Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Allii Macrostemi Bulbus |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 薤白 · Xie Bai |
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| Medicinal Part | Roots and rhizomes |
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| Efficacy Category | Qi-regulating |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried bulb of Allium macrostemon Bge., Allium chinense G. Don.(Liliaceae) |
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| Nature & Flavour | Acrid, Bitter; Warm |
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| Channels Entered | Heart, Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine |
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What Is Xie Bai?
Xie Bai (Chinese Garlic) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the northeastern China and the provinces of Jiangsu and Hubei.
Nature & Flavour: Acrid, Bitter; Warm
Channels Entered: Heart, Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine
Xie Bai: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Allii Macrostemi Bulbus
Botanical Origin
The dried bulb of Allium macrostemon Bge., Allium chinense G. Don.(Liliaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the northeastern China and the provinces of Jiangsu and Hubei.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is large , full, firm, yellowish-white, translucent.
Macroscopic Features
Allium macrostemon Bge.: Irregular oval shape, 0.5~2.0cm long, 0.7~1.8cm diameter. Externally yellowish-white or pale yellowish-brown, wrinkled, translucent, with longitudinal grooves and wrinkles or wrapped in off-white membranous scales, apex has remnants of stem scar, base has raised disc-like bulb. Hard texture, horn-like, hard to break, yellowish-white fractured surface. Slightly garlic-like odor, slightly spicy taste. Allium chinense G. Don: bulb is long oval shape, diameter is 1~1.5cm. Allium nerinifolium Baker: bulb is oval spherical, 1~2cm diameter. Allium caeruleum Pall: bulb is nearly spherical, 1~2cm diameter.
Traditional TCM Properties
Acrid, Bitter; WarmHeartLungStomachLarge Intestine
Traditional Functions
Frees yang, disperses binds, moves qi, guides stagnation. Apply to chest impediment and heart pain radiating to the back, chest and abdominal fullness, cough with excessive phlegm, abdominal pain, diarrhea tenesmus, leucorrhea, sore and boil swelling and pain.
How Xie Bai Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Xie Bai is classified among the Qi-regulating herbs. It appears in 2 classical formulas in our library.
Formulas containing Xie Bai are traditionally used for:
Chest TightnessBloatingStomach Discomfort
Classical Formulas Containing Xie Bai
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Xie Bai? Are Cong Bai, garlic and Gua Lou the same?
Official Xie Bai (薤白) is the dried bulb of Allium macrostemon or Allium chinense. The pharmacopoeial name is Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus. Cong Bai is acrid-warm: releases the exterior and frees yang; it is the scallion bulb near the root. Garlic is acrid-warm: resolves toxin, reduces swelling, kills parasites and stops dysentery. Gua Lou is sweet, slightly bitter and cold: clears heat, washes phlegm, eases the chest, disperses nodules, moistens dryness and slips the intestines. Write Xie Bai. Use caution in qi vacuity without stagnation.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Xie Bai?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Xie Bai is acrid, bitter and warm, enters the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels, and acts to unblock yang, disperse nodules, move qi and guide stagnation. It is used for chest bi with heart pain, epigastric fullness and distending pain, and dysentery with tenesmus. Acrid-bitter and warm, it suits unaroused chest yang and qi stagnation—not qi vacuity without stagnation, or internal heat from yin vacuity, used alone.
Does Xie Bai need special processing? Can Cong Bai replace it?
Dig in summer or autumn, remove the rootlets, steam through or scald in boiling water, and sun-dry. Scallion bulb releases the exterior and frees yang; it cannot replace unblocking yang, dispersing nodules, moving qi and guiding stagnation by equal weight. Fresh bulbs are not equal-weight dried pieces. Commercial onion-bulb tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Learn More About Xie Bai
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Xie Bai.
Read the Xie Bai 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.
