Bai Xian Pi: Clearing Heat and Relieving Itch in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hongji Medical
Jun 3
3 min read

Bai Xian Pi, also known as Dictamnus Root Bark or White Fresh Bark, is the dried root bark of the Dictamnus plant, a valued herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Renowned for its ability to clear heat, detoxify, dry dampness, and relieve itching, Bai Xian Pi has been used for centuries to treat various skin conditions and other ailments.

Its earliest record appears in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), where it was classified as a middle-grade herb, noted for treating “headache, jaundice, skin heat, sores, scabies, itching, and restless limbs.”

Over time, TCM scholars like Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty’s Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) provided detailed descriptions of Bai Xian Pi’s properties, harvesting, and uses, emphasizing its effectiveness for “heat-toxin sores, scabies, and itching.” Later texts, such as Bencao Beiyao and Bencao Zhengyi, further refined its applications, expanding its clinical use.

Properties of Bai Xian Pi

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Taste: Bitter
Nature: Cold
Meridians: Spleen, Stomach

Key Components

Bai Xian Pi contains active compounds like dictamnine and skimmianine, contributing to its pharmacological effects.

Main Functions

Clears heat and detoxifies.
Dries dampness and relieves itching.
Dispels wind and resolves toxins.
Offers antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and itch-relieving effects.

Clinical Applications

Bai Xian Pi is widely used in TCM for the following conditions:

Clearing Heat and Drying Dampness: Its cold, bitter nature makes it ideal for damp-heat conditions like eczema, skin itching, and lower jiao damp-heat issues.
Dispelling Wind and Stopping Itch: Effective for wind-related skin conditions such as urticaria (hives) and rashes with itching.
Detoxifying and Healing Sores: Helps reduce swelling and treat oozing sores, abscesses, and ulcers.
Treating Skin Fungal Infections: Its antifungal properties make it effective for conditions like athlete’s foot, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses.

Bai Xian Pi in Classic TCM Formulas

Bai Xian Pi is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects. Common formulas include:

Xiao Feng San (Eliminate Wind Powder): Contains Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Chan Tui, Cang Zhu, Ku Shen, Hu Ma, Niu Bang Zi, Zhi Mu, Shi Gao, Gan Cao, Mu Tong, and Bai Xian Pi. It clears wind, heat, and dampness, relieving itching from conditions like hives, eczema, and rashes.
Ba Zheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification): Includes Hua Shi, Qu Mai, Bian Xu, Che Qian Zi, Shan Zhi Zi, Da Huang, Gan Cao Shao, Mu Tong, and Bai Xian Pi. It clears heat, promotes urination, and treats damp-heat urinary issues like painful urination.
Huan Fu Fang (Skin Renewal Formula): Combines Bai Xian Pi, Ku Shen, Huang Bai, and She Chuang Zi to clear heat, dry dampness, kill parasites, and stop itching, used for stubborn skin itching.

農本方 - 消風散

Buy Now

Comparison with Similar Herbs

Bai Xian Pi shares functions with other TCM herbs but has unique strengths:

Ku Shen (Sophora Root): Clears heat, dries dampness, and kills parasites, with stronger effects on scabies and leprosy compared to Bai Xian Pi.
Di Fu Zi (Kochia Fruit): Clears heat and promotes urination, excelling in urinary issues and damp-heat conditions, unlike Bai Xian Pi’s broader skin applications.
She Chuang Zi (Cnidium Seed): Dries dampness and kills parasites with a warming nature, suitable for cold-damp skin issues, contrasting with Bai Xian Pi’s cooling effect.

農本方 - 白鮮皮

Buy Now

Modern Applications and Research

Modern studies validate Bai Xian Pi’s traditional uses:

Antibacterial: Dictamnine inhibits various bacteria and fungi.
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory mediators.
Anti-allergic: Mitigates allergic reactions, relieving skin itching.
Itch Relief: Directly soothes skin nerve endings to reduce itching.

Beyond dermatology, Bai Xian Pi is used in gynecology and urology, supporting treatment for conditions like vaginitis and urethritis.

Precautions for Use

Dosage: Typically 6–12 grams, adjusted based on condition and practitioner guidance.
Contraindications: Use cautiously in cases of spleen-stomach cold deficiency.
Compatibility: No specific herb incompatibilities noted.
Administration: Can be taken orally or used externally as a wash or ointment.

Conclusion

Bai Xian Pi is a versatile TCM herb, prized for clearing heat, detoxifying, drying dampness, and relieving itching. Its long history, from Shennong Bencao Jing to modern applications, underscores its value in treating skin conditions like eczema, hives, and fungal infections. Proper use under professional guidance ensures safety and efficacy, making Bai Xian Pi a cornerstone of TCM dermatology and beyond.

See All

Ma Gui Ge Ban Tang: A Classic TCM Formula for Relieving Colds and Skin Itching

Ba Zheng San: A Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedy for Urinary Health

Xiao Feng San: Herbal Relief for Itchy Skin Conditions

Use Now

AI Chinese Medicine

Online Q&A

Use Now

AI Chinese Medicine

Online Q&A

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 Xian Pi: Clearing Heat and Relieving Itch in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Properties of Bai Xian Pi

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Key Components

Main Functions

Clinical Applications

Bai Xian Pi 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

Be the first to receive promotional offers and rewards in your inbox. Subscribe to our emails today.Whatsapp us to learn more