White Atractylodes: Bai Zhu, 白朮

Bai Zhu (TCM)

Dark Atractylodes: Cang Zhu, 苍术

Cang Zhu (TCM)
Whole wild Atractylodes root (Chengdu Medicine Market, Adam, 2017)
Sliced White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) (Adam, 2016)

Botanical name:
Atractylodes spp.
A. macrocephalae (White); A. lancea, A. chinensis (Dark)

Parts used:
Root, rhizome

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, sweet

Uses:
WHITE ATRACTYLODES
1. Tonifies Spleen, increases Qi, Clears Damp:
-digestive weakness with poor appetite, indigestion, diarrhea and weakness

2. Dries Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, fluid retention, reduced urination associated with Spleen deficiency

3. Stabilises the Exterior, Stops Sweating:
-used for Sweating associated with deficiency

4. Calms the Fetus, Prevents Miscarriage:



DARK ATRACTYLODES:
1. Dries Damp, strengthens the Spleen:
-stronger to dry damp but weaker to Tonify than the White.

2. Clears Wind-Damp, Promotes Sweat:
-Chills, Fever, headache and body aches, nasal congestion

3. Dries Damp, Promotes Urine:
-used as the White

4. Benefit the Eyes:
-Poor vision, Night-blindness


DOSE:
Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes): 6–15 grams in Decoction; 1.5–4 grams in powder
Cang Zhu (Dark Atractylodes): 3–9 grams; 1–3 grams in Powder

Main Combinations:
WHITE ATRACTYLODES (Bai Zhu):
Spleen Deficiency
1. For Spleen and Qi deficiency with low appetite, fatigue, weakness, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
2. For Spleen and Stomach and Qi deficiency with Cold, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
3. Poor digestion, nausea, loose bowels from Spleen weakness with Damp, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with Orange or Tangerine peel.
4. Diarrhea due to Damp and Spleen weakness, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version

Phlegm, Damp
5. Edema, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
6. Thin phlegm in the Chest or Edema and water retention associated with Spleen weakness,  ... available in PRO version
7. Wind-Phlegm-type Dizziness, Vertigo and Headache, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version

Other
8. Spontaneous Sweating:
i. associated with deficiency, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
ii. with aversion to Wind, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
10. Restless Fetus:
i. associated with Heat, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
ii. due to marked Qi deficiency (fatigue, pale face, breathless), combine with ... available in PRO version
iii. associated with Kidney weakness (lower back pain, constant urination), combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
iv. from Blood deficiency, combine Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version
11. Senile Dementia, Atractylodes Bai Zhu with ... available in PRO version

DARK ATRACTYLODES (Cang Zhu):
1. Spleen deficiency with excess Damp:
i. Damp obstruction, Edema and Leukorrhea, the two Atractylodes are combined.
ii. with abdominal distention, poor appetite, nausea, Atractylodes Cang Zhu ... available in PRO version
2. Sudden-onset Diarrhea in Summer or after eating too much, Atractylodes Cang Zhu ... available in PRO version
3. Heat and Damp in the lower body with pain, swelling and redness of the lower body or skin lesions associated with Wind, Heat and Damp, combine Atractylodes Cang Zhu with ... available in PRO version
4. Damp diseases with excess Sweating, Atractylodes Cang Zhu with ... available in PRO version
5. External Wind-Cold-Damp, combine Atractylodes Cang Zhu with ... available in PRO version
6. Distention and pain of the chest, epigastrium or abdomen due to Damp and Qi obstruction ... available in PRO version
7. Cataracts, Night blindness, combine Atractylodes Cang Zhu with ... available in PRO version

Major Formulas:
BAI ZHU:
Ba Zhen Tang
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Zhen Wu Tang
Dang Gui Shao Yan San
Yu Ping Feng San
Bai Zhu Shao Yao San
Xiao Yao San
Dan Zhi Xiao Yan San
Li Zhong Wan
Po Chai Pill

CANG ZHU:
Ping Wei San

Cautions:
1. As they are very drying, they are not suitable for dry and Yin deficient conditions.
2. Dark Atractylodes (Cang Zhu) is not used in cases of profuse sweating.

Main Preparations used:

Research:
(Last updated 9/2018)
BAI ZHU
1. IMMUNOSTIMULANT/ IMMUNOREGULATORY:
–Polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (PAMK) Relieves Immunosuppression in Cyclophosphamide-Treated Geese by Maintaining a Humoral and Cellular Immune Balance.

2. ANTI-VIRAL:
–Antiviral activities of atractylon from Atractylodis Rhizoma.

3. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Inflammatory Inhibitory Activity of Sesquiterpenoids from Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizomes.

4. ANTI-OXIDANT:
–Anti-oxidant activity with inhibition of osteoclastogenesis by Atractylodes Rhizoma extract.

5. PREVENTS OBESITY (in mice)
–The Root of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi Prevents Obesity and Glucose Intolerance and Increases Energy Metabolism in Mice.

6. INCREASES ENERGY METABOLISM (in mice)
–The Root of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi Prevents Obesity and Glucose Intolerance and Increases Energy Metabolism in Mice.

7. NEUROPROTECTIVE (Components):
–Two new compounds from Atractylodes macrocephala with neuroprotective activity.

8. ANTI-TUMOR:
–Structural characterization and anti-tumor effects of an inulin-type fructan from Atractylodes chinensis.
9. ANTI-CANCER:
OVARIAN:
–(component): Anti-Tumor Effects of Atractylenolide-I on Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.
LEUKEMIA:
–(component): Induction of apoptosis and differentiation by atractylenolide-1 isolated from Atractylodes macrocephala in human leukemia cells.

10. COLITIS:
–Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction and Anti-inflammatory Actions of Atractylodes macrocephala and Taraxacum herba Extracts Prevented Colitis and Was More Effective than Sulfasalazine in Preventing Relapse

11. GASTRO-PROTECTIVE:
–[Effect of Rhizoma Atractylodis extract in protecting gastric mucosa and modulating gastrointestinal immune function in a rat model of spleen deficiency].

12. PROMOTES GASTRIC FLORA:
–[Effect of Rhizoma Atractylodis extract in protecting gastric mucosa and modulating gastrointestinal immune function in a rat model of spleen deficiency].

13. HEPATOPROTECTIVE:
–Protective effect of a polysaccharide from Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae on acute liver injury in mice.


CANG ZHU
1. HEPATOPROTECTIVE:
–Six new compounds from Atractylodes lancea and their hepatoprotective activities.