Bì Bá (荜茇), known in English as Long pepper fruit (Piper longum), is a hot, acrid Chinese herb from the Warm interior category. It enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold.
| Pinyin | Bì Bá (Bi Ba) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 荜茇 |
| English | Long pepper fruit |
| Botanical name | Piper longum |
| Category | Warm interior |
| Nature | Hot |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 1–3g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat |
Actions
- Warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold
- Directs qi downward, relieves pain
Indications
- Cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen
- Vomiting and diarrhoea from Cold
- Chest Bi pain from congealed Cold
- Headache
- Toothache (topical)
How to remember Bì Bá
Warm interior herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach, Spleen and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Hot, Acrid: like most Warm interior herbs
- Stomach channel: from its action “Warms Middle Jiao”
- Learn by heart
- Large Intestine channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Warm interior herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bì Bá?
Bì Bá is hot and acrid.
Which channels does Bì Bá enter?
Bì Bá enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Bì Bá?
Warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold; Directs qi downward, relieves pain.
What is Bì Bá used for?
Cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen; vomiting and diarrhoea from Cold; chest Bi pain from congealed Cold; headache; toothache (topical).
Practise Bì Bá 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.