Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Dictamni Cortex |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 白鮮皮 · Bai Xian Pi |
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| Medicinal Part | Tree barks and root barks |
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| Efficacy Category | Heat-clearing |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried tuberous rhizome of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. or Dictamnus angustifolius G. Don ex Sweet. (Rutaceae). |
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| Nature & Flavour | Bitter; Cold |
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| Channels Entered | Spleen, Stomach, Bladder |
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What Is Bai Xian Pi?
Bai Xian Pi (Denesefruit Pittany Root - bark) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning.
Nature & Flavour: Bitter; Cold
Channels Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Bladder
Bai Xian Pi: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Dictamni Cortex
Botanical Origin
The dried tuberous rhizome of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. or Dictamnus angustifolius G. Don ex Sweet. (Rutaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is large, thick, grayish-white, with layered fractured surface.
Macroscopic Features
Curled tube shape, 5~15cm long, 1~2cm diameter, 2~5mm thick. Externally grayish-white or pale grayish-yellow, with thin longitudinal wrinkles and thin root scars, and raised granular small spots; inner surface is off-white with thin longitudinal wrinkles. Brittle texture, dust rises up when it is fractured; fractured surface is not flat, with a slightly layered appearance; when outer skin is scraped off, small sparkling spots can be seen in the light. Goat-like odor; taste slightly bitter.
Traditional TCM Properties
Bitter; ColdSpleenStomachBladder
Traditional Functions
Clears heat, dries dampness, and dispels wind to relieve itch. Apply to damp-heat sores, yellow exudative itch, and jaundice from damp-heat.
How Bai Xian Pi Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Bai Xian Pi is classified among the Heat-clearing herbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bai Xian Pi? Are sophora and broom cypress the same?
Official Bai Xian Pi (白鲜皮) is the dried root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus. The pharmacopoeial name is Dictamni Cortex. Sophora is bitter-cold: clears heat, dries dampness, kills parasites and promotes urination. Broom cypress is acrid-bitter and cold: clears heat, drains dampness, dispels wind and stops itching. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Bai Xian Pi. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Bai Xian Pi?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Bai Xian Pi is bitter and cold, enters the Spleen, Stomach and Bladder channels, and acts to clear heat, dry dampness, dispel wind and resolve toxin. It is used for damp-heat sores and toxin, yellow water dripping, eczema, wind rash, scabies and tinea, wind-damp-heat bi, and jaundice with red urine. Bitter and cold, it suits damp-heat sores and toxin—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold, or absence of heat.
How do you choose raw versus prepared bark? Can sophora replace it?
Raw bark is stronger for clearing heat and drying dampness. Sophora leans to killing parasites and promoting urination; it cannot replace dispelling wind and resolving toxin by equal weight. Commercial dictamnus-bark tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Learn More About Bai Xian Pi
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Bai Xian Pi.
Read the Bai Xian Pi 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.
