Root of Clematis chinensis Rhizomes cylindrical, 1.5-10cm long, 0.3-1.5cm in diameter; externally pale brownish-yellowish, crowned by remains of stems, the lower part bearing numerous rootlets. Texture relatively tough, fracture fibrous. Roots slender cylindrical, somewhat curved, 7-15cm long, 1-3mm in diameter; externally blackish-brown, longitudinally fine-wrinkled, sometimes showing yellowish-white wood when bark falling off. Texture hard and fragile, easily broken, fracture showing bark relatively broad, wood yellowish and slightly square, often with cleft between bark and wood. Odour, slight; taste, weak.

Root of Clematis hexapetala Rhizomes short cylindrical, 1-4cm long, 0.5-1cm in diameter. Roots 4-20cm long, 1-2mm in diameter; externally brown to brownish-black, wood in fracture subrounded. Taste, salty.
Root of of Clematis manshurica Rhizomes cylindrical, 1-11cm long, 0.5-2.5cm in diameter. Roots relatively dense, 5-23cm long, 1-4mm in diameter; externally brownish-black, wood in fracture subrounded. Taste, pungent.

Rheumatic or rheumatoid arthralgia with numbness of the limbs, muscle contracture and limitation of motion; fish bone stuck in the throat.

1. Dispelling wind and resolving dampness, reactivating channels.

To treat arthralgia with contracture and pain due to cold and preponderant wind, it can be used with drugs having the effects on dispelling wind and promoting blood circulation; to treat stuffiness and breathlessness due to invasion of abdomen by serious beriberi with abundant cold and dampness, its powder 6g can be taken with wine.

2. Regulating the flow of Qi to remove Qi stagnation

To treat women with abdominal pain due to stagnation of Qi and blood, it can be used with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Cortex Cinnamomi, etc.

Besides, to treat sticking in the throat by fish bone or other bones, it can be decocted single, or with vinegar and brown sugar and taken hot slowly after the decoction being filtered.