Is Ji Shi Teng 鸡屎藤 (a Chinese medicinal vine herb) able to ward off evil spirits? According to the older generation — like my mum and some of my elderly relatives — they truly believe so! I first came across Ji Shi Teng while listening to Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories podcast on 13 May 2022.
Mr Zhou mentioned that his neighbour’s child had been crying for hours, so his mum went over to help. No matter how hard they tried to soothe the baby, nothing worked. The elderly believed that evil spirits were surrounding the child and trying to frighten the baby. Someone then instructed Mr Zhou’s mum — who had brought him along with her — to look for Ji Shi Teng.
A small portion of the plant was placed near the baby’s pillow or toy inside the yao lan (baby hammock). The plant gave off a terrible smell, but within a few hours, the baby stopped crying. It was said that the strong smell of the plant was able to ward off evil spirits. Do you believe this superstition? I do know that the smell is incredibly strong — I could smell it from afar (bought it fresh) — and it had a very woody scent!
My mum also told me that my younger cousin used to cry for many hours each day. She was not ill and did not have colic. Her mother was advised by my elderly grandmother to find some Ji Shi Teng. She wrapped small portions of the vine around my cousin’s wrists and ankles. Soon after, my cousin stopped crying. Do you think it was just a coincidence, or do these plants really have some special power?
My mum also said that once the vines fell off the child, they should never be used again. A fresh piece should always be used to continue protecting the child.
This is an example of how the vine was traditionally wrapped around an ankle, according to my mum, demonstrated by myself.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Ji Shi Teng — a climbing plant — could be found growing freely in many undeveloped green areas in Singapore. Many knowledgeable elderly people knew where to find it and how to use it. Some people would grind Ji Shi Teng into a liquid extract and add it to kuih (traditional steamed cakes), similar to how pandan leaves are used to make pandan extract or coconut is used in kaya. They believed the herb was beneficial for the body.
My aunty also told me that some people would boil the plant in a large pot of water and bathe in it to help relieve arthritis pain. There seem to be many uses for this Chinese herb. However, please remember that I am not an expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), so it is always best to consult a professional before using it.
These days, if you are looking for Ji Shi Teng, you can still buy it fresh or dried from TCM shops in Singapore’s Chinatown — if you know how to use it!
Do you know how to identify Ji Shi Teng? According to my mum, it is a climbing plant with two leaves growing from each stem. To be honest, I probably would not recognise it even if I saw it in person. It does not seem easy to identify.
What do you think about this herb? Do you believe it can ward off evil spirits?
