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Cura x Cura

Bai Tou Weng白头翁

Pulsatillae Radix · Pulsatilla Root · Chinese Anemone Root

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

The defining herb for hot dysenteric disorders: bitter and cold, it clears heat and toxicity at the level of the Large Intestine and cools blood in the gut, so that stools with blood and pus, burning and urgent straining settle. It is the chief herb of Bai Tou Weng Tang, and is also decocted as a wash for damp-heat itching in the lower body.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter · Cold

Channels

Stomach · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

9–15 g in decoction
白头翁Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, resolves toxicityHeat-toxin patterns concentrated in the intestines, with fever, burning and foul stool.
  • Cools the blood, checks dysenteric disorderDiarrhea with blood and pus, tenesmus and burning at the anus — the presentation Bai Tou Weng Tang was written for.
  • Kills parasites, stops itchingUsed externally as a wash for damp-heat vaginal itching and discharge, including trichomonal presentations alongside conventional treatment.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Bai Tou Weng

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Dysenteric diarrhea with blood and pus, tenesmus, burning
    - Heat-toxin patterns of the intestines
    - Damp-heat vaginal itching and discharge (external wash)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Bacillary dysenteryAmebic dysenteryColitisTrichomoniasis

Contraindications

Cautions

Bitter, cold and aimed squarely at heat and toxicity: it is wrong for chronic diarrhea of Spleen–Stomach deficiency cold, and prolonged use injures the middle burner. Dysentery with high fever, dehydration or bloody stools is a medical emergency in infants, older adults and anyone immunocompromised — it needs biomedical assessment and, where indicated, antimicrobial treatment, not herbs alone.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — practitioner supervision required

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.