Roots and rhizomesPhlegm-resolvingStemonae Radix

Bai Bu (Stemona Root)

百部 · Bai Bu

Phlegm-resolving herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Moistens the lung, downbears qi, relieve cough, and kills worms.

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Quick Facts

Latin Name	Stemonae Radix
Chinese Name & Pinyin	百部 · Bai Bu
Medicinal Part	Roots and rhizomes
Efficacy Category	Phlegm-resolving
Botanical Origin	The dried tuberous root of Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq., Stemona japonica (Bl.) Miq., Stemona tuberosa Lour. (Stemonaceae).
Nature & Flavour	Sweet, Bitter; Slightly warm
Channels Entered	Lung

What Is Bai Bu?

Bai Bu (Stemona Root) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hubei, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan.

Nature & Flavour: Sweet, Bitter; Slightly warm
Channels Entered: Lung

Bai Bu: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Stemonae Radix

Botanical Origin

The dried tuberous root of Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq., Stemona japonica (Bl.) Miq., Stemona tuberosa Lour. (Stemonaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hubei, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thick and strong, firm, and yellowish-white.

Macroscopic Features

Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq: Fusiform, upper apex relatively thin and long, wrinkled and curved, 5~12cm long, 0.5~1cm diameter. Externally yellowish-white to pale brownish-yellow, with irregular deep longitudinal grooves, occasionally with horizontal wrinkles. Hard and easily broken texture, fractured surface is flat, horn-like, pale yellowish-brown or yellowish-white. Wide phloem, flat and wrinkled stele. faint odor. Taste sweet and bitter. Stemona japonica (Bl.) Miq: both ends gradually become thin, with many irregular creases and horizontal wrinkles. Stemona tuberosa Lour: long fusiform or long strips, 8~24cm long, 0.8~1.2cm diameter. Externally light yellowish-brown to grayish-brown, with shllow longitudinal wrinkles or irregular longitudinal troughs. Firm texture; fracture surface is yellowish-white to dark brown, with relatively large stele and off-white pith.

Traditional TCM Properties

Sweet, Bitter; Slightly warmLung

Traditional Functions

Moistens the lung, downbears qi, relieve cough, and kills worms. Applied to Lingering cough, coughing due to tuberculosis, whooping cough, externally applied to take care of head lice, body lice, enterobiasis, pruritus vulvae.

How Bai Bu Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Bai Bu is classified among the Phlegm-resolving herbs. It appears in 2 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Bai Bu are traditionally used for:

Cough Dry Cough Excessive Mucus

Classical Formulas Containing Bai Bu

Zhi Sou San

止嗽散

Formula CategoryExterior-Releasing FormulasPrimary PatternWind-ColdPrimary FunctionDiffuse Lung, stop cough, resolve phlegm, release exteriorRelated ConditionsCough·Dry Cough

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Ning Sou Wan

寧嗽丸

Formula CategoryPhlegm-Resolving FormulasPrimary PatternPhlegm-DampnessPrimary FunctionTransform phlegm, stop coughRelated ConditionsCough·Excessive Mucus

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Herbs Commonly Combined with Bai Bu

Jie Geng Jing Jie Zi Wan Bai Qian Chen Pi Gan Cao Bei Mu Kuan Dong Hua

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bai Bu? Are Dui Ye Bai Bu, Zi Wan and Kuan Dong Hua the same?

Official Bai Bu (百部) is the dried tuberous root of Stemona sessilifolia, Stemona japonica, or Stemona tuberosa. The pharmacopoeial name is Stemonae Radix. All three are included. Zi Wan is acrid-bitter and warm: moistens the Lung, directs qi downward, disperses phlegm and stops cough. Kuan Dong Hua is acrid, slightly bitter and warm: moistens the Lung, directs qi downward, stops cough and transforms phlegm. Write Bai Bu. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach weakness.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Bai Bu?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Bai Bu is sweet, bitter and slightly warm, enters the Lung channel, and acts to moisten the Lung, direct qi downward, stop cough, kill parasites and destroy lice. It is used for recent and chronic cough, taxation cough, and whooping cough; externally for head lice, body lice, pinworm and genital itch. Honey-fried root leans to moistening the Lung and stopping cough, for yin-vacuity taxation cough. Sweet-bitter and slightly warm, it suits cough and external parasite use—not large long courses in Spleen-Stomach weakness.

How do you choose raw versus honey-fried Bai Bu? Can Zi Wan replace it?

Raw root kills parasites more strongly, for external lice and pinworm. Honey-fried root moistens the Lung and stops cough, and is relatively better in yin-vacuity taxation cough. Aster disperses phlegm and stops cough; it cannot replace killing parasites and destroying lice by equal weight. Commercial stemona tea is not equal-weight pieces.

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Learn More About Bai Bu

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Bai Bu.

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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.