Phellodendron, Huang Bai 黄柏

Amur cork-tree bark
Huang Bai (TCM)
Picture Phellodendron amurense
Sargent, Trees and shrubs, illustrations of new or little known ligneous plants, 1855

Picture Phellodendron amurense
(Photo by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT) (Wikimedia)

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Botanical name:


Phellodendron chinense, P. amurense

Parts used:


Bark

Temperature & Taste:


Cold, dry. Bitter

Classification:


B. Clears Heat & Damp

Uses:


1. Drains Damp-Heat:
-purges Damp-Heat, especially from the lower abdomen
-Dysuria, difficult or painful Urine
-yellow vaginal discharge, including that with Blood
-Diarrhea, Dysentery, including that with Blood
-Jaundice
-red, swollen, painful swelling of the knees, lower legs and feet

2. Clears Kidney Fire:
-Heat with Yin deficiency: Night Sweats, Hot Flushes, afternoon Fever, low-grade Fever
-‘Steaming Bone Disorder’
-quenches thirst in Diabetes (when caused by Heat)

3. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-Hot sores and lesions of the skin
-Sores and abscesses
-Red, Sore, Inflamed Eyes (can be used topically)
-Eczema

4. Benefits the Kidneys:
-“It treats Impotence” (Zhen Quan), when caused by Heat and combined with Kidney tonics.
-“consolidates the Kidney to strengthen the Bone and Marrow” (Zhang Yuan Su)
-“a very important drug in treating Paralysis” (Zhu Zhen Heng)
-“Long-term use enlightens one’s Intelligence” (Ming Yi Bie Lu)

5. Externally:
-topically to Sores, Abscesses, Eczema, Herpes
-applied to sores on the Penis
-distilled water for Red, Sore eyes
-Tinea Capitis in children (Li Shi Zhen)
-Aphtha


Dose:


The prepared and unprepared bark can be used in similar doses.
Decoction: 3–12 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams

Preparation:


… available in PRO version

Substitutes
… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Burning, painful and difficult urination, Dysuria:
i. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
ii. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
iii. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
2. Damp-Heat Dysentery, Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
3. Acute Diarrhea with abdominal pain, Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
4. Damp-heat swelling of the legs, Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
5. Fever with Yin Deficiency, Night Sweats, add Phellodendron Huang Bai and … available in PRO version
6. To clear Heat and Toxin from the the whole body: Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
7. Leukorrhea from Damp-Heat (yellow discharge), wine-fried Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
8. Paralysis, especially of the lower body:
i. from Qi deficiency, Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
ii. Phellodendron Huang Bai with with … available in PRO version
iii. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
9. Eczema:
i. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
ii. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
10. Sores and abscesses,
i. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version
ii. Phellodendron Huang Bai with … available in PRO version

Major Formulas


Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Si Wei Jie Du Tang

Cautions:


1. Not used in Cold and Weakness of the Stomach.

Main Preparations used: