Cynanchum stauntonii, Bai Qian 白前
Willowleaf Swallow-wortBai Qian (TCM)
Botanical name:
Cynanchum stauntonii, C. glaucescens
Parts used:
Root and Rhizome
On the market 2 different products are available:
1. Bai Qian consists of Root and Rhizome.
2. E Guan Bai Qian (‘Goose-tube Bai Qian‘) is the hollow rhizome with roots removed. This is regarded as stronger.
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Sweet, Pungent (slightly warmer than Cynanchum Bai Wei)
Some sources said it is slightly Cold (Su Gong)
Uses:
1. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Wheezing with difficult-to-expectorate copious sputum
-acute or chronic Cough with rattling of Phlegm in the throat
-used for stagnation of Lung Qi, and to guide rising Qi downward
2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema from Damp
-it has also been used for Diarrhea
3. Moves the Qi:
-Liver coldness with Qi stagnation
-Hypochondriac pain
Dose:
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Preparation:
1. Dry-Fried Cynanchum Bai Qian (Chao Bai Qian):
The root is dry-fried until slightly scorched to lessen its pungency and irritating effect on the Stomach. It is better for chronic Cough with Lung deficiency, or patients with sensitive Stomach.
2. Honey-fried Cynanchum Bai Qian (Mi Zhi Bai Qian):
Stir-fried with Honey until it is not sticky. This makes it milder, less irritating, and stops it from damaging Qi or Yin. It can be used for chronic Cough from Qi or Yin deficiency, and is most suited to cases with Stomach weakness.
3. Licorice-prepared Cynanchum Bai Qian
Soak the drug in Licorice decoction for 24 hours, remove the head and rootlets, then bake dry. (Lei Xiao)
Main Combinations:
1. Cough:
i. with phlegm rattling in the Throat, take Cynanchum Bai Qian powder with warm wine.
ii. Wind-Cold external Cough, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Platycodon Jie Geng, Schizonepeta Jing Jie
iii. with excess Phlegm, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Pinellia Ban Xia
iv. Cynanchum Bai Qian with Honey-fried Ephedra Zhi Ma Huang, Almond kernel Xing Ren, Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice
v. chronic productive Cough with Heat, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi), Lycium Cortex Di Gu Pi
vi. chronic Cough with Blood in the sputum, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi), Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice
2. Lung-Heat Asthma, rapid Breathing, inability to lie down due to excess Phlegm obstructing the breath, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Lycium Cortex Di Gu Pi, Gypsum (Shi Gao), Almond kernel (Xing Ren), Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi) (as in Di Gu Pi Tang from Sheng Ji Zong Lu [Complete Record of Holy Benevolence]).
3. Edema from Damp, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Atractylodes Cang Zhu
4. Hypochondriac Pain, Cynanchum Bai Qian with Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), and Citrus Qing Pi
Major Formulas:
Zhi Sou San
Cautions:
1. Not used for Cough or Wheezing from Lung deficiency (unless prepared with Honey).
2. Without preparation, it can irritate the Stomach so is not used in patients with Gastro-duodenal Ulcers or Gastritis.