Bai Xian Pi (白鲜皮) is the root bark of Chinese dittany, recorded as Cortex Dictamni. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity.

Pinyin

bai xian pi

Chinese

白鲜皮

Latin Name

Cortex Dictami·Cortex Dictamni

English Name

cortex of Chinese dittany root·Dictamnus Root Bark·dictamnus root bark; cortex of Chinese dittany root

Japanese

hakusenpi

Korean

baekseonpi

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity, expels Wind and dries Damp

Wind-Heat or Damp-Heat skin lesions (carbuncles, rashes) that ooze yellow fluid or much pus, with damp, itchy skin
Damp-Heat eruptions, including scabies-type lesions and weeping eczema-like rashes
Rubella and other Wind-Heat rashes whose itch moves about, comes and goes, or spreads
Damp-Heat Bi with red, swollen and painful joints
Jaundice from Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder

Clears Damp-Heat and stops itching

Itching of the vulva and vagina

Combinations

ku shen

Itchy sores from Damp-Heat

ku shen + she chuang zi

Itching from parasites such as scabies or from Wind-Damp-Cold; may also be applied as an external wash

fang feng + bai ji li

Eczema and hives.

ren dong teng + wei ling xian

Damp-Heat Bi affecting the legs

sheng di huang + dang gui + chan tui

Blood Deficiency with rashes

ku shen + di fu zi

Itching with vaginal discharge.

yu xing cao + bai jiang cao

Blood Stasis with gynecological abdominal pain

ji xue teng

Blood Stasis with abdominal pain

ku shen + di fu zi + cang zhu

Skin disorders marked by Damp-Heat and toxins

da huang + zhi zi

Damp-Heat jaundice.

ren dong teng

Bi syndrome.

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 4-16g; Tincture: 2-4ml

4-16 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

pregnancy Not to be used in pregnancy

caution Eczema and other atopic conditions, or past liver disease

caution Poor liver function

caution Deficiency Cold, including Cold from a weak Spleen and Stomach with poor appetite and loose stools; not suited to deficiency without Damp-Heat

caution Liver injury has been reported again and again in published case series from Korea, China and the United Kingdom, from the single herb and from multi-herb products; use it inside a practitioner-managed formula, not self-selected

Interactions

Antagonistic with

bi xie Antagonistic pairing with Bi Xie (Dioscorea hypoglauca)
fu ling Antagonistic pairing with Fu Ling (Poria)
jie geng Antagonistic pairing with Jie Geng (Platycodon)

Drug interactions

Microtubule inhibitors (vincristine, vinblastine, paclitaxel): the herb may strengthen their effect
Medicines metabolised by the liver: given the liver-injury reports, a practitioner should oversee combined use (precautionary; no established interaction)

bai xian pi

About bai xian pi

Names

Classification