Běi Shā Shēn (北沙参), known in English as Glehnia root (Glehnia littoralis), is a cool, sweet and slightly bitter Chinese herb from the Tonify yin category. It enters the Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: nourishes Yin, clears Lung Heat.
| Pinyin | Běi Shā Shēn (Bei Sha Shen) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 北沙参 |
| English | Glehnia root |
| Botanical name | Glehnia littoralis |
| Category | Tonify yin |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 5–12g |
| Cautions | Cough from Wind-Cold; Cold-Damp; incompatible with Li Lu |
Actions
- Nourishes Yin, clears Lung Heat
- Benefits Stomach, generates fluids
Indications
- Dry cough from Lung Heat
- Consumptive cough with blood-streaked sputum
- Stomach Yin deficiency
- Fluid damage after febrile disease with dry throat and thirst
How to remember Běi Shā Shēn
Tonify yin herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Kidney and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Sweet: like most Tonify yin herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “clears Lung Heat”
- Stomach channel: from its action “Benefits Stomach”
- Learn by heart
- Slightly bitter: unusual for Tonify yin herbs (most are sweet)
Formulas containing Běi Shā Shēn
Other Tonify yin herbs
- Mài Dōng
- Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ
- Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ
- Shēng Dì Huáng
- Tiān Dōng
- Yù Zhú
- Shí Hú
- Hàn Lián Cǎo
- Guī Bǎn
- Biē Jiǎ
- Bǎi Hé
- Huáng Jīng
- Sāng Shèn
- Hēi Zhī Má
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Běi Shā Shēn?
Běi Shā Shēn is cool and sweet and slightly bitter.
Which channels does Běi Shā Shēn enter?
Běi Shā Shēn enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Běi Shā Shēn?
Nourishes Yin, clears Lung Heat; Benefits Stomach, generates fluids.
What is Běi Shā Shēn used for?
Dry cough from Lung Heat; consumptive cough with blood-streaked sputum; Stomach Yin deficiency; fluid damage after febrile disease with dry throat and thirst.
Which formulas contain Běi Shā Shēn?
Yī Guàn Jiān and Shā Shēn Mài Dōng Tāng.
Practise Běi Shā Shēn 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.