Xiè Bái (薤白), known in English as Chinese chive bulb (Allium macrostemon (bulb)), is a warm, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Regulate qi category. It enters the Heart, Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: unblocks Yang, disperses clumping in the chest.
| Pinyin | Xiè Bái (Xie Bai) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 薤白 |
| English | Chinese chive bulb |
| Botanical name | Allium macrostemon (bulb) |
| Category | Regulate qi |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 5–10g |
| Cautions | Qi deficiency without stagnation; Yin deficiency with Heat |
Actions
- Unblocks Yang, disperses clumping in the chest
- Moves qi, guides out stagnation
Indications
- Chest Bi with chest pain radiating to the back
- Epigastric and abdominal fullness and pain
- Diarrhoea or dysentery with tenesmus
How to remember Xiè Bái
Regulate qi herbs are mostly warm or hot, acrid and bitter, and most enter the Spleen and Stomach channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid, Bitter, Stomach channel: like most Regulate qi herbs
- Learn by heart
- Heart, Lung and Large Intestine channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Other Regulate qi herbs
- Chén Pí
- Zhǐ Shí
- Mù Xiāng
- Xiāng Fù
- Chén Xiāng
- Qīng Pí
- Fó Shǒu
- Chuān Liàn Zǐ
- Lì Zhī Hé
- Dà Fù Pí
- Wū Yào
- Zhǐ Ké
- Jú Hóng
- Tán Xiāng
- Méi Guī Huā
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Xiè Bái?
Xiè Bái is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Xiè Bái enter?
Xiè Bái enters the Heart, Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Xiè Bái?
Unblocks Yang, disperses clumping in the chest; Moves qi, guides out stagnation.
What is Xiè Bái used for?
Chest Bi with chest pain radiating to the back; epigastric and abdominal fullness and pain; diarrhoea or dysentery with tenesmus.
Practise Xiè Bái 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.