Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex
Aliases：Huang Bo、Chuan Huang Bai、Bo Mu、Huang Bo Luo
Huangbai (Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex), a Chinese medicinal, is the dried bark of Phellodendron chinense Schneid., a plant of the Rutaceae family (genus Phellodendron), commonly known as “Chuan Huangbai” (Sichuan Phellodendron Bark).
Efficacy & Actions
Clear heat and dry dampness, drain fire and resolve toxin, and reduce deficiency heat.
Indications
Damp‑heat diarrhea and dysentery, jaundice with dark urine, leukorrhea with genital pruritus, painful strangury due to heat, beriberi with flaccidity and weakness, bone‑steaming consumptive fever, night sweats, spermatorrhea, carbuncles and toxic swellings, eczema and damp sores.
Modern Pharmacology
Antibacterial: Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, etc. Anti‑inflammatory: Inhibits the production and release of inflammatory mediators. Antiviral: Inhibits influenza virus, hepatitis B virus, etc. Immunomodulatory: Regulates both cellular and humoral immunity. Antihypertensive: Phellodendrine exhibits a blood pressure‑lowering effect. Hypoglycemic: Berberine improves insulin resistance and serves as an adjunctive treatment for lowering blood glucose. Anti‑ulcer: Protects the gastric mucosa and promotes ulcer healing. Choleretic: Promotes bile secretion. Anti‑gout: Inhibits xanthine oxidase, reducing uric acid production.
Ingredients
1. Alkaloids: Berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, phellodendrine, magnoflorine, etc. Berberine is the main active component, with a content of approximately 1.4%–5.8%. 2. Others: Obaculactone, obacunone, β‑sitosterol, dictamnolide, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Internal use: 3–12 g in decoction. For clearing heat, drying dampness, and resolving toxin, the raw herb is preferred; for draining fire and reducing deficiency heat, salt‑processed Huangbai (Yan Huangbai) is preferred; for stopping bleeding, carbonized Huangbai (Huangbai Tan) is preferred. External use: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied as a paste, or decocted for washing the affected area. Precaution: Contraindicated in cases of spleen‑stomach deficiency cold.
Contraindications
Contraindicated populations: Contraindicated in cases of spleen‑stomach deficiency cold with poor appetite and loose stools. Special populations: Use with caution during pregnancy. Incompatibilities with Western medications: Should not be used concurrently with cardiac glycosides (may increase toxicity); should not be used together with sulfonamides (may easily form crystals); should not be used with alkaline drugs (may affect absorption); should not be used with atropine (may inhibit the antihypertensive effect of berberine). Dietary incompatibilities: Avoid spicy, greasy, raw, and cold foods; avoid pork.
Selected Formulas
1. For damp‑heat pouring downward with yellow, turbid, foul leukorrhea (Source: Fu Qingzhu’s Gynecology – “Yi Huang Tang”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Shanyao (Chinese yam), Qianshi (Euryale seed), Cheqianzi (Plantain seed). Usage: Decoct in water and take orally. 2. For damp‑heat pouring downward into the bladder with scanty, dark urine, heat and pain (Source: Medical Insights – “Bixie Fenqing Yin”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Bixie (Dioscorea hypoglauca), Fuling (Poria), Cheqianzi. Usage: Decoct in water and take orally. 3. For damp‑heat dysentery (Source: Treatise on Cold Damage – “Baitouweng Tang”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Baitouweng (Pulsatilla), Huanglian (Coptis), Qinpi (Ash bark). Usage: Decoct in water and take orally. 4. For jaundice due to damp‑heat stagnation (Source: Treatise on Cold Damage – “Zhizi Baipi Tang”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Zhizi (Gardenia). Usage: Decoct in water and take orally. 5. For beriberi with swelling and pain, and flaccidity syndrome (wei) due to damp‑heat pouring downward (Source: Medical Insights – “Sanmiao Wan”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Cangzhu (Atractylodes), Niuxi (Achyranthes). Usage: Decoct in water and take orally, or make into pills. 6. For flaccidity syndrome (wei) due to yin deficiency with blazing fire (Source: Danxi’s Experiential Therapy – “Huqian Wan”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Zhimu (Anemarrhena), Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia), Guijia (Turtle shell). Usage: Make into pills and take orally. 7. For yin deficiency with blazing fire, tidal fever, night sweats, low back soreness, and spermatorrhea (Source: Golden Mirror of Medicine – “Zhibai Dihuang Wan”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Zhimu, Shengdihuang (Raw Rehmannia), Shanyao (Chinese yam). Usage: Decoct in water and take orally, or make into pills. 8. For yin deficiency with blazing fire, bone‑steaming tidal fever (Source: Danxi’s Experiential Therapy – “Dabuyin Wan”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Shudihuang, Guijia (Turtle shell). Usage: Make into pills and take orally. 9. For heat‑toxin carbuncles and sores (Source: Waitai Miyao – “Huanglian Jiedu Tang”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Huangqin (Scutellaria), Huanglian, Zhizi. Usage: Decoct in water and take orally. 10. For carbuncles and sores (Source: Yongju Shenyan Mifang – “Erhuang San”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Dahuang (Rhubarb). Usage: Grind into powder, mix with vinegar, and apply topically. 11. For eczema with pruritus (Source: Qingnang Michuan – “Shihuang San”) Ingredients: Huangbai, Jingjie (Schizonepeta), Kushen (Sophora flavescens), Baixianpi (Dictamnus bark). Decoct in water and take orally. Alternatively, mix with equal parts of calcined gypsum (Duanshigao) in powder form, dust on or mix with oil to apply topically.
Daily Consumption
1. Chixiao Dou, Niuxi and Huangbai Tea Ingredients: Adzuki bean (Chixiaodou) 15 g, achyranthes root (Niuxi) 10 g, Phellodendron bark (Chuan Huangbai) 10 g. Preparation: Crush the ingredients into coarse powder, steep in boiling water, cover and let infuse for 20 minutes. Usage: Drink as tea frequently, one dose per day. Action: Clears heat and drains dampness, resolves toxin and reduces swelling. Indicated for erysipelas of the lower limbs with redness, swelling and pain due to damp‑heat pouring downward. 2. Biyuan Huangbai Tea (Chronic Rhinitis Tea) Ingredients: Longjing green tea 15 g, Phellodendron bark (Chuan Huangbai) 9 g. Preparation: Grind into fine powder, steep in boiling water, cover and let infuse for 15 minutes. Usage: Drink as tea, one dose per day. May also be blown directly into the nasal cavity, 2–3 times daily. Action: Clears heat and dries dampness, resolves toxin and unblocks the nasal passages. Indicated for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and suppurative otitis media. 3. Huangbai and Zhimu Wine Ingredients: Phellodendron bark (Huangbai) 40 g, anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu) 40 g, turtle shell (Guiban) 40 g, yellow wine (Huangjiu) 1 L. Preparation: Stir‑fry Huangbai until brown, stir‑fry Zhimu for 10 minutes, bake Guiban until crisp. Grind all three into coarse powder, wrap in gauze, and steep in yellow wine for 15 days. Remove the bag and retain the liquid. Usage: Take 10 ml once daily, after lunch. Action: Nourishes yin and descends fire. Indicated for yin deficiency with blazing fire, bone‑steaming consumptive fever, and weakness and pain of the feet and knees.
Medicinal Parts
bark
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture. For salt-processed Huangbai (Yan Huangbai), wine-processed Huangbai (Jiu Huangbai), and carbonized Huangbai (Huangbai Tan), keep in airtight containers and store in a cool, dry place.