Bái Jí (白及), known in English as Bletilla rhizome (Bletilla striata), is a cool, bitter, sweet and astringent Chinese herb from the Stop bleeding category. It enters the Lung, Liver and Stomach channels. Its main action: stops bleeding — especially Lung and Stomach.
| Pinyin | Bái Jí (Bai Ji) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 白及 |
| English | Bletilla rhizome |
| Botanical name | Bletilla striata |
| Category | Stop bleeding |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sweet, Astringent |
| Channels | Lung, Liver, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–9g (powder 1.5–3g) |
| Cautions | Incompatible with Fu Zi (18 incompatibilities); no accumulation or stasis |
Actions
- Stops bleeding — especially Lung and Stomach
- Reduces swelling, generates flesh, promotes healing
Indications
- Lung and Stomach bleeding: haemoptysis, haematemesis
- Non-healing sores and burns (topical)
How to remember Bái Jí
Stop bleeding herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Bitter, Liver channel: like most Stop bleeding herbs
- Lung and Stomach channels: from its action “Stops bleeding — especially Lung and Stomach”
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
- Astringent: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
Other Stop bleeding herbs
- Sān Qī
- Ài Yè
- Dì Yú
- Huái Huā
- Bái Máo Gēn
- Pú Huáng
- Xiān Hè Cǎo
- Qiàn Cǎo Gēn
- Dà Jì
- Xiǎo Jì
- Cè Bǎi Yè
- Ǒu Jié
- Fú Lóng Gān
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bái Jí?
Bái Jí is cool and bitter, sweet and astringent.
Which channels does Bái Jí enter?
Bái Jí enters the Lung, Liver and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Bái Jí?
Stops bleeding — especially Lung and Stomach; Reduces swelling, generates flesh, promotes healing.
What is Bái Jí used for?
Lung and Stomach bleeding: haemoptysis, haematemesis; non-healing sores and burns (topical).
Practise Bái Jí 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.