bi xie

萆薢·Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae

hypoglaucous collett yam rhizome

About bi xie

Bi Xie (萄蘇) is the rhizome of a yam, recorded as Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae and known in English as tokoro. It is bitter in flavour and neutral in temperature, enters the Bladder, Liver and Stomach channels, and is filed among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyinbi xie
Chinese萆薢
Latin NameRhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae
English Namehypoglaucous collett yam rhizome·Tokoro
Japanesehikai
Koreanbihae·myeonbihae

Classification

Channels
Stomach, Bladder, Liver
Flavour
Bitter
Temperature
Neutral
Part used
Rhizome
Family
Dioscoreaceae
Species
Dioscorea Collettii
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Separates the clear from the turbid and resolves turbid Damp in the Lower Jiao

  • Cloudy urine or vaginal discharge from turbid Damp in the Lower Jiao
  • Damp-Heat or deficiency Heat

Expels Wind-Damp, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the Luo channels

  • Low back pain, aching muscles, and legs that are numb or stiff, in Bi from Wind-Damp or Damp-Heat (a mild action)

Clears Damp-Heat from the skin

  • Damp-Heat skin lesions such as eczema and pustular sores

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any9-18 g

Cautions

Prepared forms (1)

bi xie Fen

萆薢·Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae

Bi Xie (Fen) (萆薢) is bi xie in its fen form, the rhizome of a dioscorea yam, recorded as Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae. The catalogue holds no category, channels or actions for it.

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