefits
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Liver Health Clears Liver heat and resolves dampness to support healthy liver function — a cornerstone of Cantonese liver-care food therapy.
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Heat-Clearing Cools internal heat associated with irritability, red eyes, bitter taste, and restlessness from Liver heat patterns.
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Dampness Resolution Promotes urination and clears damp-heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channel.
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Digestive Comfort Soothes Liver-Stomach disharmony, relieving bloating, nausea, and epigastric discomfort.
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Hepatoprotective Rich in alkaloids and flavonoids studied for their liver-protective and anti-inflammatory properties.
Soups Featuring Canton Love-Pea Vine Leaf
Canton Love-Pea Vine Leaf is a key ingredient in these Food Art no-cook herbal soups, thoughtfully formulated to deliver its nourishing benefits in a convenient, ready-to-brew format.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.
