Bǎi Bù (百部), known in English as Stemona root (Stemona sessilifolia), is a warm, sweet and bitter Chinese herb from the Resolve phlegm category. It enters the Lung channel. Its main action: stops cough — especially chronic and deficiency cough.
| Pinyin | Bǎi Bù (Bai Bu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 百部 |
| English | Stemona root |
| Botanical name | Stemona sessilifolia |
| Category | Resolve phlegm |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter |
| Channels | Lung |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency |
Actions
- Stops cough — especially chronic and deficiency cough
- Kills parasites (lice, pinworm — topical and internal)
Indications
- Any type of cough including TB, pertussis, and chronic Lung deficiency cough
- Lice and pinworm
How to remember Bǎi Bù
Most Resolve phlegm herbs enter the Lung channel.
- You can work these out
- Lung channel: from its use for “Any type of cough including TB, pertussis, and chronic Lung deficiency cough”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in flavour
- Bitter: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in flavour
Formulas containing Bǎi Bù
Other Resolve phlegm herbs
- Bàn Xià
- Guā Lóu
- Tiān Nán Xīng
- Zào Jiǎo Cì
- Jié Gěng
- Chuān Bèi Mǔ
- Zhè Bèi Mǔ
- Zhú Rú
- Tiān Zhú Huáng
- Hǎi Zǎo
- Kūn Bù
- Pí Pá Yè
- Xìng Rén
- Zǐ Wǎn
- Kuǎn Dōng Huā
- Sāng Bái Pí
- Tíng Lì Zǐ
- Bái Jiè Zǐ
- Bái Qián
- Qián Hú
- Xuán Fù Huā
- Zǐ Sū Zǐ
- Bái Guǒ
- Qīng Méng Shí
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bǎi Bù?
Bǎi Bù is warm and sweet and bitter.
Which channels does Bǎi Bù enter?
Bǎi Bù enters the Lung channel.
What are the actions of Bǎi Bù?
Stops cough — especially chronic and deficiency cough; Kills parasites (lice, pinworm — topical and internal).
What is Bǎi Bù used for?
Any type of cough including TB, pertussis, and chronic Lung deficiency cough; lice and pinworm.
Which formulas contain Bǎi Bù?
Zhǐ Sòu Sǎn.
Practise Bǎi Bù and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.