Bai Guo (白果) is the ginkgo seed, recorded as Semen Ginkgo. It is sweet, bitter and astringent in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Lung and Kidney channels.

Pinyin

bai guo

Chinese

白果

Latin Name

Semen Ginkgo

English Name

Ginkgo Nut·Ginkgo Seed

Japanese

ginkyo

Korean

baekgwa

Actions and indications

Astringes the Lungs, expels Phlegm and calms wheezing

Wheezing and cough from Phlegm in the Lungs, especially long-standing cough or cough with copious sputum
Asthma from Lung Heat
Wheezing, breathlessness and chronic cough with plentiful sputum, from Heat, Phlegm or Lung deficiency; in Excess patterns it is paired with herbs that clear Heat and transform Phlegm, because it astringes rather than disperses
Loss of voice from deficient Lung Qi

Stabilises the Lower Jiao, eliminates Damp, stops discharge and restrains urination

Clear or yellow vaginal discharge and cloudy urine, from Lower Jiao deficiency or from Damp-Heat
Spermatorrhea
Frequent urination or urinary incontinence

Combinations

ma huang + xing ren + sang bai pi

Lung Deficiency with Hot Phlegm, causing cough and wheezing with copious yellow sputum

sha shen + e jiao

Lung Deficiency with a chronic cough

qian shi + shan yao

Spleen Deficiency with Damp, causing vaginal discharge

huang bai + che qian zi

Foul-smelling yellow vaginal discharge from Damp-Heat

lian zi + hu jiao

Lower Jiao Deficiency with thin, watery vaginal discharge

sang piao xiao + yi zhi ren

Urinary frequency and incontinence.

ma huang

Calms wheezing.

ma huang + zi su zi + kuan dong hua + zhi ban xia + sang bai pi + xing ren

Asthma, dyspnea or coughing.

sang bai pi + chan tui + mai men dong

Loss of voice with a chronic cough

ge jie

Kidney and Lung Qi Deficiency with chronic wheezing

huang qin + sang bai pi

Rapid breathing with yellow Phlegm

sha shen + e jiao + dang shen

Feeble, dry cough.

sang bai pi + chan tui + mai men dong + xuan shen

Dryness with long-standing loss of voice

shan yao

Spermatorrhea.

ji guan hua

Kidney Deficiency with white vaginal discharge

bei xie + yi zhi ren

Cloudy urine. Frequent urination

wu yao + yi zhi ren + fu pen zi + shan yao + shan zhu yu

Frequent urination. Enuresis

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 3-10g; Tincture: 2-4ml

3-10 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

caution Slightly toxic: poisoning (from ginkgotoxin) has occurred when the seeds are eaten in large amounts or over long periods, so keep courses short and under a qualified practitioner; not a self-care herb

paediatric Young children are the most at risk; most published poisoning cases involve them

contraindication Exterior or Excess patterns: astringing before the pathogen has cleared may lock it in

contraindication The first stage of a cough, with an exterior pattern still present

contraindication Lung Yin deficiency giving a cough with thick, sticky or yellow phlegm

contraindication Cold and Damp

caution Thick, sticky sputum that is hard to cough up

pregnancy Use with caution in pregnancy: its safety is not established, so avoid it without a practitioner's supervision

caution The fleshy outer coat of the fresh fruit holds ginkgolic acids that irritate the skin and can cause contact allergy; a handling hazard separate from the kernel used as medicine

bai guo

About bai guo

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Astringes the Lungs, expels Phlegm and calms wheezing

Stabilises the Lower Jiao, eliminates Damp, stops discharge and restrains urination

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions