Bai Jiang Cao

Naming

Bai Jiang Cao (Herba Patriniae)——Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

The Processing of Bai Jiang Cao

Origin

The entire plants of Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Link. and P. villose Juss. of family Valerianaceae.

Location

Planted in most areas of China, and mainly produced in Sichuan, Hebei, Henan provinces and northeast area.

Harvest

Collected in summer and autumn.

The actual smell and taste

Special smell, slightly bitter taste.

Best quality

Dried and long root, being leafiness and complete, green in color, without impurities.

Processing

Cut into segments, unprocessed.

The Effect of Bai Jiang Cao

Property

Bitter, pungent, slightly cold; large intestine, stomach and liver meridians enrered.

Actions

Clear heat and remove toxicity, activate blood and alleviate pain.

Indications

A. Sores and abscess due to heat-toxicity

Being powerful in actions of clearing heat and removing toxicity, it is indicated for abdominal abscess, pulmonary abscess and dermal sores and abscess with swelling pain. It is regarded as the essential herb for treating abdominal abscess because it is specialized in clearing intestinal heat-toxicity and removing intestinal blood stagnation. For abdominal abscess, it can be used in stage of either stasis at the beginning or abscess, but it is commonly indicated for abdominal abscess with pus, and often combined with abscess-curing and pus-discharging herbs to improve the effects. For example, Yi Yi Ren and Dong Gua Ren are combined in Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San from Jin Kui Yao Lue. For initial abdominal abscess, heat-toxicity accumulation with blood stasis, abdominal pain with resistance to press, and no suppuration, it should be combined with Jin Yin Hua, Pu Gong Ying and Mu Dan Pi which are herbs for clearing heat and removing toxicity, activating blood and promoting flow of qi. For pulmonary abscess manifested as cough and vomiting with purulent phlegm, it is often combined with lung-clearing, phlegm-dispelling and pus-discharging herbs, such as Yu Xing Cao, Lu Gen and Jie Geng, etc. For dermal sores and abscess, it is usually combined with Zi Hua Di Ding and Lian Qiao which excel in removing toxicity and curing abscess; they can be pounded for topical administration.

B. Abdominal pain due to stasis

With the actions of activating blood, resolving stasis and relieving pain, it is indicated for stasis syndrome such as menstrual disorder, dysmenorrhea and postpartum abdominalgia. It can be used alone, as in Wei Sheng Yi Jian Fang, it is used singly to treat abdominal stabbing pain after childbirth; it can also be combined with other blood-activating and pain-relieving, blood-nourishing and menstruation-regulating herbs such as Dang Gui and Dan Shen, etc. For example, it is combined with Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong to treat endless lochiorrhea after childbirth, puerperal lumbago with difficulty in rotating, as in Wai Tai Mi Yao and Guang Ji Fang.

In addition, with the actions of clearing heat and removing toxicity, it is also indicated for leucorrhagia due to damp-heat, dysentery with reddish white feces, jaundice and red swollen eyes with pain.

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 6~15 g. Proper dosage is for topical application.