Bai Zhi (Dahurian Angelica): Headache, Nose and Leukorrhea

Name

Bai Zhi (dahurian angelica root, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing.

Source and quality

Plant

The root of Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav., or the Taiwan variety often listed as A. dahurica var. formosana, family Apiaceae.

Where it is grown

Henan stock is often sold as Yu Bai Zhi; Hebei as Qi Bai Zhi. Zhejiang, Fujian and Sichuan produce Hang Bai Zhi and Chuan Bai Zhi.

Harvest

Summer and autumn, when the leaves have yellowed.

Smell and taste

Strongly aromatic; acrid, a little bitter.

Better grade

Stout, heavy, powdery roots with a strong smell.

Processing

Sliced; used unprocessed.

Nature and action

Acrid, warm; enters lung, stomach and large intestine. Expels wind and releases the exterior; eases pain; opens the nose; dries dampness and checks leukorrhea.

When it is used

Wind-cold on the exterior

Its sweat is mild; its value is headache and a blocked, runny nose. It is often paired with Qiang Huo, Xi Xin and Chuan Xiong (Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang). In a wind-heat pattern it is only an assistant for pain, not the lead herb.

Pain in the yangming zone

It enters the stomach channel, so it is a usual choice for forehead pain, pain around the brow, and toothache. In wind-cold it can appear alone (Du Liang Wan) or with Fang Feng and Chuan Xiong (Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San). In wind-heat it sits with Bo He and Ju Hua. It can also back up other herbs in bi pain or trauma pain.

Stuffy, runny nose

It both dries damp and helps yangming clear qi reach the nose, so it is used for sinus-type pictures with forehead pain — taken internally, or in the old practice of smelling the powder. Common partners are Cang Er Zi and Xin Yi.

Leukorrhea

Warm and drying, it checks copious discharge. For cold-damp it is paired with Bai Zhu, Shan Yao and Fu Ling; for yellow or red discharge from damp-heat, with Huang Bai and Che Qian Zi — Bai Zhi astringes, the others clear.

It also appears for wind-type itch, and in early sores to help swellings move; once pus has formed it can assist qi- and blood-tonics to expel pus.

Dose

Decoction 3–10 g. External use as appropriate.

Cautions

Use carefully in yin deficiency with blood heat: the herb is acrid, aromatic, warm and dry.