Bái Xiān Pí (白鲜皮), known in English as Densefruit pittany (Dictamnus dasycarpus), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Spleen, Stomach and Bladder channels. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
| Pinyin | Bái Xiān Pí (Bai Xian Pi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 白鲜皮 |
| English | Densefruit pittany |
| Botanical name | Dictamnus dasycarpus |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Spleen, Stomach, Bladder |
| Dosage | 6–9g |
| Cautions | Cold-deficiency patterns |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
- Expels Wind, dries Damp, stops itching
Indications
- Damp-Heat skin conditions: eczema, urticaria, itching
- Jaundice
- Wind-Damp Bi with Heat
How to remember Bái Xiān Pí
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
- Learn by heart
- Spleen and Bladder channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
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
- 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
- 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 Xiān Pí?
Bái Xiān Pí is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Bái Xiān Pí enter?
Bái Xiān Pí enters the Spleen, Stomach and Bladder channels.
What are the actions of Bái Xiān Pí?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity; Expels Wind, dries Damp, stops itching.
What is Bái Xiān Pí used for?
Damp-Heat skin conditions: eczema, urticaria, itching; jaundice; Wind-Damp Bi with Heat.
Practise Bái Xiān Pí 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.