Bái Tóu Wēng (白头翁), known in English as Pulsatilla root (Pulsatilla chinensis), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
| Pinyin | Bái Tóu Wēng (Bai Tou Weng) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 白头翁 |
| English | Pulsatilla root |
| Botanical name | Pulsatilla chinensis |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Chronic diarrhoea from deficiency Cold |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
- Cools Blood, stops dysentery
Indications
- Toxic Heat dysentery with blood and pus and tenesmus
- Vaginal itching and discharge
How to remember Bái Tóu Wēng
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter, Stomach channel: like most Clear heat herbs
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “stops dysentery”
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
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bái Tóu Wēng?
Bái Tóu Wēng is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Bái Tóu Wēng enter?
Bái Tóu Wēng enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Bái Tóu Wēng?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity; Cools Blood, stops dysentery.
What is Bái Tóu Wēng used for?
Toxic Heat dysentery with blood and pus and tenesmus; vaginal itching and discharge.
Practise Bái Tóu Wēng 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.