Bai Jiang Can: Relieving Spasms and Itching in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hongji Medical
Jun 4
3 min read

Bai Jiang Can, also known as Silkworm or Fried Silkworm, is the dried body of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) infected and stiffened by Beauveria bassiana fungus. Valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its ability to dispel wind, stop spasms, transform phlegm, and resolve toxins, Bai Jiang Can holds a unique place in herbal therapy.

Its use was first noted in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), though early descriptions were brief.

Over centuries, TCM scholars, including Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty’s Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), detailed its properties, harvesting, and applications, noting its ability to “disperse wind, transform phlegm, and unblock channels.” Later texts like Bencao Beiyao and Bencao Zhengyi expanded its clinical uses, making it a versatile remedy.

Properties of Bai Jiang Can

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Taste: Pungent, salty
Nature: Neutral
Meridians: Liver, Lung

Key Components

Bai Jiang Can contains proteins, fats, amino acids, and bioactive compounds from the Beauveria fungus, contributing to its pharmacological effects.

Main Functions

Dispels wind and stops spasms.
Transforms phlegm and resolves nodules.
Detoxifies and disperses masses.
Offers anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-tumor effects.

Clinical Applications

Bai Jiang Can is widely used in TCM for the following conditions:

Dispelling Wind and Stopping Spasms: Effective for convulsions, seizures, and pediatric acute convulsions caused by wind-phlegm obstruction.
Transforming Phlegm and Resolving Nodules: Treats phlegm-related nodules, scrofula, and sore throat.
Detoxifying and Dispersing Masses: Addresses toxic swellings, sores, and erysipelas.
Relieving Itching: Soothes skin itching from wind-related conditions like urticaria (hives).
Treating Facial Conditions: Helps with facial paralysis and facial asymmetry by unblocking channels.

Bai Jiang Can in Classic TCM Formulas

Bai Jiang Can is often combined with other herbs to enhance its effects in TCM formulas:

Qian Zheng San (Traction Powder): Contains Bai Jiang Can, Scorpion (Quan Xie), and Centipede (Wu Gong). It dispels wind, transforms phlegm, and unblocks channels, treating facial paralysis and asymmetry from stroke sequelae.
Yu Zhen San (Jade Powder): Includes Bai Jiang Can, Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing), Fang Feng, Bai Zhi, Qiang Huo, and Gan Cao. It dispels wind, transforms phlegm, and relieves pain, used for tetanus.
Zhi Jing San (Spasm-Stopping Powder): Combines Bai Jiang Can and Scorpion to treat spasms and convulsions.

Comparison with Similar Herbs

Bai Jiang Can shares functions with other TCM herbs but has distinct characteristics:

Scorpion (Quan Xie): Stronger at calming wind and relieving spasms, used for severe wind-phlegm conditions but more drying than Bai Jiang Can.
Centipede (Wu Gong): Potent for calming wind and resolving toxins, but its toxicity limits long-term use compared to Bai Jiang Can.
Cicada Slough (Chan Tui): Focuses on dispersing wind-heat and relieving rashes, differing from Bai Jiang Can’s spasm and phlegm focus.

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Modern Applications and Research

Modern studies confirm Bai Jiang Can’s traditional uses:

Anticonvulsant: Inhibits central nervous system overactivity, aiding in seizure control.
Sedative: Promotes calmness and sleep.
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory mediators.
Anti-tumor: Preliminary research suggests it may inhibit certain tumor cells.
Immune Regulation: Enhances immune function and resilience.

Clinically, Bai Jiang Can is used for neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, facial paralysis), skin issues (e.g., herpes zoster, itching), and as an adjunct in cancer treatment.

Precautions for Use

Dosage: Typically 3–9 grams, adjusted based on condition and practitioner guidance.
Contraindications: Use cautiously in pregnant women and those with wind from blood deficiency.
Preparation: Often used as fried Bai Jiang Can to reduce its cold nature.
Consultation: Always use under professional guidance to ensure safety.

Conclusion

Bai Jiang Can is a unique TCM herb, valued for dispelling wind, stopping spasms, transforming phlegm, and resolving toxins. Its historical use, from Shennong Bencao Jing to modern applications, highlights its versatility in treating convulsions, skin itching, and facial paralysis. With ongoing research uncovering its potential in neurology and oncology, Bai Jiang Can’s future in TCM is promising. Proper use under professional guidance ensures safe and effective outcomes.

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中醫知識

Chinese Medicine - Qi

Blood and semen

Heart and lungs

Spleen and Liver

Kidney

Gallbladder, stomach, intestines, bladder

Interrelationships among the five internal organs

Other questions

Qi is the constantly moving subtle substance that constitutes the human body and maintains its vital activities.

There are three main sources of Qi in the human body: the innate essence inherited from parents, the essence of water and grain in food, and the pure Qi existing in nature.

Qi has many important physiological effects on the human body. The normal functioning of the internal organs, meridians, limbs, bones, five senses and nine orifices all depends on the physiological effects of Qi.

Generally speaking, the physiological effects of Qi include five aspects: promotion, warming, defense, consolidation, and qi transformation.

Yuan Qi is the most original Qi in the human body.

Yuan Qi is mainly composed of the essence of the kidneys and is generated from the essence of the kidneys.

The distribution of primordial energy is throughout the body, reaching everywhere. The internal organs, meridians, body parts, five senses and nine orifices are all places where primordial energy rises, falls, enters and exits.

The main physiological functions of Yuan Qi are twofold: one is to promote and stimulate the growth, development and reproduction of the human body. The other is to promote and stimulate the physiological activities of the internal organs and meridians.

If the kidneys are deficient in essence and energy due to congenital deficiency, postnatal malnutrition, or long-term illness, and the kidneys lack the source of vital energy, various diseases may occur.

Zong Qi is the Qi that accumulates in the chest. The place where Zong Qi accumulates is called "Tan Zhong" (between the two breasts). Because it is the place where Zong Qi is most concentrated, it is also called "Qi Hai".

Zong Qi is mainly composed of the fresh air from nature inhaled by the lungs and the essence of water and grain produced by the spleen and stomach from food.

The main functions of Zong Qi are twofold:

1. It is to walk the Xi Dao to control breathing. All breathing, speech, and voice are related to the Zong Qi. When the Zong Qi is abundant, the breathing is slow and the rhythm is even, the speech is clear and the voice is loud; otherwise, the breathing is short and the voice is low.

Second, it is to circulate Qi and blood through the heart meridians. All the beating of the heart and the circulation of Qi and blood are related to Zong Qi. If the pulse is gentle, the rhythm is consistent, and there is spirit and root, it is a manifestation of abundant Zong Qi. On the contrary, if the pulse is agitated, scattered, weak, or irregular, it means that the Zong Qi is insufficient or even weak.

Zhongqi refers to the Qi of the middle burner. Because the spleen and stomach are located in the middle burner, the Qi of the spleen and stomach is generally called "Zhongqi".

It is generally believed that the formation of Zhong Qi is formed by the combination of the Yuan Qi distributed in the Zhongjiao and the water and grain essence produced by the spleen and stomach.

The middle qi is mainly distributed in the middle burner, spreading between the spleen, stomach, and intestines, and it rises and falls, constantly mediating.

The main functions of Zhongqi include three aspects:

1. It controls the rise and fall of Qi. The middle burner is the hub of the rise and fall of Qi. When the middle Qi is abundant and harmonious, the Qi of the liver and spleen will rise healthily, and the Qi of the lungs and stomach will descend smoothly. When the rise and fall are smooth, all organs will be at peace.

Second, it stimulates the spleen and stomach to absorb and transport. When the middle qi is abundant, the spleen rises and the stomach descends normally, the water and grain are received and transported normally, and the essence of water and grain is continuously produced to generate qi and blood, nourishing the whole body.

Third, it maintains the position of the internal organs. The reason why the internal organs maintain their relatively constant position depends on the rise and fall of the qi of the middle jiao spleen and stomach.

Ying Qi, also known as "Rong Qi", is the Qi that flows in the veins.

The distribution and movement of Ying Qi are clearly discussed in Suwen Bi Lun, which points out that Ying Qi "harmonizes the five internal organs, flows through the six bowels, and then enters the meridians."

It explains that the nutrient energy enters the meridians, circulates throughout the body, flows into the internal organs, and reaches the limbs, repeating the cycle over and over again.

The main functions of Ying Qi:

1. It is the transformation of blood.

Second, it nourishes the whole body. The nourishing qi enters the blood vessels and causes the body fluids to penetrate into the blood vessels. The two combine to form blood.

The so-called Qi can produce blood, mainly refers to: Ying Qi transforms into blood. Ying Qi is produced by the refined part of the essence of grains, and is a nutrient necessary for physiological activities such as viscera and meridians, and plays an important role in maintaining human life activities.

The Inner Canon of Medicine states that the Nutritive Qi "harmonises the five internal organs, and spreads throughout the six bowels", "nourishes the four extremities", etc., which emphasizes that the Nutritive Qi has a nourishing effect.

Wei Qi is the Qi that circulates outside the veins. It is so called because it protects the skin and resists external pathogens.

The distribution of Wei Qi is fast, smooth and agile, and is not restricted by blood vessels, so it can "flow through the skin, between the flesh, fumigate the peritoneum, and spread to the chest and abdomen" (Suwen Bi Lun). This shows that Wei Qi spreads throughout the body, externally between the skin and muscles, and internally to the peritoneum of the chest and abdomen - the area inside the diaphragm of the chest cavity.

The main physiological functions of Wei Qi are three-fold:

First, it protects the skin and prevents the invasion of external pathogens. In clinical practice, if a patient is prone to colds and fever, the treatment is usually based on the theory that the Wei surface is not solid. The theoretical basis is here. Second, it warms the internal organs, muscles, fur, etc. Wei Qi has a strong warming effect. If Wei Yang is deficient, the warming power is weakened, and cold symptoms such as cold body, cold limbs and low body temperature may appear. If Wei Qi is stagnant and turns into heat, hot symptoms such as fever and malignant fever may appear.

Third, it regulates the opening and closing of pores and controls sweat excretion, which is what Lingshu Benzang says about the Wei Qi having the function of “controlling opening and closing”.

Bai Jiang Can: Relieving Spasms and Itching in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Properties of Bai Jiang Can

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Key Components

Main Functions

Clinical Applications

Bai Jiang Can in Classic TCM Formulas

Comparison with Similar Herbs

Modern Applications and Research

Precautions for Use

Conclusion

Related Posts

中醫知識

The concept of Qi

Vitality

Zong Qi

Middle Qi

Ying Qi

Health

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