The Wind-Expelling and Pain-Relieving (Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic) Action of Songjie (Pine Nodule)
Songjie (Pine Nodule, Lignum Pini Nodi) is the knot of the branches of Pinaceae species such as Pinus tabuliformis, Pinus massoniana, Pinus densiflora, and Pinus yunnanensis. As an easily obtained analgesic plant, it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine since early times. TCM holds that Songjie expels wind and dries dampness, relaxes the tendons and unblocks the collaterals, and activates blood and stops pain. It is commonly used for wind-cold-damp bi, joint pain (lijiefeng), leg bi with flaccidity, and traumatic injuries. Modern pharmacological studies confirm that Songjie has certain anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and can be used for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Songjie is widely used in TCM. It can be soaked alone in medicinal wine or medicinal vinegar, stir-fried yellow and ground for external use, or decocted directly.
The Shenghui Fang records a specific method for brewing Songjie wine: take ten jin of Songjie (pound it, boil in one shi of water to obtain five dou of juice; note that in ancient times one shi = 10 dou, and one dou was about 12 modern jin), five dou of glutinous rice (steamed until cooked), and five jin of fine yeast (about five modern jin). Mix the three evenly, place in a sealed urn, and open after 21 days to obtain Songjie wine. Warm one cup in hot water and drink. The ancients used Songjie wine for "wind-deficiency of a hundred joints and leg bi pain," roughly corresponding to what we today call chronic rheumatoid arthritis.
Songjie may also be combined with Sangzhi (mulberry twig) and Mugua (chaenomeles) for rheumatoid arthritis: 18 g Songjie, 30 g Sangzhi, 9 g Mugua, decocted in water, has some effect on rheumatic bi pain. This formula not only treats rheumatoid arthritis but also limb pain caused by arterial plaques in hyperlipidemia patients; it also has some effect on gout and a certain weight-reducing action. It should be used cautiously in patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency. Songjie, Sangzhi, Mugua, Jishiteng (paederia), and Gusui Bu (drynaria) are also commonly used in TCM for pain caused by bone tumors or bone metastases.
TCM also uses Songjie for bone tuberculosis (osteoarthropathy deformans, "big-bone disease"): take 7.5 kg Songjie, 0.75 kg mushrooms, and 0.5 kg Honghua (safflower), add 50 kg water, boil down to 25 kg, filter, and add 5 kg white liquor. Take 20 mL twice daily; this treats big-bone disease. Songjie is also used for traumatic injuries: soak it in wine and rub the affected area, or use Songjie powder alone, mixed with yellow rice wine, urine of a young boy, or vinegar, taken internally.
Songjie also has some effect on toothache; the ancients often burned Songjie to ash for toothache caused by gingivitis and similar conditions.
Songjie taken internally can cause constipation, so TCM holds that it should not be used in those with yin deficiency and blood dryness. Constipation is a side effect of many analgesic Chinese and Western medicines; relatively speaking, this side effect of Songjie is not severe. When it occurs, combine it with Roucongrong (cistanche) or Shu Dahuang (prepared rhubarb) to relieve it.