Bái Wēi (白薇), known in English as Swallowwort root (Cynanchum atratum), is a cold, bitter and salty Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Stomach, Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: clears Heat, cools Blood.
| Pinyin | Bái Wēi (Bai Wei) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 白薇 |
| English | Swallowwort root |
| Botanical name | Cynanchum atratum |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter, Salty |
| Channels | Stomach, Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 5–10g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency with poor appetite and loose stools |
Actions
- Clears Heat, cools Blood
- Promotes urination, relieves painful urinary dysfunction
- Resolves toxicity, heals sores
Indications
- Warm pathogens damaging Ying with fever
- Yin deficiency fever and steaming bone
- Postpartum fever from Blood deficiency
- Heat or Blood painful urinary dysfunction
- Carbuncles and sores
How to remember Bái Wēi
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 and Liver channels: like most Clear heat herbs
- Learn by heart
- Salty: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
- Kidney 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 Tóu Wēng
- 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 Wēi?
Bái Wēi is cold and bitter and salty.
Which channels does Bái Wēi enter?
Bái Wēi enters the Stomach, Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Bái Wēi?
Clears Heat, cools Blood; Promotes urination, relieves painful urinary dysfunction; Resolves toxicity, heals sores.
What is Bái Wēi used for?
Warm pathogens damaging Ying with fever; Yin deficiency fever and steaming bone; postpartum fever from Blood deficiency; Heat or Blood painful urinary dysfunction; carbuncles and sores.
Practise Bái Wēi 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.