Huang Bai

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Pinyin Name: Huang Bai

English Name: Cortex Phellodendri

Other Names: Amur Cork Tree Bark

Tastes: Bitter, Cold

Origin: Liaoning, Jilin, Hebei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei and Yunnan provinces in China

Benefits of Huang Bai:

Huang Bai is native to Eastern Asia and China. It is the bark of Amur cork tree. Amur cork tree plant is a deciduous tree, 10 to 25 meter. Outer bark is gray, with thick cork layer and longitudinal-fissure surface, and under bark is bright yellow. It is typically harvested from trees 10 years old. The tree will die soon after it is peeled. As a result, it is also one of rare and valuable Chinese herbs. Huang Bai can be used in symptom management for cerebrospinal meningitis, bacillary dysentery, pneumonia, tuberculosis, liver cirrhosis, cervical spondylosis, ear eczema and more.

Huang Bai covers two meridians of kidney and bladder. Main functions are clearing away heat, drying dampness, purging fire for removing toxin. Common uses and indications are damp-heat dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, hectic fever due to yin deficiency and consumptive fever, mouth sores, swollen red eyes, ulcer sores, skin eczema. Recommended dosage is from 3 to 9 grams.

Huang Bai is widely used in Chinese herbal formulas. 1) Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan is used for fire excess from yin deficiency, tidal fever and night sweating, lower back pain. Its ingredient herbs include Huang Bai, Zhi Mu, Shu Di Huang, Shan Yao and more. 2) Hu Qian Wan is commonly used for flaccidity syndrome caused by fire excess from yin deficiency. Its ingredient herbs include Huang Bai, Shu Di Huang, Gui Jia and more.

Common herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine

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