bai tou weng

Name: bai tou weng
Creator: Bencao Index

白头翁·Radix Pulsatillae

anemone

About bai tou weng

Bai Tou Weng (白头翁) is the root of Chinese anemone, recorded as Radix Pulsatillae. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Stomach and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity. Its Chinese name reads as white-headed old man, for the silvery seed heads.

Names

Pinyin	bai tou weng
Chinese	白头翁
Latin Name	Radix Pulsatillae
English Name	anemone·Chinese anemone root·Chinese anemone root; pulsatilla; anemone·Pulsatilla
Japanese	hakutoo
Korean	baekduong

Classification

Category: Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Channels: Large Intestine, Stomach
Flavour: Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Part used: Root
Family: Ranunculaceae
Species: Pulsatilla Chinensis
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity and cools the Blood to stop dysentery

Diarrhea or dysentery from Damp-Heat in the Intestines and Stomach, with abdominal pain, straining, and pus or blood in the stools
Dysentery from toxic Fire, including bacterial and amoebic presentations
Blood in the stool

Cools the Blood and stops bleeding

Nosebleed or bleeding hemorrhoids from Heat in the Blood

Clears Damp-Heat and stops itching (external use)

Applied as a douche or external wash for itching and discharge from Damp-Heat, trichomonal vaginitis among them

Combinations

huang bai + huang lian + qin pi
Epidemic or Damp-Heat dysentery
ma chi xian
Heat toxin causing dysenteric disorders
chai hu + huang qin + bing lang
Warm febrile malarial disorders
ku shen
Itchy vaginal discharge, used as an external wash
di yu + huai hua tan + huang qin
Bleeding hemorrhoids

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 6-18g; Tincture: 2-5ml	6-18 g	—	2-5 ml	—	—

Cautions

caution Use only the dried root, never the fresh plant: like others in the buttercup family, fresh material holds far more of the irritant protoanemonin
contraindication Chronic dysentery or diarrhea from Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach, where a bitter, cold herb weakens digestion further
contraindication Vaginal discharge in women caused by a deficient Stomach
contraindication Dysentery-type disorders where the blood passed is pale
caution Keep courses short and under a qualified practitioner; long or high-dose use needs supervision
pregnancy Professional supervision is advisable in pregnancy (precautionary)

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