Natural Herb Library

Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed

Chinese
潼蒺藜
Pinyin
Tong Ji Li
Latin
Semen Astragali Complanati
Botanical illustration of Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed, Phyllolobium chinense, showing dried seeds, pod context, and diagnostic legume seed details.
Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Tong Ji Li (潼蒺藜), this sweet, warm herb enters the Kidney and Liver. Traditionally, it warms and supplements the Kidney while securing essence - Tong Ji Li is a regional name for the Sha Yuan Zi seed and is used for leakage, reproductive weakness, and deficient lower-burner instability, most often applied for infertility, frequent urination, and leucorrhea. Modern research has identified Complanatoside-type among its active constituents.

Part used: Seed

Also Known As

Astragali

Latin: Semen Astragali Complanati | Pinyin: Tong Ji Li | Chinese: 潼蒺藜

TCM Properties

Taste
sweet
Temperature
warm
Channels
Kidney, Liver

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Warms and supplements the Kidney while securing essence - Tong Ji Li is a regional name for the Sha Yuan Zi seed and is used for leakage, reproductive weakness, and deficient lower-burner instability.
  • Benefits the eyes through Liver-Kidney support - its traditional vision use fits deficiency blur rather than red inflamed excess-eye patterns.
  • Supports fertility and constitutional resilience - it appears in tonic strategies for chronic weakness where reproductive function and essence have been depleted.

Secondary Actions

  • Tong Ji Li is best understood as a regional or trade synonym rather than as a different botanical medicine from Sha Yuan Zi.
  • Because it is gentle and seed-based, it often participates in longer restorative formulas rather than acute symptom formulas.

Classic Formulas

  • Kidney-securing combinations use Tong Ji Li with Tu Si Zi, Fu Pen Zi, or Qian Shi for nocturnal emission and urinary leakage.
  • Reproductive-tonic formulas may pair it with Du Zhong and Gou Ji when infertility and low-back weakness coexist.
  • Eye-support deficiency formulas combine it with Gou Qi Zi and other Liver-Kidney nourishers rather than with strong heat-clearing eye herbs.

Classical References

  • Traditional Chinese trade literature treats Tong Ji Li as an alternate name for the seed more commonly listed as Sha Yuan Zi or Sha Yuan Ji Li.
  • Its actions remain those of a sweet warm Liver-Kidney tonic that secures essence and improves vision in deficiency patterns.
  • Regional naming should not be mistaken for a separate herb with a different core therapeutic profile.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Complanatoside-type flavonoid glycosides - major quality markers across commercial seed samples
  • Phenolics and antioxidant seed compounds - likely contributors to tissue-protective and metabolic findings
  • Saponin-like constituents - part of the broader tonic pharmacology profile
  • Minor lipid and sterol fractions - supportive nutritional components of the seed

Studied Effects

  • Modern quality-control work on Astragali Complanati Semen identified key bioactive flavonoid glycosides relevant to commercial standardization of Tong Ji Li or Sha Yuan Zi products (PMID 33081333).
  • Astragali Complanati Semen demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect in experimental metabolomics research, showing that current pharmacology extends beyond the herb's classical leakage indications (PMID 28753987).
  • The seed enhanced bone formation in osteoporotic rats, offering a modern experimental complement to its traditional low-back and deficiency-support role (PMID 23782721).
  • Preclinical antihypertensive activity has also been reported from total flavonoid fractions of Astragalus complanatus (PMID 16201455).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Damp-heat urinary or gynecologic disorders rather than deficiency leakage
  • Clearly excess patterns without underlying weakness

Cautions

  • Tong Ji Li should be matched to deficient leakage and weakness, not to acute infection or burning urinary symptoms.
  • Naming can vary by region and supplier, so authenticated sourcing still matters.
  • MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database

Drug Interactions

  • Antihypertensive medications - theoretical additive effect based on preclinical data

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed used for?

Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed is traditionally used to Warms and supplements the Kidney while securing essence - Tong Ji Li is a regional name for the Sha Yuan Zi seed and is used for leakage, reproductive weakness, and deficient lower-burner instability., Benefits the eyes through Liver-Kidney support - its traditional vision use fits deficiency blur rather than red inflamed excess-eye patterns., Supports fertility and constitutional resilience - it appears in tonic strategies for chronic weakness where reproductive function and essence have been depleted.. Research has investigated its effects on: Modern quality-control work on Astragali Complanati Semen identified key bioactive flavonoid glycosides relevant to commercial standardization of Tong Ji Li or Sha Yuan Zi products (PMID 33081333).; Astragali Complanati Semen demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect in experimental metabolomics research, showing that current pharmacology extends beyond the herb's classical leakage indications (PMID 28753987)..

What are other names for Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed?

Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed is also known as Astragali. In TCM: 潼蒺藜 (Tong Ji Li); Semen Astragali Complanati.

Is Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed safe during pregnancy?

The safety of Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.

What are the contraindications for Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed?

Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed should not be used in: Damp-heat urinary or gynecologic disorders rather than deficiency leakage; Clearly excess patterns without underlying weakness. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed interact with any medications?

Tongzhou Milkvetch Seed may interact with: Antihypertensive medications - theoretical additive effect based on preclinical data. Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.