White Atractylodes, Bai Zhu 白朮Bai Zhu (TCM) |
|
Sliced White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) (Adam, 2016)Botanical name:
Atractylodes spp.
Two different varieties are used in TCM:
1. A. macrocephalae (White–Bai Zhu)
2. A. lancea, A. chinensis (Dark–Cang Zhu)
Parts used:
Root, rhizome
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, sweet
Classification:
N. Qi Tonic
Uses:
1. Tonifies Spleen, increases Qi, Clears Damp:
-digestive weakness with poor appetite, indigestion, diarrhea and weakness
-it can be used for Melancholy disorders associated with Damp
2. Dries Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, fluid retention, reduced urination associated with Spleen deficiency
-good for fluid swelling of the lower body
-Damp-type joint and muscle Pain
-Leukorrhea
-‘replenishes deficient condition in the lumbar region and knees’ (Da MIng)
-‘good for treating arthralgia due to attack of pathogenic Wind, Cold and Damp’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-useful for all Damp-Phlegm conditions associated with deficiency and Spleen weakness
3. Stabilises the Exterior, Stops Sweating:
-Sweating associated with deficiency
-strengthens the exterior defense to prevent acute attacks of Wind-Cold or Epidemics
-‘clears Wind from the skin and face, with headache and vertigo’. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
4. Calms the Fetus, Prevents Miscarriage:
-Fetal Restlessness (overactive Fetus, heavy, dragging feeling in the lower abdomen during pregnancy, weakness)
-good to strengthen the mother and fetus during pregnancy
-Edema and fluid retention during pregnancy.
Dose:
The prepared types are used in the same doses as the unprepared root.
Decoction: 6–15 grams; Infectious Hepatitis: 15–30 grams; Ascites due to Liver cirrhosis: 30–60 grams Liver Cancer: 60–100 grams.
Powder; 1.5–4 grams
Comment:
1. Two separate medicines come under the heading of Atractylodes: White (Bai Zhu) and Dark (Cang Zhu). The White is stronger to increase Qi and tonify the Spleen, for weakness and fatigue. The Dark is stronger to alleviate Damp and also promotes sweat due to its warm and aromatic nature. They are combined for cases with both marked deficiency and damp. In cases where Bai Zhu is required but the person has significant Damp but less debility, Cang Zhu may replace Bai Zhu. In formulas requesting Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu may be used if there is marked debility.
2. Li Shi Zhen said of Bai Zhu and Cang Zhu ‘they have similar therapeutic effects, there is a little difference in their quality’. In older texts such as Shen Nong Ben Cao the two weren’t differentiated.
3. The two Atractylodes are similar to the Inula (Elecampane) and Costus combination often used in Tibet and India. Inula is stronger to tonfy the Qi, Costus is stronger to move Qi and is more drying and aromatic. The two together more strongly strengthen the Spleen, tonfy Qi and clear Damp and Stagnation. The same can be said of the combination of White and Dark Atractylodes.
Preparation:
1. Washed White Atractylodes (Piao Bai Zhu):
The root or sliced root is soaked in Rice-rinse water, steamed until black, then sun-dried. This lessens its drying effect. It is better for Spleen weakness with Diarrhea.
2. Dry-fried White Atractylodes (Chao Bai Zhu):
The root is dry-fried with Bran to enhance its Spleen tonifying effect. It may also be stir-fried with earth to enhance its effect against Diarrhea associated with Spleen weakness.
3, Scorched White Atractylodes (Jiao Bai Zhu):
The sliced root is dry-fried until scorched, then sprayed with water and dried in the sun. This lessens its drying effect, but is better to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach and improve appetite and digestion.
Substitutes:
1. Elecampane
Main Combinations:
Spleen Deficiency
1. For Spleen and Qi deficiency with low appetite, fatigue, weakness, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Ginseng (or Codonopsis Dang Shen), Poria Fu Ling and Licorice and in Si Jun Zi Tang [Four Gentlemen Decoction])
2. For Spleen and Stomach and Qi deficiency with Cold, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Codonopsis Dang Shen and Ginger (as in Li Zhong Wan [Regulate the Middle Pill])
3. Poor digestion, nausea, loose bowels from Spleen weakness with Damp, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Orange or Tangerine peel.
4. Diarrhea due to Damp and Spleen weakness, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
5. To strengthen Spleen and prolong Life:
i. Decoct the drug until thick and syrupy, then take with wine.
ii. Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Calamus (Shi Chang Pu) (Su Song)
Phlegm, Damp
6. Edema, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Poria Fu Ling and Alisma Ze Xie.
7. Thin phlegm in the Chest or Edema and water retention associated with Spleen weakness, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi and Poria Fu Ling.
8. Wind-Phlegm-type Dizziness, Vertigo and Headache, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Pinella Ban Xia, Gatrodia Tian Ma (as in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang).
Other
9. Spontaneous Sweating:
i. associated with deficiency, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Astragalus Huang Qi.
ii. with aversion to Wind, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Astragalus Huang Qi and Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng (as in Jade Windscreen Powder [Yu Ping Feng San]). This formula is also effective for strengthening those that continually catch cold and to prevent infection during Epidemics.
10. Restless Fetus:
i. associated with Heat, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Scutellaria Huang Qin.
ii. due to marked Qi deficiency (fatigue, pale face, breathless), combine with Astragalus Huang Qi; severe cases, add Ginseng to the above.
iii. associated with Kidney weakness (lower back pain, constant urination), combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Taxillus Sang Ji Sheng and Eucommia Du Zhong.
iv. from Blood deficiency, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang and Paeonia Bai Shao.
11. Senile Dementia, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Ginseng, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Licorice, Polygala Yuan Zhi (as in Qi Fu Yin)
12. Rheumatism, Atrcatylodes Bai Zhu, Sesame seed (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
13. Pills to promote Longevity:
i. mix powdered Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Date pulp and form pills. (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
ii. Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Mulberry (Sang Shen), powder and form pills with Honey. (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
iii. Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Polygonum He Shou Wu, Black Beans, Chinese Red Dates (Da Zao), Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Mulberry (Sang Shen), powder and form pills with Honey. (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
Major Formulas:
Ba Zhen Tang
Bai Zhu Shao Yao San
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Dan Zhi Xiao Yan San
Dang Gui Shao Yan San
Li Zhong Wan
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Po Chai Pill
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Tai Shan Pan Shi San
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Xiao Yao San
Yu Ping Feng San
Zhen Wu Tang
Cautions:
1. Very drying, so not suitable for dry and Yin deficient conditions.
Main Preparations used:
(Last updated 9/2018)