Bai Xian Pi - 白鲜皮 - Cortex Dictamni

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Cortex Dictamni
Common English:	Chinese Dittany Root Cortex Dense Fruit Dittany Root Bark Dictamnus Root Bark

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter (Salty)	Cold	Spleen Stomach	4-16g Tincture: 2-4ml 4.5-9g (Secondary source)

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Clears Heat, Dries Dampness, Expels Wind, Resolves Fire-toxicity

Wind-Heat or Damp-Heat sores (carbuncles, and rashes) with copious pus, leaking of yellow fluid, moist skin and pruritis

Damp-Heat Bi

Damp-Heat jaundice

Clears Damp-Heat and stops itching

Vaginal pruritis with itching

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Use caution with patients with atopic conditions such as eczema or a history of liver disease.
Use caution for those with poor Liver function.
Use caution for those with Deficiency Cold.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

This herb may potentiate the effect of microtubule inhibitors vincristine, vinblastine and paclitaxel.

Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen	Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen Fr. Cnidii She Chuang Zi	Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng Fr. Tribuli Bai Ji Li
Damp-Heat sores that itch.	Itching due to Wind-Damp-Cold or parasites such as scabies. May be used as an external wash.	Eczema and hives.
Caulis Lonicerae Ren Dong Teng Rx. Clematidis Wei Ling Xian	Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui	Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen Fr. Kochiae *Di Fu Zi*
Damp-Heat Bi of the lower extremities.	Rashes due to Blood Deficiency.	Itching with vaginal discharge.
Hb. Houttuyniae Yu Xing Cao Hb. Patriniae Bai Jiang Cao	Caul. Spatholobi Ji Xue Teng	Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen Fr. Kochiae *Di Fu Zi* Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu
Gynecological abdominal pain due to Blood Stasis.	Abdominal pain due to Blood Stasis.	Dermatological disorders characterized by Damp-Heat and toxins.
Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi	Caulis Lonicerae Ren Dong Teng
Damp-Heat jaundice.	Bi syndrome.

1. Damp-Heat that has accumulated in the blood vessels of the muscles and flesh is expelled by this herb.
It relieves itching as well.
It drains Heat out via the urine.
Its particular indications are Lower Jiao Damp-Heat and itchy Damp-Heat skin disorders.
According to one source, this herb clears the senses.
Research has shown that this herb inhibits cancer cell growth.
It is described as an essential herb for jaundice and for Wind Bi.
It is also said to clear the channels and remove Stagnation.
For ulcerated scrofula with Blood and pus, take 40ml of the herb as a decoction.
Bai Xian Pi and Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen both remove Damp-Heat from the skin and the Lower Jiao, and both promote urination. Ku Shen additionally Expels Wind and kills parasites, which makes it the better choice for itching and vaginal discharge. Bai Xian Pi is preferable for Damp-Bi or Wind-Damp-Bi with signs of Heat.