bai zhu

白术·Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae

ovate atractylodes rhizome

About bai zhu

Bai Zhu (白术) is the rhizome of ovate atractylodes, a plant of the daisy family, recorded as Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae. It is bitter and sweet in flavour and warm in temperature, entering the Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that tonify Qi.

Names

Pinyinbai zhu
Chinese白术·炒白芍
Latin NameRhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
English Nameovate atractylodes rhizome·White Atractylodes Rhizome·white atractylodes rhizome; ovate atractylodes rhizome·Atractylodes Rhizome
Japanesebyakujutsu
Koreanbaekchul·baekujutsu

Classification

Category
Tonify Qi
Channels
Stomach, Spleen
Flavour
Sweet, Bitter
Temperature
Warm
Part used
Rhizome
Family
Asteraceae
Species
Atractylodes Macrocephala
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi

  • Deficient Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, with loose stools or diarrhea, tiredness, shortness of breath, a sallow face and poor appetite
  • Spleen Yang failing to rise

Dries Damp and promotes water metabolism

  • Damp in the Spleen, or accumulated fluids disturbing digestion
  • Edema with scanty urine when a deficient Spleen cannot transform and transport fluids
  • Tan Yin (Phlegm-fluids), masses and swelling
  • Damp painful obstruction, as a supporting herb

Secures the Exterior and stops sweating

  • Spontaneous sweating from Qi deficiency, with weak Wei Qi
  • Other kinds of sweating, when combined with suitable herbs

Calms the fetus

  • Restless fetus when weak Spleen Qi fails to nourish it
  • Other restless fetus patterns, with suitable herbs

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-15g; Tincture: 1-4ml3-15 g1-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

bai zhu Chao

炒白术·Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae Prep.

Bai zhu chao (炒白术) is the dry-fried form of bai zhu, the rhizome of large-headed atractylodes, an Asteraceae species supplied as Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae Preparata. The catalogue files it among the substances that tonify Qi, on the Spleen and Stomach channels.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows bai zhu.