Bi Ba (荃茌) is the fruit of long pepper, recorded as Fructus Piperis Longi. It is acrid in flavour and hot in temperature, enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels, and is filed among the herbs that warm the Interior and expel Cold.

Pinyin

bi ba

Chinese

荜茇

Latin Name

Fructus Piperis Longi

English Name

Long Pepper Fruit

Japanese

hihatsu

Korean

pilbal

Actions and indications

Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, directs Qi downward and relieves pain

Abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting, hiccups, belching, acid reflux and poor appetite, where Cold has congealed and stagnated the Qi of the epigastrium and abdomen
Diarrhea or dysentery when Cold has settled in the Intestines, Spleen and Stomach
Stomach Cold
Nausea and vomiting of a Cold type

Relieves toothache (topical)

Toothache, with the powdered fruit placed on or beside the painful tooth

Combinations

gao liang jiang + pao jiang

Stomach Cold with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea

gao liang jiang + pao jiang + dang shen + huang qi

Weak, deficient Spleen and Stomach

he zi + gan jiang + rou gui

Deficiency Cold with chronic diarrhea

su he xian + an xi xiang

Severe invasion of Cold-Damp with turbid Phlegm

tan xiang + bing pian + xi xin

Angina pectoris

hu jiao

Toothache, applied as a powder

rou gui + gao liang jiang + pao jiang

Spleen and Stomach Cold

ren shen + bai zhu

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency

zhi ban sha + sheng jiang

Cold Phlegm lodged in Spleen and Stomach, causing nausea and vomiting

mu xiang + hou po

Fullness and distention of the epigastrium and abdomen

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 1-5g; Tincture: 0.5-1ml

1-5 g

—

0.5-1 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Heat arising from deficient Yin

contraindication Excess Heat

caution Yin deficiency and dryness in general: the herb dries as well as heats, so avoid long courses where fluids are depleted

caution An already irritated stomach: above modest amounts, pungent peppers can themselves cause burning, reflux or loose stools

pregnancy Pregnancy: only with a qualified practitioner overseeing its use

caution People on prescription medicines: its main alkaloid, piperine, affects how the body handles many drugs (see drug cautions)

Interactions

Drug interactions

Narrow-margin medicines (anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, some heart and antiretroviral drugs, and anything not to be taken with grapefruit): piperine blocks CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein and can raise drug levels, while longer exposure may induce CYP3A4 instead. Shown for the isolated alkaloid, not yet for the decocted fruit; tell the prescriber

bi ba

About bi ba

Names

Classification