Bai Bu百部
Stemonae Radix · Stemona Root
Overview
A cough herb with an unusually wide brief: sweet, bitter and slightly warm, it moistens the Lung and settles cough of almost any duration — new, lingering, whooping or the dry cough of a depleted Lung. Its second, quite separate use is external, as a parasiticide wash for lice, scabies and pinworm. The honey-prepared form is more moistening and is the one chosen for chronic dry cough; the unprocessed root is used for acute cough and for external preparations.
Nature & Flavor
Sweet, bitter · Slightly warmChannels
LungTypical Dosage
5–15 g in decoctionActions
3 core actions
- Moistens the Lung, stops coughCough of any stage — recent wind-cold cough, lingering cough after an infection, and the dry cough of Lung deficiency.
- Calms spasmodic coughThe barking, paroxysmal cough traditionally described as whooping cough, usually in a combination rather than alone.
- Kills parasites, relieves itchingExternal use: a decoction as a wash or retention enema for lice, scabies and pinworm, and for damp itchy skin.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Bai Bu
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Lingering cough after a cold or flu
- Dry, unproductive cough on a Lung-deficient background
- Paroxysmal spasmodic cough in children, under supervision
- Lice, scabies and pinworm, as an external wash
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia records Bai Bu as slightly toxic — keep strictly inside the prescribed range and do not extend a course without review. It can loosen the stools and dull the appetite, so use carefully in Spleen deficiency with diarrhoea. External washes are for intact skin only.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use in pregnancy only under practitioner supervision, given the recorded slight toxicity.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Ming Yi Bie Lu《名医别录》(classical source, public domain).
2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.