Bài Jiàng Cǎo (败酱草), known in English as Patrinia herb (Patrinia scabiosifolia), is a cool, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Stomach, Large Intestine and Liver channels. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
| Pinyin | Bài Jiàng Cǎo (Bai Jiang Cao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 败酱草 |
| English | Patrinia herb |
| Botanical name | Patrinia scabiosifolia |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Stomach, Large Intestine, Liver |
| Dosage | 6–15g |
| Cautions | Spleen and Stomach deficiency Cold; no Heat or stasis |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
- Reduces abscesses, expels pus
- Dispels Blood stasis, relieves pain
Indications
- Intestinal abscess and Lung abscess
- Carbuncles and toxic sores
- Postpartum abdominal pain from Blood stasis
How to remember Bài Jiàng Cǎo
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Bitter, Stomach and Liver channels: like most Clear heat herbs
- Learn by heart
- Acrid: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
- Large Intestine channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bài Jiàng Cǎo?
Bài Jiàng Cǎo is cool and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Bài Jiàng Cǎo enter?
Bài Jiàng Cǎo enters the Stomach, Large Intestine and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Bài Jiàng Cǎo?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity; Reduces abscesses, expels pus; Dispels Blood stasis, relieves pain.
What is Bài Jiàng Cǎo used for?
Intestinal abscess and Lung abscess; carbuncles and toxic sores; postpartum abdominal pain from Blood stasis.
Practise Bài Jiàng Cǎo 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.