- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- East Asia, especially China
Asia · Herb · № 678
Phellodendron amurense
Herb · Asia
Amur cork tree bark (huang bai)
Phellodendron amurense
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from the lower body and cools heat from kidney yin deficiency.
Safety notes
Not with a weak spleen or stomach, with or without diarrhoea. Contains berberine: not during pregnancy. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Preparation
Bark. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that cool heat and dry dampness'. The yellow inner bark contains berberine. In Chinese medicine huang bai mainly cools heat in the lower body, for urinary tract infections and discharge; it is part of the well-known Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan and the Japanese Orengedokuto.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- bitter, cold
- Meridians
- kidney, bladder, large intestine
Attributed effects
Drains damp heat in the lower burner in diarrhoea, dysentery, cystitis, hot discharge, haemorrhoids and jaundice, cools heat from kidney yin deficiency (night sweats, afternoon fever, nocturnal emission, excessive sexual desire) and is used externally for boils and eczema.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 3–9 g a day, usually in a decoction. With long-term use combine with qi tonics.
Combinations
- With zhi mu and rehmannia in zhi bai di huang wan for yin deficiency with heat
- With huang qin and huang lian as the 'three yellows'
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction