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Cura x Cura

Bi Ba荜茇

Piperis longi Fructus · Long Pepper Fruit

Herbs that Warm the Interior 温里药《新修本草》

Overview

A hot, aromatic spice-medicine from the pepper family: it warms a cold middle burner and pushes rebellious qi downward, which is why it is used for cold epigastric and abdominal pain with vomiting, hiccup or watery diarrhea. Its heat is real — the dose stays small and the course short — and powdered, it is also packed against an aching tooth.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Hot

Channels

Stomach · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

1.5–3 g in decoction
荜茇Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Warms the middle, disperses coldCold epigastric and abdominal pain that eases with warmth and pressure, with cold limbs and a preference for hot drinks.
  • Directs qi downward, stops painVomiting, hiccup, belching and watery diarrhea where cold has taken hold of the Stomach and Intestines.
  • Relieves toothache locallyPowdered and applied to the painful tooth as a traditional local measure, pending dental care.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Bi Ba

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Cold epigastric and abdominal pain, relieved by warmth
    - Vomiting, hiccup, belching from Stomach cold
    - Watery diarrhea of cold type
    - Toothache (local application)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Functional dyspepsiaNausea and vomitingHiccupsToothache

Contraindications

Cautions

Acrid and hot: contraindicated in heat patterns and in yin deficiency with heat signs, and it aggravates acid reflux and gastric irritation in some patients. Keep the dose small and the course short; it is a corrective for cold, not a daily digestive. Toothache needs dental assessment — a local application only buys time.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — its heat and downward-directing action make it unsuitable without practitioner supervision

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Xin Xiu Ben Cao《新修本草》(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.