Roots and rhizomesExterior-releasingRadix Angelicae Dahuricae

Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica Root)

A practical guide to Bai Zhi: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin NameRadix Angelicae Dahuricae
Chinese Name & Pinyin 白芷 · Bai Zhi
Medicinal PartRoots and rhizomes
The herbBai Zhi is the dried, strongly aromatic root of Angelica dahurica or the Hangzhou variety. Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and Xin Yi are different official drugs.
Nature and channelsAcrid, warm. Enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung. Acridity disperses and unblocks. Warmth dries dampness.
Pharmacopoeia lineReleases the exterior and disperses cold. Dispels wind and relieves pain. Unblocks the nasal orifices. Dries dampness and stops leukorrhea. Reduces swelling and discharges pus. Used for wind-cold common cold, headache, supraorbital pain, toothache, stuffed nose and runny nose, allergic sniveling, deep-source nasal congestion, leukorrhea, and swollen sores.
Pattern cuesPain at the brow bone. Toothache. Stuffed nose and turbid discharge. Leukorrhea. Sores.
In this articleBai Zhi versus Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Xin Yi, and Cang Er Zi. Yangming headache versus Shaoyang headache. Why yin-deficiency heat should skip it. Who should skip it.

What Is Bai Zhi?

Bai Zhi (白芷; Bái Zhǐ; Latin: Angelicae Dahuricae Radix; English: dahurian angelica root) is the dried root of Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. et Hook. f. or the Hangzhou variety. In Chinese medicine it is a warm, acrid exterior-releasing herb. It is acrid and warm, enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung channels, and its core actions are to release the exterior and disperse cold, dispel wind and relieve pain, unblock the nasal orifices, dry dampness and stop leukorrhea, and reduce swelling and discharge pus. It is not Dang Gui. Chinese angelica tonifies and invigorates blood. It is a different Apiaceae root. It is not Chuan Xiong. Chuan Xiong travels Shaoyang and Jueyin and invigorates blood and moves qi. Bai Zhi travels Yangming. It is used for supraorbital pain, toothache, and deep-source nasal congestion. European angelica (Angelica archangelica) does not convert to this official drug.

It is used most often for three patterns:

  • Wind-cold headache — pain at the brow bone, toothache
  • Stuffed nose, deep-source nasal congestion, allergic sniveling — turbid discharge, loss of smell
  • Cold-damp leukorrhea / swollen sores — it can also discharge pus

It is usually used raw. The usual decoction dose is 3–10 g. Yin-deficiency blood-heat, and a distending head with red eyes from Liver yang, are a poor match. Acrid-warm and drying, it is not a daily “open-the-nose root tea.” Some Apiaceae roots contain furanocoumarins. During use, avoid heavy extra sun.

When wind-cold lodges in Yangming, or the nasal orifices will not open, forehead pain and turbid discharge are common. Bai Zhi is acrid-warm. It disperses, unblocks, and dries dampness, which is why it appears in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang and Cang Er Zi San. It dries and disperses more than it moistens. A dry red tongue, nosebleed, and sore throat get worse if more dryness is added.

Bai Zhi is not a catch-all pain or sinus herb. In yin-deficiency fire or Liver-yang headache, using it alone can assist dryness and lift fire. Whether it belongs in a Cang Er Zi San–type formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Bai Zhi Angelica Dahurica

Bai Zhi: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Radix Angelicae Dahuricae

Botanical Origin

The dried root of Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. et Hook. f. var. formosana (Boiss.) Shan et Yuan. (Apiaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Sichuan, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thick and strong, hard, white, powery, and potently aromatic.

Macroscopic Features

Semi-conical shape, 10~20cm long, 2~2.5cm diameter. Externally grayish-brown with raised horizontal lenticels, and concave stem scars on the apex. Hard texture, white fractured surface; powdery; cortex has many scattered brown oil spots. Aromatic odor; taste acrid and slightly bitter.

Authentic Regions and Quality Identification

While traditional texts praise specific growing regions, the actual quality also depends on harvesting time, processing, and storage.

  • Sourcing: Major producing areas include Sichuan (Chuan Bai Zhi) and Zhejiang (Hang Bai Zhi), both recognized as premium, authentic sources. Hebei and Henan also produce significant quantities.
  • Spotting Quality: High-quality Bai Zhi roots are cone-shaped (thick at the top, thin at the bottom). When snapped, the inside should be white or grayish-white with a visible brown ring and star-like rays. It should be hard, crisp, and emit a rich, pungent, and spicy aroma.
  • Beware of Look-alikes: It is sometimes confused with Ou Qian Hu (Peucedanum root). You can tell them apart because Ou Qian Hu has a much lighter internal ring and lacks the signature strong aroma of authentic Bai Zhi.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid; WarmLungStomachLarge Intestine

1. Historical Records

Bai Zhi has a long history of use in classic TCM texts for head and facial discomfort, skin issues, and gynecological care:

  • Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: Listed it as a mid-grade herb, noting its use for women's health issues, wind-related head discomfort, and nourishing the skin.
  • Ben Cao Gang Mu: Highlighted its effectiveness for sinus congestion (nasal discharge), toothaches, frontal headaches, and gastrointestinal issues.
  • Classic Pairings:
    • Paired with Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root) for headaches.
    • Paired with Cang Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) for dampness and discharge issues.
    • Paired with Xin Yi (Magnolia Flower) for sinus congestion.

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Over time, TCM practitioners have refined their understanding of Bai Zhi.

  • Primary Uses: Today, it is mostly famous for treating wind-cold symptoms affecting the upper body (like sinus pressure and headaches) and drying dampness for skin sores and women's health.
  • Safety Note: Because it is warm and drying, TCM doctors emphasize that it is best suited for wind-cold-dampness. People with "wind-heat" symptoms or a Yin-deficient body type (characterized by internal heat and dryness) should use it with caution.

Bai Zhi Angelica Dahurica

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Removing rheumatism, activate blood, clearing pus, engendering skin, relieving pain. Apply to headache, toothache, persistent turbid nasal discharge, anal fistula due to intestine wind, red and white leucorrhea, ulcer and sore, skin itch.

1. Primary Focus: Clearing Orifices and Relieving Pain

  • Traditional Function: Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica) is highly effective at dispersing "wind-cold," clearing the nasal orifices, and relieving pain.
  • Target Symptoms: It is a go-to herb for wind-cold symptoms affecting the head and face. This includes frontal headaches, eyebrow bone pain, severe nasal congestion, and a clear, runny nose—especially when these symptoms worsen in the cold.
  • Common Pairings: For headaches, it is often paired with Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root) and Bo He (Peppermint), forming the core of the famous formula Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San. For sinus issues, it is typically combined with Xin Yi (Magnolia Flower).
  • When to Avoid: Do not use this herb if you have a "wind-heat" headache (characterized by a red face, dry throat, and throbbing pain) or a Yin deficiency. Its warm nature can make heat symptoms worse.

2. Secondary Focus: Drying Dampness and Stopping Discharge

  • Traditional Function: It excels at drying internal dampness to treat abnormal gynecological discharge caused by cold-dampness or Spleen deficiency.
  • Target Symptoms: Ideal for excessive, clear, or white discharge without a strong odor, often accompanied by a cold lower abdomen, poor appetite, and loose stools.
  • Common Pairings: Frequently paired with herbs that strengthen the Spleen, such as Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) and Fu Ling (Poria), as seen in the classic formula Wan Dai Tang.
  • When to Avoid: Avoid use if the discharge is yellow, thick, foul-smelling, or accompanied by itching. These are signs of "damp-heat," which Bai Zhi will aggravate.

3. Common Herb Pairings: Synergistic Duos

  • Bai Zhi and Xin Yi (Magnolia Flower): This is a classic duo for sinus relief. Bai Zhi drives away cold and stops pain, while Xin Yi specifically opens up the nasal passages. Together, they aggressively tackle stubborn nasal congestion and sinus headaches. (Note: This should be used under professional TCM guidance).

Bai Zhi Angelica Dahurica

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

(Note: Modern scientific studies explore the chemical makeup of these herbs, though research is mostly limited to lab settings.)

1. Main Chemical Components

Modern analysis identifies the main active ingredients in Bai Zhi as volatile oils, coumarins (especially furanocoumarins), flavonoids, and polysaccharides.

2. Modern Pharmacological Directions

Current scientific interest focuses on observing these compounds in controlled environments:

  • Lab Observations: In vitro and animal studies suggest that Bai Zhi extracts may possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties.
  • Digestion: Some animal models also indicate potential benefits for regulating gastrointestinal muscle function.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

It is important to remember that lab results do not directly translate to clinical results in humans.

  • Whole Herb vs. Single Extract: TCM uses the whole, brewed root (Bai Zhi), which creates a complex synergy of compounds. Modern research often tests a single isolated chemical, meaning the effects can differ greatly.
  • Dosage: Lab preparations and dosages are very different from traditional herbal teas or soups, so current pharmacological data cannot be used as a direct guide for home use.

Bai Zhi Angelica Dahurica

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits

Bai Zhi and Cang Er Zi (Xanthium) are often discussed together.

  • Both are warm herbs that disperse wind-cold and open the nasal passages.
  • Both are frequently used for sinus congestion and headaches.
  • Both require caution and should not be overused by people with internal heat or Yin deficiency.

2. Core Differences

  • Nature and Focus: Bai Zhi enters multiple meridians (Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine) and is excellent for frontal headaches, drying dampness, and treating skin sores. Cang Er Zi focuses heavily on the Lungs, making it a true specialist for nasal congestion and rheumatic joint pain/itching.
  • Action Tendency: Bai Zhi pushes energy upward to the head and outward to the skin. Cang Er Zi works specifically on unblocking the lungs and nasal airways.
  • Symptom Match: If you have a sinus issue with a severe frontal headache, choose Bai Zhi. If you have pure, stubborn nasal congestion or rheumatic itching, Cang Er Zi is better.

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica) is your top choice for wind-cold headaches and drying dampness, while Cang Er Zi (Xanthium) is the specialist for unblocking severe nasal congestion and relieving rheumatic itching.

Bai Zhi Angelica Dahurica

Classical Formulas Containing Bai Zhi

+8 more

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

  • Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
  • Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Herbal Teas

  • Bai Zhi and Ginger Tea:
    • Ingredients: 3g Sheng Bai Zhi (Raw Angelica Dahurica), 2 slices of fresh ginger, 2 pitted red dates.
    • Method: Rinse everything, place in a teapot, add boiling water, and steep for 10 minutes.
    • Best For: Mild headaches, nasal congestion, and chills triggered by seasonal weather changes or cold drafts.
    • Avoid If: You have a fever, sore throat, or a "heat" constitution.
    • Frequency: Drink 1 small cup, 2-3 times a week. Do not drink this continuously. Make sure to use medicinal-grade herbs from a pharmacy, not culinary spices, for safety and efficacy.

2. Preparation Differences

  • Sheng Bai Zhi (Raw): Has a stronger outward-pushing effect, best for fighting off wind-cold and stopping pain.
  • Chao Bai Zhi (Stir-fried): Milder on the stomach, with a stronger ability to dry dampness and treat discharge.
  • Brewing: When making herbal decoctions, boil it with other herbs for 20-30 minutes. Remember, clinical doses are much higher than wellness tea doses—never use a medical prescription dose for your daily tea.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycles

  • Dosage: Clinical prescriptions usually range from 3 to 10g. For home wellness (teas/soups), keep the dose very low, around 1 to 3g.
  • Duration: Limit use to a maximum of 1 week. It is not designed for long-term daily consumption.
Bai Zhi Angelica Dahurica

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

  • Heat Conditions: Anyone with a wind-heat cold (high fever, sore throat, yellow mucus).
  • Yin Deficiency: People suffering from night sweats, dry mouth, or hot flashes.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant and nursing women must use it with extreme caution due to a lack of safety data.
  • Allergies: Avoid if you are allergic to plants in the carrot/parsley family (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae).

2. Medication Interactions

  • Drug Interactions: Bai Zhi may interact with blood thinners, potentially altering their effects. It can also interact with blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, and sedatives (increasing drowsiness).
  • Consultation: Always speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking prescription medications before adding herbal teas to your routine.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose

  • Side Effects: Overuse can lead to nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or heart palpitations.
  • Emergency Response: If you experience severe allergic reactions, continuous vomiting, breathing difficulties, or rapid worsening of symptoms, stop use immediately and seek professional medical help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bai Zhi

What is Bai Zhi? Are Dang Gui, Qiang Huo and Cang Er Zi the same?
Official Bai Zhi (白芷) is the dried root of Angelica dahurica or Hang Bai Zhi. The pharmacopoeial name is Angelicae Dahuricae Radix. Acrid-warm and aromatic, it travels the Yangming and stops pain while opening the nose. Dang Gui is sweet-acrid-warm: tonifies and invigorates Blood, regulates menses and stops pain. Qiang Huo is acrid-bitter-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, expels wind and overcomes damp—Taiyang headache. Cang Er Zi is acrid-bitter-warm: disperses wind-cold, opens the nasal orifices and expels wind-damp. Write Bai Zhi or Hang Bai Zhi. Kitchen “Bai Zhi stewed chicken” is not the medicinal dose. Forbid in Yin vacuity with Blood heat.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Bai Zhi?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Bai Zhi is acrid and warm, enters the Stomach, Large Intestine and Lung channels, and acts to release the exterior and disperse cold, expel wind and stop pain, open the nasal orifices, dry damp and stop vaginal discharge, disperse swelling and expel pus. It is used for common-cold headache, supraorbital pain, nasal congestion with runny nose, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, toothache, vaginal discharge and sores with swelling and pain. Acrid-aromatic and warm-drying, it suits wind-cold-damp and Yangming headache—not Yin-vacuity Blood heat or Yin-vacuity yang-ascent headache.
Does Bai Zhi need processing? How does it differ from Cang Er Zi and Xin Yi?
The pharmacopoeia mainly uses raw slices in decoction or powdered externally. Frontal and supraorbital pain, Yangming headache, toothache and cold-damp discharge more often use Bai Zhi. Sinusitis with congestion often joins Xanthium and Magnolia flower in Cang Er Zi San. Early sores may be taken internally and applied. It contains coumarins; do not use large amounts long. Use caution if you are photosensitve.
What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a nose-opening whitening tea?
The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g; externally, an appropriate amount is powdered and sprinkled or mixed. It is not a four-season “Bai Zhi whitening sinus tea.” Yin vacuity only grows more painful as it dries. Sinusitis and headache need a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace sinus and neurologic assessment.
What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?
Forbid in Yin vacuity with Blood heat and in Yin-vacuity yang-ascent headache. Acrid-aromatic and warm-drying; use caution in pregnancy. Stop if dry mouth and nose, rash or worsening headache appear. Tell the practitioner if you use photosensitizing or anticoagulant drugs. High fever with convulsions and severe headache with vomiting are emergencies.
Can Bai Zhi stop pain, open the nose and stop discharge?
It can help wind-cold-damp and Yangming-channel pain. Sinusitis joins Xanthium, Magnolia flower and mint in Cang Er Zi San. Wind-cold headache joins Chuanxiong, Notopterygium and Asarum in a Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San type formula. Cold-damp discharge joins Atractylodes and Poria. Sores join honeysuckle and Trichosanthes root. It releases the exterior, disperses cold, expels wind, stops pain and opens the nose—not a specific for every rhinitis, every migraine or every whitening claim.
Can Bai Zhi be drunk daily as a whitening, spot-fading or sinus tea?
Wind-cold nasal congestion and Yangming headache may enter a short formula; Yin-vacuity Blood heat only darkens spots as it dries. “Bai Zhi whitens and fades spots” does not replace dermatologic and sinus assessment. Releasing the exterior, dispersing cold and opening the nose should name Bai Zhi 3–10 g.
How do you choose among Bai Zhi, Qiang Huo, Cang Er Zi, Xin Yi and Xi Xin?
Dahurian angelica is acrid-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, expels wind, stops pain, opens the nose, dries damp, stops discharge, disperses swelling and expels pus—Yangming, forehead and supraorbital pain. Notopterygium is acrid-bitter-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, expels wind and overcomes damp—Taiyang vertex and whole-body pain. Xanthium is acrid-bitter-warm: disperses wind-cold, opens the nose and expels wind-damp. Magnolia flower is acrid-warm: disperses wind-cold and opens the nose. Asarum is acrid-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, expels wind, stops pain, opens orifices and warms the Lung to transform rheum—small dose. Forehead and toothache favor Bai Zhi; nape Taiyang favors Qiang Huo; sinusitis often uses the three together; severe pain may join Xi Xin. They may be paired; Yin-vacuity Blood heat forbids large Bai Zhi and Xi Xin.
Which herbs is Bai Zhi combined with? What are the representative formulas?
Sinusitis joins Xanthium, Magnolia flower and mint in Cang Er Zi San. Wind-cold headache joins Chuanxiong, Notopterygium, Schizonepeta and Asarum in Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San. Write Bai Zhi 3–10 g; note separately if used as external powder.
How do you choose and store Bai Zhi?
Choose plump firm roots with a white powdery break, brown oil dots, a strong aroma and an acrid slightly bitter taste. Hollow, moldy, moth-eaten lots that have lost aroma are discarded. Store cool and dry against moths. Buy pharmacopoeial Bai Zhi; do not replace releasing the exterior, dispersing cold and opening the nose with Dang Gui or an unidentified umbellifer root by equal weight.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.

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Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica): Release the Exterior, Open the Nasal Orifices, and Stop Pain