Patrinia (bai jiang cao)

Patrinia scabiosifolia (en P. villosa)

Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies, drains pus and moves the blood in pain with heat.

Safety notes

Not with diarrhoea or weak digestion from spleen deficiency. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.

Cautions by tradition (1)

Chinese materia medica: Always have abdominal pain with fever (appendix) assessed medically.

Preparation

Whole plant with root. 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 detoxify'. Bai jiang cao means 'herb that smells of spoiled soy sauce'. It is used for abdominal abscesses and appendicitis, among others in Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San. It is related to valerian.

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: pungent, bitter, slightly cold
Meridians: liver, stomach, large intestine

Attributed effects

For internal and external abscesses and ulcers, pain from blood stagnation with heat (after childbirth or surgery, endometriosis, chest and abdominal pain) and inflammation of the intestines.

Preparation and amount

Traditional dosage: 6–15 g a day, usually in a decoction.

Combinations

With huang lian and kudzu for intestinal inflammation from heat
With coix and fu zi in a classical formula for intestinal abscesses

Caution: Always have abdominal pain with fever (appendix) assessed medically.

Ways to prepare herbs: Decoction

Sources

All herbs from Asia →