Bai Zhu - 白术 - Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
| Common English: | Atractylodis Rhizome / White atractylodes Large-headed Atractylodis Rhizome Ovate Atractylodis White Atractylodis |
Category
Herbs that Tonify QiProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Sweet (Acrid) | Warm | Spleen Stomach | 3-15g Tincture: 1-4ml 6-15g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi | Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with diarrhea, fatigue, a sallow complexion and lack of appetite Spleen Yang failure to rise |
Dries Dampness and promotes water metabolism | Spleen Damp or accumulation of fluids affecting the digestion Edema and reduced urination due to Spleen Deficiency (failure to transform and transport) Tan Yin, masses, swelling Auxiliary for Damp painful obstruction |
Stabilizes the Exterior and stops sweating | Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating (Wei Qi Deficiency) With appropriate herbs, other types of sweating |
Calms the fetus | Restless fetus disorder due to Spleen Qi Deficiency With appropriate herbs, other types of Restless Fetus Disorder |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Rx. Codonopsis | Fr. Aurantii Immaturus | Poria |
Deficiency Cold of the Middle Jiao with abdominal pain, distention, vomiting and diarrhea. | Spleen Deficiency and Qi Stagnation with anorexia and epigastric focal distention and fullness. | Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with Dampness. |
| Sm. Plantaginis | Rz. Atractylodis | Poria |
Diarrhea due to Dampness. Diarrhea due to Summerheat and Dampness. | Damp Cold Painful Obstruction. Vaginal discharge. | Spleen Deficiency with chest distention and edema. |
| Polyporus | Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum |
Edema due to Internal Dampness. | Edema due to Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency. | Phlegm due to Spleen Dampness with Internal Liver Wind. |
Rx. Astragali | Rx. Astragali | Hb. Dendrobii |
Unrelenting spontaneous sweat. | Spontaneous sweat with aversion to Wind due to Wei Qi Deficiency. | Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency. |
Rx. Scutellariae | Rx. Ginseng | Rx. Taxilli |
Restless fetus with internal Heat. Unstable pregnancy with Qi Deficiency and Interior Heat. | Restless fetus due to Qi Deficiency. | Restless fetus due to Kidney Deficiency. |
Caul. Perillae | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae |
Restless fetus disorder with Qi Stagnation leading to distention in the chest and abdomen. | Restless fetus due to Blood Deficiency, often with palpitations. | Improves the transportive function of the Spleen in the treatment of constipation. |
Per. Arecae | Hb. Moslae | Rz. Zingiberis |
Strengthens the Spleen, assists transportation, dredges clogged Stagnation, facilitates the removal of pathogenic water and Dampness, and reduces edema for treatment of Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness Obstruction (loss of appetite, epigastric and abdominal fullness and distention, and edema). Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness accumulating in the skin and floating edema. | General edema from Wind invading the Lungs in a patient with constitutional Spleen Deficiency. Summerheat affects the Spleen and Stomach with nausea and anorexia. | Eliminates Cold Dampness in the Spleen with a loss of taste, a sticky sensation in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a thick, white tongue coat. Bleeding due to Deficiency of Spleen Yang with hemafecia or hematuria. Frequent diarrhea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold. |
Poria | Rx. Ginseng | Rz. Zingiberis |
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency. | Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency with Qi and Food Stagnation. | Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold. |
Rx. Ginseng | Rz. Dioscoreae | Rx. Ginseng |
Diarrhea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with Dampness. | Clear, watery vaginal discharge due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with Dampness. | Blood Deficiency. |
Poria | Poria | Poria |
Edema with Spleen Deficiency. | Edema with Spleen Yang Deficiency. | Edema with Kidney Yang Deficiency. |
Ram. Cinnamomi | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum | Rx. Astragali |
Accumulation of Phlegm. | Dizziness and vertigo due to accumulation of Phlegm and Liver Wind. | Spontaneous perspiration. |
Colla Corii Asini | Hb. Dendrobii | Poria |
Miscarriage with bleeding. Unstable pregnancy with bleeding. | Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency. | Unstable pregnancy with severe Qi Deficiency. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Hb Taxilli | Caul. Perillae |
Unstable pregnancy with Blood Deficiency. | Unstable pregnancy with Kidney Deficiency. | Unstable pregnancy with Qi Stagnation. |
Notes
- When Dampness obstructs the Middle Jiao, this is a key herb for tonifying the Spleen/Stomach.
- It augments Qi by expelling Dampness and tonifies Yang by harmonizing the Middle; it also reduces illness, drives out water, generates fluids to relieve thirst, stops diarrhea and dysentery, and reduces Damp swelling of the legs and calves.
- It mildly inhibits cancer cell growth.
- Atractylodis comes in two types. Cang Zhu is superior for easing the middle and inducing sweat, whereas Bai Zhu is superior for tonifying the Middle and eliminating Dampness.
- Bai Zhu and Fr. Jujube Da Zao both tonify Qi. Bai Zhu dries rather than moistens, whereas Da Zao tonifies Qi as well as Blood in the Spleen and Stomach.
- Unprepared Sun-dried Atractylodis Sheng Shai Zhu raises Spleen Qi. While it dries Dampness, it remains moistening. It supports the transportive function of Spleen Yang, enriches the Yin of the Spleen and Stomach and moistens the Intestines.
- Fire-dried Atractylodis Hong Zhu is the standard Atractylodis found in most formulas.
- Rinsed White Atractylodis Piao Bai Zhu stops diarrhea and augments the Spleen.
- Dry-fried White Atractylodis Chao Bai Zhu brings harmony to the transportive and transformative functions of the Middle Jiao and treats anorexia, distention, fullness, lethargy, spontaneous sweating and restless fetus.
- Earth-fried White Atractylodis Tu Chao Bai Zhu is the best form for diarrhea from Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness Obstruction.
- Scorched White Atractylodis Zhao Bai Zhu is chosen when the Spleen's transportive and transformative functions are very weak.
From Class
- Bai Zhu (white atractylodes): Transforms dampness, separates pure from turbid; 12 g. (Yuen)
- Bai Zhu / Cang Zhu / E Zhu ('three zhu'): Counter magic: Cang Zhu fumigation for areas of electromagnetic disturbance (flickering lights, failing appliances). (Yuen)
- Immune herbs: Huang Qi, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu: Fu zheng therapy (used mostly in cancer) builds the immune system with herbs like astragalus, ginseng and white atractylodes. (Yuen)
- Pao zhi (processing): Sheng Di vs Shu Di; Bai Zhu preparations; calcined (Duan) Mu Li: Processing changes category: Sheng Di clears heat, Shu Di tonifies yin/blood; bran-fried Bai Zhu gains qi-tonifying; calcined Mu Li's calcium binds heat and calms the Shen. (Rabinowitz)
- Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Gui Zhi (+Bai Zhu) — water metabolism (Wu Ling San core): Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Gui Zhi (+Bai Zhu) signal water metabolism: Gui Zhi stokes Kidney fire, Fu Ling reabsorbs, Ze Xie drains, Bai Zhu engages the Spleen. (Rabinowitz)
- Fu zheng therapy (support upright qi): Fu zheng: tonify wei qi in strong patients or postnatal qi in weak ones, then clear fire toxins, then nourish fluids/stomach yin to flush toxins. (Yuen)
- Tai Shan Pan Shi San (Stable as Mount Tai): The most common early-pregnancy formula; Bai Zhu stabilizes, Xu Duan knits the fetus and Huang Qin clears heart heat to prevent miscarriage. (Lewis)