Bai Lian - 白敛 - Radix Ampelopsis

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Radix Ampelopsis
Common English:	Ampelopsis Japanese Peppervine Root

Category

Herbs that clear Heat and Purge Fire: Herbs that Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter Acrid (Sweet) (Sour) (Astringent)	Neutral Slightly Cold (Cool)	Heart Stomach Liver (Spleen)	3-16g Tincture: 1-3ml

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Drains Fire, Eliminates Dampness, Generates flesh, Promotes the healing of wounds, Relieves pain, Relieves toxicity, Resolves lumps (reduces swelling)	Fire toxicity B (Chuang Yung) with sores and abscesses (can be used as a stand-alone herb) Wounds, burns

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Hb. Taraxaci Pu Gong Ying Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua	Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen Rz. Arisaematis Preparatum Zhi Tian Nan Xing Fr. Gleditsiae Zao Jiao	Caul. Trachelospermi Luo Shi Tang Rz. Bletillae Bai Ji
Sores and abscesses from Heat toxin	As an external paste for sores and abscesses from Heat toxin	Topically as a powder for ulcerated sores that do not heal
Rx. Scrophulariae Xuan Shen Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang	Rx. Sanguisorba Di Yu	Sm. Phaseoli Chi Xiao Dou Egg Whites
As a topical paste with vinegar for scrofula	As a topical powder for burns	Mix and apply topically for sores, carbuncles and other skin lesions. Take with Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao, internally.

Notes

1. It should not be stored near Rx. Aconiti Wu Tou.
2. Its uses include swollen sores, deep-set noxious sores, scrofula, warm malarial disorders, Intestinal Wind, bleeding hemorrhoids, red eyes, fright seizures in children and painful vaginal swelling.
3. It activates the sinews to promote circulation of Blood.
4. For burns, it can be applied topically as a single herb.
5. Research has shown that this herb inhibits cancer cell growth.
6. Washing with its decoction is said to relieve pain in the waist, feet, arms and legs.
7. Taken orally, the juice can promote urination, activate the Small Intestine and reduce swelling.
8. Sipping the concentrated juice can stop vomiting.
9. For scalds from hot water, make a paste and apply it to the burned area; this leaves less scarring.
10. Bai Lian and Hb. Taraxaci Pu Gong Ying both clear Heat, resolve toxicity, disperse clumps and reduce abscesses and sores, and they are often combined. Bai Lian is stronger at dispersing clumps as well as generating flesh, and is particularly useful when sores come to a head but will not open, or when ulcerations do not heal. Pu Gong Ying is used for any Yang type sore that is red, swollen, hot and painful, particularly sores affecting the breasts.