Roots and rhizomesPhlegm-resolvingBulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii

Zhe Bei Mu (Thunberg Fritillaria Bulb)

浙貝母 · Zhe Bei Mu

Phlegm-resolving herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Clears heat, transforms phlegm, disperses bind, resolves toxin.

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Quick Facts

Latin Name	Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii
Chinese Name & Pinyin	浙貝母 · Zhe Bei Mu
Medicinal Part	Roots and rhizomes
Efficacy Category	Phlegm-resolving
Botanical Origin	The dried bulb of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.(Liliaceae)
Nature & Flavour	Bitter; Cold
Channels Entered	Lung, Heart

What Is Zhe Bei Mu?

Zhe Bei Mu (Thunberg Fritillaria Bulb) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan.

Nature & Flavour: Bitter; Cold
Channels Entered: Lung, Heart

Zhe Bei Mu: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii

Botanical Origin

The dried bulb of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.(Liliaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has fat and thick scale leaves, white and powdery externally and fractured surfaces.

Macroscopic Features

Yuan bao bei is the single outer layer scale leaf. One side is raised up, one side is indented, similar to a gold or silver ingot called a ‘yuan bao’, length is about 1.7~4cm, 7~17mm thick. Externally white or pale yellow, covered with white powder, hard and brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface is uneven, white or pale yellow, powdery. faint odor, bitter taste. Zhu bei: intact bulb, fat spherical shape, 1~1.7cm tall, 2~3.5cm diameter. Externally white, outer layer has 2 scale leaves, fat and thick, slightly similar to kidney-shape, center has 2~3 shrunken small scales and stem remnants, inner surface is pale yellowish-white. Same texture, odor and taste as yuan bao bei.

Traditional TCM Properties

Bitter; ColdLungHeart

Traditional Functions

Clears heat, transforms phlegm, disperses bind, resolves toxin. Apply to wind-heat cough, lung abscess and throat impediment, scrofula, swelling and pain of sore and ulcer.

How Zhe Bei Mu Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Zhe Bei Mu is classified among the Phlegm-resolving herbs. It appears in 1 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Zhe Bei Mu are traditionally used for:

Dry Cough Dry Mouth & Throat Sore Throat

Classical Formulas Containing Zhe Bei Mu

Sang Xing Tang

桑杏湯Assistant

Formula CategoryExterior-Releasing FormulasPrimary PatternWind-HeatPrimary FunctionDisperse warm-dryness, moisten Lungs, stop coughRelated ConditionsDry Cough·Dry Mouth & Throat·Sore Throat

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Herbs Commonly Combined with Zhe Bei Mu

Sang Ye Xing Ren Sha Shen Dan Dou Chi Zhi Zi Pi Li Pi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zhe Bei Mu? Are Chuan Bei Mu, Tu Bei Mu and Zhu Bei the same?

Official Zhe Bei Mu (浙贝母) is the dried bulb of Fritillaria thunbergii, mainly from Zhejiang. The pharmacopoeial name is Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus. Large outer scales are Da Bei; intact small bulbs are Zhu Bei; fresh thick slices are Zhe Bei Pian. Chuan Bei Mu is bitter-sweet and slightly cold: moistens the Lung, transforms phlegm and stops cough—chronic dry vacuity cough, and is far costlier. Tu Bei Mu is a cucurbit, resolving toxin and dissipating binds—not a Fritillaria. Write Zhe Bei Mu; do not treat every “Bei Mu” as Chuan Bei. Do not combine with aconite / Wu Tou.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Zhe Bei Mu?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Zhe Bei Mu is bitter and cold, enters the Lung and Heart channels, and acts to clear heat, transform phlegm and stop cough, and resolve toxin, dissipate binds and disperse welling-abscess. It is used for wind-heat cough, phlegm-fire cough, Lung abscess, breast abscess, scrofula and sores. Bitter-cold and draining, it suits phlegm-heat, wind-heat and phlegm-fire lumps—not cold phlegm, damp phlegm, Spleen-Stomach deficient cold, or treating vacuity-dryness cough as if it were Chuan Bei Mu.

How do you choose Da Bei, Zhu Bei and sliced Zhe Bei? Can it be powdered?

Actions are of the same type; choose powdery white, slightly bitter stock. Decoction uses thick slices or crushed pieces; dissipating binds may use powder in pills. Do not substitute Chuan Bei powder for Zhe Bei, or Tu Bei Mu for clearing heat and transforming phlegm.

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Nong's Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulb) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $71.58

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Learn More About Zhe Bei Mu

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Zhe Bei Mu.

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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.