Angelica dahurica, Bai Zhi 白芷
Bai Zhi (TCM)
Botanical name:
Angelica dahurica, A. dahurica var. formosana
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
Classification:
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Damp, Promotes Sweat:
-exterior wind-cold with Headache and blocked or runny nose; Cold, Flu
-especially for Wind-Cold-Damp Face and Head pain: Toothache, Supra-orbital Pain, Sinus Pain
-also for dizziness and itching eyes
-“dry itch affecting the skin of one’s head and face”. (Yuan Su)
2. Clears Heat and Poison, Expels Pus:
-early stages of Sores, Boils and Carbuncles
-used for “Breast Obstruction Illness”, overlapping the modern diagnosis of Mastitis
-“It ends pain and removes Pus”. (Da Ming)
-Scrofula (Da Ming)
-“resolves the poison of Arsenic and harm caused by Snake venom”. (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Clears Damp:
-vaginal discharge from cold-damp
-especially useful when dry-fried
4. Stops Bleeding:
-carbonised root is used for spotting and excessive Menstrual bleeding
-“urination with blood”. (Li Shi Zhen)
5. Pain of Ulcers:
-used with Licorice
6. Externally:
-used in the preparation of cosmetics to clean the skin and beautify complexion
Dose:
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Comment:
1. Out of the three main types of Angelica used in TCM (Dang Gui, Du Huo and Bai Zhi), Angelica Bai Zhi is most similar in use to the Western Angelica. However, the western Angelica has been used similarly to all three Angelica of TCM at different times.
2. All are warm, dry, pungent medicines which open obstructions of Cold and Damp, and benefit Circulation. Bai Zhi and Du Huo are both very effective for promoting and cleansing the micro-circulation in the capillaries.
3. Bai Zhi is most used for exterior conditions, especially affecting the Head, Face and Sinus. It can beautify the skin by clearing the capillary circulation.
4. Du Huo clears the Channels and is used for Wind-Cold Joint and Muscle pain.
5. Dang Gui works more deeply and nourishes the Blood and Liver while helping to move the Blood.
Preparation:
1. Dry Fried to hinder its exterior-relieving effect, it is then primarily used for cold-damp vaginal discharge.
2. Carbonised or Charred, it has been used to stop menstrual Bleeding and spotting.
3. Sometimes soaked in vinegar, then baked until dry to open obstructions of the urinary passage.
Main Combinations:
1. As a general combination for Headache, Angelica Bai Zhi with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (Sichuan Lovage);
i. add Chrysanthemum Ju Hua for Wind-Heat Headache.
ii. add Schizonepeta Jing Jie for Wind-Cold type Headache
iii. add Saposhnikovia Fang Feng for Wind-type Headache
2. Heat-type Headache and supraorbital pain Angelica Bai Zhi with Scutellaria Huang Qin.
3. Stubborn Headache, Migraine:
i. Angelica Bai Zhi with Aconitum Wu Tuo (from Zhu Shi Ji Yan Yi Fang [Classification of Zhu’s experiential Prescriptions]).
ii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Asarum Xi Xin, Gypsum (Shi Gao), Myrrh (Mo Yao), Frankincense (Ru Xiang) (as in Bai Zhi Xi Xin Chui Bi San, from Zhong Fu Tang Gong Xuan Liang Fang (Public Selected Effective Prescriptions from Fortune-Planting Clinic]).
4. Toothache:
i. Angelica Bai Zhi (2 parts) with Cinnabar (1 part), form small Honey pills and repeatedly rub the teeth with it.
ii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Evodia Wu Zhu Yu, soak in water and use as a mouthwash (Yi Lin Ji Yao)
iii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Schionepeta Jing Jie, Pueraria Ge Gen, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Notopterygium Qiang Hao, Licorice (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
5. Wind-Cold-type Nasal Congestion
i. with Headache, Angelica Bai Zhi add Asarum Xi Xin.
ii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Schizonepeta Jing Jie
6. Wind-Cold diseases: Angelica Bai Zhi (30 grams), Licorice (15 grams), Ginger (3 slices), white stalk of Spring Onion (3 inch piece), Chinese Date (Da Zao) (1 piece), Fermented Soybeans (50). Boil in 2 bowls of water and drink, then sweat. Safe for all people including young and old, and pregnant woman.
7. Ulcerated Boils to discharge the pus, Angelica Bai Zhi with Platycodon Jie Geng.
8. Breast Abscess:
i. Angelica Bai Zhi with Fritillaria Bei Mu (6 grams each) powder and take with wine.
ii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) and Fritillaria Bei Mu.
iii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) and Trichosanthes fruit (Gua Lou)
9. To beautify the Skin:
i. Angelica Bai Zhi with Pearl, externally as a cream
ii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Soloman’s Seal (Yu Zhu) topically
iii. Angelica Bai Zhi with Notoginseng San Qi, Dang Gui, Pearl as a cream
10. Vaginal Discharge, Angelica Bai Zhi with Poria Fu Ling, Atractylodes Bai Zhu and Cuttlebone.
11. Difficult Birth, boil Angelica Bai Zhi (15 grams) in water and drink. (Jing Yan Fang)
12. Painful swollen legs, Angelica Bai Zhi with Mustard seed (equal parts), mix with Ginger juice and apply.
Major Formulas:
Cang Er Zi San
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
Da Qin Jiao Tang
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Shui)
Mu Xiang Liu Qi Yin
Qi Zheng San
Wu Ji San
Xin Yi San
Zhen Ren Huo Ming Yin
Cautions:
1. Deficient Heat (Heat from Yin deficiency)
2. Very drying, so not suitable for Yin or Blood deficiency.
Main Preparations used:
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