Huáng Bǎi (黄柏), known in English as Phellodendron bark (Phellodendron amurense), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Kidney, Bladder and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: drains Kidney Fire, clears steaming bone disorder.
| Pinyin | Huáng Bǎi (Huang Bai) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 黄柏 |
| English | Phellodendron bark |
| Botanical name | Phellodendron amurense |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Kidney, Bladder, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency; Cold patterns |
Actions
- Drains Kidney Fire, clears steaming bone disorder
- Clears Damp-Heat — Lower Jiao
- Resolves Fire toxicity
Indications
- Kidney Yin deficiency with ascending Fire
- Damp-Heat Bi
- Vaginal discharge
- Hot dysuria
- Eczema (topical)
How to remember Huáng Bǎi
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: like most Clear heat herbs
- Kidney channel: from its action “Drains Kidney Fire”
- Learn by heart
- Bladder and Large Intestine channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Huáng Bǎi
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- 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
- 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 Huáng Bǎi?
Huáng Bǎi is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Huáng Bǎi enter?
Huáng Bǎi enters the Kidney, Bladder and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Huáng Bǎi?
Drains Kidney Fire, clears steaming bone disorder; Clears Damp-Heat — Lower Jiao; Resolves Fire toxicity.
What is Huáng Bǎi used for?
Kidney Yin deficiency with ascending Fire; Damp-Heat Bi; vaginal discharge; hot dysuria; eczema (topical).
Which formulas contain Huáng Bǎi?
Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng, Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán, Qīng Jīng Sǎn and Wū Méi Wán.
Practise Huáng Bǎi 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.