Roots and rhizomesHeat-clearingRadix Pulsatillae
Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Root)
白頭翁 · Bai Tou Weng
Heat-clearing herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Clears hear, resolves toxin, cools the blood, relieves dysentery, eliminating dampness and destroying parasites.
Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Radix Pulsatillae |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 白頭翁 · Bai Tou Weng |
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| Medicinal Part | Roots and rhizomes |
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| Efficacy Category | Heat-clearing |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried root of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel. (Ranunculaceae). |
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| Nature & Flavour | Bitter; Cold |
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| Channels Entered | Stomach, Large Intestine |
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What Is Bai Tou Weng?
Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Root) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in Anhui, Henan, and the northern and northeastern provinces of China.
Nature & Flavour: Bitter; Cold
Channels Entered: Stomach, Large Intestine
Bai Tou Weng: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Radix Pulsatillae
Botanical Origin
The dried root of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel. (Ranunculaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in Anhui, Henan, and the northern and northeastern provinces of China.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is thick, long, and firm.
Macroscopic Features
Root is long cylindrical or conical, slightly curved, or slightly twisted and screwed; 5~20cm long, 0.5~2cm diameter. Externally yellowish-brown or brown, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles or grooves, sometimes 2~3 branches in the middle; cortex easily falls off and exposes a yellow xylem, often rotten to a concave hole and presenting raised longitudinal reticular fissured lines; the head of root is enlarged, often with branches, with remnants of a sheath-shaped petiole and white downy hairs. Hard and brittle texture, flat fractured surface; phloem is yellowish-white; xylem is yellow; sometimes a gap in the middle of phloem and xylem. faint odor; taste slightly bitter and astringent.
Traditional TCM Properties
Bitter; ColdStomachLarge Intestine
Traditional Functions
Clears hear, resolves toxin, cools the blood, relieves dysentery, eliminating dampness and destroying parasites. Apply to heat dysentery, epistaxis, hemorrhoid hemorrhage, leucorrhea, pudendum itch, ulcer and carbuncle, struma.
How Bai Tou Weng Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Bai Tou Weng is classified among the Heat-clearing herbs. It appears in 1 classical formulas in our library.
Formulas containing Bai Tou Weng are traditionally used for:
DiarrheaAbdominal PainFeverDry Mouth & Throat
Classical Formulas Containing Bai Tou Weng
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bai Tou Weng? Are Huang Lian, Qin Pi and Ma Chi Xian the same?
Official Bai Tou Weng (白头翁) is the dried root of Pulsatilla chinensis. The pharmacopoeial name is Pulsatillae Radix. Huang Lian is bitter-cold: clears heat, dries damp, drains fire and resolves toxin. Qin Pi is bitter-astringent and cold: clears heat, dries damp, astringes to stop dysentery, checks vaginal discharge and brightens the eyes. Ma Chi Xian is sour-cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, cools Blood, stops bleeding and stops dysentery. Use the root; the stem and leaf act differently and contain cardioactive constituents, so they must not be mixed in. Write Bai Tou Weng. Use caution in vacuity-cold diarrhea.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Bai Tou Weng?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Bai Tou Weng is bitter and cold, enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels, and acts to clear heat, resolve toxin, cool Blood and stop dysentery. It is used for heat-toxin bloody dysentery, vaginal itching with discharge, and amoebic dysentery. Bitter-cold and clearing intestinal heat, it suits heat-toxin bloody dysentery—not vacuity-cold diarrhea or Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.
Does Bai Tou Weng need special processing? Can Huang Lian replace it?
Remove foreign matter, wash, soften, slice thin and dry. Coptis drains fire and dries damp; it cannot replace cooling Blood and stopping dysentery by equal weight. Commercial “Bai Tou Weng” is sometimes adulterated with Potentilla; check for dense white hairs on the root crown. External washes need a separate practitioner’s instruction.
Learn More About Bai Tou Weng
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Bai Tou Weng.
Read the Bai Tou Weng Guide →
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.
