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Cura x Cura

Bai He百合

Lilii Bulbus · Lily Bulb

Herbs that Tonify the Yin 补阴药《神农本草经》

Overview

The scaled bulb of the lily, sweet and slightly cold, moistening rather than heavy. It works on two levels at once: it replenishes the Lung's fluids for a dry, hacking, unproductive cough, and it cools a restless Heart, which is why the Jin Gui Yao Lue built an entire pattern —, the disorganised, low-grade restlessness that lingers after a febrile illness — around it. The honey-prepared form is the more moistening of the two and is preferred for chronic dry cough.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet · Slightly cold

Channels

Lung · Heart · Stomach

Typical Dosage

6–12 g in decoction
百合Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Nourishes yin, moistens the LungDry cough with little or blood-streaked sputum, a dry sore throat and a hoarse voice after a long illness.
  • Clears the Heart, calms the spiritRestlessness, poor sleep, vague low-grade heat and an unsettled mind in the convalescent phase of an illness.
  • The honey-prepared form moistens moreHoney-frying deepens the moistening effect on the Lung, favoured for chronic dry cough; the plain bulb is used where clearing the Heart matters more.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Bai He

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Dry, unproductive cough on a Lung yin-deficient background
    - Hoarseness and a dry throat lingering after infection
    - Restlessness, palpitations and disturbed sleep in convalescence
    - Low-grade afternoon heat with irritability

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Chronic dry coughInsomniaConvalescenceAnxiety

Contraindications

Cautions

Sweet, cold and moistening: unsuitable for a wind-cold cough that still needs releasing, and for Spleen deficiency with loose stools and copious phlegm-damp, where it sits heavily on digestion.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific pregnancy restriction — practitioner judgment applies.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(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.