bai zhu

By: Joe Hing Kwok Chu

Japanese Pronunciation: byakujutsu; 

Korean Pronunciation: paekch'ul

Cantonese Pronunciation: pak shuit

Pharmaceutical name: Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae

Biological name: Atratylodes macrocephala Koidz

Common Name: Bighead atractylodes rhizome

Characteristics and channel (meridian) relation: smells aromatic, tastes sweet and slightly acrid. It is a little sticky when chewed. Related to spleen and stomach channels.

Chemical ingredients: Contains about 1.4% of  vaporizing oil, atractylol, atractylon, selina-4 (15) -7 (11) -dien-8-one, attractylenolide,  8-b-ethoxy atractylenolide III, vitamin A.

Medical Functions: 

1. Digestive System 

(1) Protecting Liver: Extraction of baizhu  (by boiling with water) was given to lab mice that had liver damage caused by carbon chloride. It lessened the necrosis and mutation of liver cells, and improved the new growth of the liver cells. It lowered the glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) that was increased

(2) Improve gall secretion

(3) Prevent ulcer of stomach

(4) Improve movements of intestines and bowels

2.  Diuretics

3.   Improve inmume system

4.  Anti Cancer

    Outside body tests showed that neutral oil of the vaporizing oil  bai zhu could inhibit esophagus  cancer cells . 10mg/ml/hour could detach all the cancer cells. 5mg/ml/hour could detach most of the cancer cells and damaged the remaining cells. The nucleus became hazy and the cells became empty bubbles.

5.  Affect heart and blood vessels

6.  Lower blood sugar

7.   Anti coagulation of blood 

8.   Anti bacteria

Uses:

1. for hardening of liver, liver cancer. In case of yinxu, use raw bai zhu plus other herb in according to diagnostics. (1)

2. children drooling  (2)

3. Meniere's disease (3)

4. constipation (4)

5. chronic back pain (5)

6.  acute infection of intestine (6)

7.  low white cell count ⁽⁸⁾

Sample of formulae:

Xiao Yao Wan, Wu Ling San, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang, Zhu Wu Tang, Li Zhong Wan, Si Jun Zi Tang, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, Gui Pi Tang, Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, Yu Ping Feng San, Zhen Wu Tang

Bibliography

Click here for examples of bai zhu in classical formulae.

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