Stir-fried (bran-fried) Largehead Atractylodes Rhizome
Aliases：Bran‑stir‑fried Baizhu, Earth‑stir‑fried Baizhu
Chao Baizhu (Stir‑fried Atractylodes Rhizome) is a processed form of Chinese medicinal herb. It is produced from the dried rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (family Asteraceae) through cleaning, slicing, and stir‑frying with auxiliary materials. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. Depending on the auxiliary material used, it is divided into two types: Bran‑stir‑fried Baizhu (Fu Chao Baizhu): Its main actions are strengthening the spleen, promoting digestion, and harmonizing the stomach. It is indicated for poor appetite, abdominal distension and fullness, fatigue, and weakness caused by spleen‑stomach disharmony and impaired transportation and transformation. Soil‑stir‑fried Baizhu (Tu Chao Baizhu): Its main action is supplementing the spleen and stopping diarrhea. It is indicated for poor appetite due to spleen deficiency, as well as diarrhea and loose stools.
Efficacy & Actions
Core actions: Tonify Qi and fortify the Spleen; dry Dampness and promote diuresis; stop sweating; calm the fetus.
Indications
Bran‑stir‑fried Baizhu: Fortifies the Spleen, promotes digestion, and harmonizes the Stomach. Indicated for poor appetite, abdominal distension, fatigue, and other symptoms caused by Spleen‑Stomach disharmony and impaired transportation and transformation. Earth‑stir‑fried Baizhu: Supplements the Spleen and stops diarrhea. Indicated for poor appetite due to Spleen deficiency, diarrhea, loose stools, and other symptoms.
Modern Pharmacology
Regulating gastrointestinal function: Promotes gastrointestinal motility, treats functional constipation; alleviates symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Immunomodulatory: Enhances immune function. Other effects: Exhibits antibacterial, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antitumor, antiplatelet aggregation, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects, among others.
Ingredients
Main types: Lactones, volatile oils, etc. Representative components: Atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, atractylone, biatractylolide, etc. Others: Also contain inulin, fructose, resin, vitamin A, and various amino acids, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Decoction: Usual dosage 6–12 g; or prepared as an extract (ointment), or used in pills or powders.
Contraindications
Use with caution in: Cases of Yin deficiency with internal heat or fluid consumption/damage. Stir‑fried Baizhu is warm in nature and bitter in taste, which can dry Dampness but may also consume fluids and damage Yin. Contraindicated in: Cases of Qi stagnation with abdominal distension. The sweet and warm nature of this herb may cause stagnation and aggravate Qi blockage. Special populations: In pregnancy, if fetal irritability (threatened miscarriage) is due to Heat pattern, this herb should not be used alone in large doses. Hypoglycemic patients: This product has a blood glucose‑lowering effect. Patients with hypoglycemia should not take it alone in large doses or for a prolonged period. Dietary incompatibilities: During the course of medication, avoid raw, cold, and greasy foods. Also avoid consuming together with peach, plum, sparrow meat, coriander, garlic, and black carp. Drug interactions: Should not be used concurrently with various Western medications, such as antibacterial drugs, hypoglycemic agents, mercurials, arsenicals, etc. Avoid overdose: This product may cause allergic reactions, as well as gastrointestinal and nervous system adverse effects. Overdose should be avoided.
Selected Formulas
Qiwei Baizhu San (Seven-Ingredient Atractylodes Powder) – from Key to Therapeutics of Children’s Diseases (Xiao’er Yaozheng Zhijue) Tongxie Yaofang (Important Formula for Painful Diarrhea) – from The Complete Works of Zhang Jingyue (Jingyue Quanshu) Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction for Supplementing the Middle and Benefiting Qi) – from Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach (Piwei Lun) Shiquan Dabu Tang (All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction) – a dietary therapy formula
Daily Consumption
1. Shiquan Dabu Tang (All‑Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction) Ingredients: 1 turtle (approx. 500 g), 10 g Dangshen (Codonopsis root), 10 g honey‑fried Huangqi (Astragalus root), 10 g stir‑fried Baizhu (Atractylodes rhizome), 10 g wine‑processed Baishao (white peony root), 10 g Fuling (Poria), 3 g Rougui (cinnamon bark, rough outer skin removed), 15 g raw Shengdihuang (Rehmannia root), 15 g Danggui (Angelica root), 6 g Chuanxiong (Szechwan lovage), 6 g honey‑fried Gancao (licorice root), 5 red dates (dazao), and an appropriate amount of fresh ginger. Preparation: Grind Dangshen, honey‑fried Huangqi, stir‑fried Baizhu, wine‑processed Baishao, Fuling, Rougui, raw Shengdihuang, Danggui, Chuanxiong, and honey‑fried Gancao into a fine powder. Wrap 10 g of the powder in a gauze bag and tie it securely. Place the turtle in a basin, pour in hot water to encourage it to empty its bladder and bowels, then wash it thoroughly. Remove the head and feet, and discard the internal organs. Put the cleaned turtle together with the herb bag, ginger, and red dates into a clay pot, and add an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the turtle meat is fully cooked. Remove the herb bag before serving. Action: Supplement qi and enrich blood. 2. Babao Jitang (Eight‑Treasure Chicken Soup) Ingredients: 10 g each of Dangshen, Fuling, stir‑fried Baizhu, and Baishao (white peony root); 6 g honey‑fried Gancao; 15 g each of prepared Shudihuang (Rehmannia root) and Danggui; 7 g Chuanxiong; 1 plump prepared hen (about 1000 g); 500 g each of pork and pork bones; an appropriate amount of scallion sections and ginger slices. Preparation: Place the eight herbs (Dangshen, Fuling, stir‑fried Baizhu, Baishao, Gancao, Shudihuang, Danggui, Chuanxiong) into a gauze bag and tie the opening tightly. Cut the pork into large chunks and break the pork bones into pieces. Put the pork, chicken, herb bag, pork bones, scallion sections, and ginger slices into a pot. Add 3000 mL of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 90 minutes. Action: Regulate and tonify both qi and blood.
Medicinal Parts
dried rhizome
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, well‑ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.