bai wei

白薇·Radix Cynanchi Atrati

Cynanchi Root

About bai wei

Bai Wei (白薇) is the root and rhizome of blackend swallowwort, recorded as Radix et Rhizoma Cynanchi Atrati. It is bitter and salty in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung, Stomach and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat of the deficient kind.

Names

Pinyinbai wei
Chinese白薇·白茅根
Latin NameRadix Cynanchi Atrati·Radix et Rhizoma Cynanchi Atrati
English NameCynanchi Root·Cynanchi root, Swallowwort root·swallowwort root·swallowwort root; cynanchi root
Japanesebyakubi
Koreanbaekmi

Classification

Channels
Lung, Stomach, Kidney
Flavour
Bitter, Salty
Temperature
Cold
Part used
Root
Family
Asclepiadaceae
Species
Cynanchum Atratum|Cynanchum Versicolor
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Cools the Blood and clears Deficiency Heat

  • Heat at the Ying and Blood levels
  • Fever from Yin deficiency
  • Summerheat fever that persists in children
  • Fever after childbirth, its most common use
  • Low-grade fever lingering after a warm febrile disease has injured the Blood or Yin

Promotes urination

  • Painful, difficult urination with heat or blood in the urine, particularly around childbirth

Clears Heat toxin and treats sores

  • Toxic sores and abscesses
  • A swollen, sore throat
  • Snakebite
  • Used internally or topically for these, though its action here is mild

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-12g; Tincture: 2-4ml3-12 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Antagonistic with

Drug interactions