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Cura x Cura

Bai Wei白薇

Cynanchi Atrati Radix et Rhizoma · Blackend Swallowwort Root · Cynanchum Atratum Root

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

A bitter, salty, cold root reached for when fever will not resolve and yin has already been spent: it clears heat at the blood level, brings down the low-grade afternoon, postpartum or post-febrile fever of deficiency, and drains residual heat out through the urine. Dry-frying tempers its coldness for a weak digestion; honey-frying adds a moistening quality for dry, heat-tinged cough.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, salty · Cold

Channels

Stomach · Liver · Kidney

Typical Dosage

4.5–9 g in decoction
白薇Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Clears heat, cools the bloodLingering fever after a warm-febrile illness, heat entering the blood level with restlessness.
  • Relieves steaming-bone fever of deficiencyAfternoon fever, night sweats and postpartum deficiency fever where yin is depleted.
  • Promotes urination, eases painful urinationHot, painful or blood-streaked urination from heat in the lower burner.
  • Resolves toxicity for soresUsed internally and topically for heat-toxin sores, swellings and insect or snake bite as an adjunct to proper medical care.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Bai Wei

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Lingering or afternoon fever after febrile illness
    - Postpartum deficiency fever, night sweats
    - Hot or blood-streaked painful urination
    - Heat-toxin sores and swellings

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Low-grade feverNight sweatsUrinary tract infectionPostpartum fever

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and downward-draining: avoid in Spleen–Stomach deficiency cold with poor appetite and loose stools, and in patterns of cold without heat. Persistent unexplained fever or night sweats needs a medical work-up before it is treated as a pattern alone. Distinguish it from Bai Qian 白前 — the two Cynanchum roots look and sound alike but do quite different work.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Classically used for postpartum fever; in pregnancy use only under practitioner supervision

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.