Sāng Bái Pí (桑白皮), known in English as Mulberry root bark (Morus alba (root bark)), is a cold, sweet Chinese herb from the Resolve phlegm category. It enters the Lung channel. Its main action: clears Lung Heat, stops cough and wheezing.
| Pinyin | Sāng Bái Pí (Sang Bai Pi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 桑白皮 |
| English | Mulberry root bark |
| Botanical name | Morus alba (root bark) |
| Category | Resolve phlegm |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Lung |
| Dosage | 6–12g |
| Cautions | Lung Cold or deficiency cough; no Heat |
Actions
- Clears Lung Heat, stops cough and wheezing
- Promotes urination, reduces oedema
Indications
- Lung Heat cough with or without wheezing
- Oedema
- Facial oedema from Lung qi dysfunction
How to remember Sāng Bái Pí
Most Resolve phlegm herbs enter the Lung channel.
- You can work these out
- Lung channel: from its action “Clears Lung Heat”
- Learn by heart
- Cold: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in flavour
Formulas containing Sāng Bái Pí
Other Resolve phlegm herbs
- Bàn Xià
- Guā Lóu
- Tiān Nán Xīng
- Zào Jiǎo Cì
- Jié Gěng
- Chuān Bèi Mǔ
- Zhè Bèi Mǔ
- Zhú Rú
- Tiān Zhú Huáng
- Hǎi Zǎo
- Kūn Bù
- Pí Pá Yè
- Xìng Rén
- Zǐ Wǎn
- Bǎi Bù
- Kuǎn Dōng Huā
- Tíng Lì Zǐ
- Bái Jiè Zǐ
- Bái Qián
- Qián Hú
- Xuán Fù Huā
- Zǐ Sū Zǐ
- Bái Guǒ
- Qīng Méng Shí
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Sāng Bái Pí?
Sāng Bái Pí is cold and sweet.
Which channels does Sāng Bái Pí enter?
Sāng Bái Pí enters the Lung channel.
What are the actions of Sāng Bái Pí?
Clears Lung Heat, stops cough and wheezing; Promotes urination, reduces oedema.
What is Sāng Bái Pí used for?
Lung Heat cough with or without wheezing; oedema; facial oedema from Lung qi dysfunction.
Which formulas contain Sāng Bái Pí?
Xiè Bái Sǎn, Dìng Chuǎn Tāng and Bǔ Fèi Tāng.
Practise Sāng Bái 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.