Herb Bulb (鳞茎 lín jīng)

Cong Bai

Scallion bulb (green onion white) · 葱白

Allium fistulosum L. · Bulbus Allii Fistulosi

Also known as: Chinese green onion, Spring onion white, Welsh onion bulb,

Cong Bai (Scallion bulb (green onion white)) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Cong Bai is the white bulb of the common scallion or green onion, used in Chinese medicine for over two thousand years. It gently promotes sweating to relieve mild colds, warms the body to dispel chills and abdominal pain, and can be applied externally to sores and abscesses. As a familiar kitchen ingredient with a mild action profile, it is one of the most accessible herbs for home use.

Category Warm, acrid herbs that release the Exterior (辛温解表药)
Therapeutic focus Cold and Flu Relief Digestive Health Urinary Health Immune Support

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels entered

Lungs, Stomach

Parts used

Bulb (鳞茎 lín jīng)

Available in our store
View in Store
From $24.00

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Cong Bai does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Cong Bai is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Cold and Flu Relief Digestive Health Urinary Health Immune Support

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Cong Bai performs to restore balance in the body:

Induces Sweating and Releases the Exterior Disperses Cold Warms and Unblocks Yang Reduces Swelling and Resolves Toxicity Promotes Urination

How these actions work

'Releases the exterior and induces sweating' means Cong Bai helps the body produce a mild sweat to push out Wind-Cold pathogens in the early stages of a common cold. Its sweating action is relatively gentle compared to stronger exterior-releasing herbs like Ma Huang or Gui Zhi, making it well suited for mild colds with slight chills, headache, and stuffy nose. It is often simply boiled in water with fresh ginger or fermented soybean (Dan Dou Chi) as a household remedy.

'Disperses Cold and unblocks Yang Qi' (散寒通阳 sàn hán tōng yáng) is arguably Cong Bai's most distinctive action. Because its hollow structure and pungent warmth can 'penetrate through' blockages, it is used in serious conditions where extreme internal Cold has blocked the normal circulation of Yang. In the classical formula Bai Tong Tang, Cong Bai is combined with Fu Zi and Gan Jiang specifically to restore the upward and downward flow of Yang Qi in critically ill patients with icy limbs and diarrhea. Applied externally to the navel area, heated Cong Bai can also help relieve Cold-type abdominal pain and urinary retention caused by Cold stagnation obstructing the Bladder's function.

'Resolves toxicity and disperses clumps' refers to Cong Bai's external use as a poultice. Mashed with honey, it can be applied to boils, abscesses, and early-stage breast lumps (mastitis) to reduce swelling and draw out toxins. It also has a traditional role in helping unblock breast milk flow when ducts are obstructed.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Cong Bai is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Cong Bai addresses this pattern

Cong Bai is acrid and warm, entering the Lung channel, which makes it naturally suited to disperse Wind-Cold from the body's surface. Its acrid taste opens the pores and promotes mild sweating to expel the pathogen, while its warm nature counters the Cold. Because its diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) power is gentle rather than forceful, it is best for mild or early-stage Wind-Cold invasions rather than severe cases.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Common Cold

Mild chills and low-grade fever

Nasal Congestion

Stuffy or runny nose with clear discharge

Headaches

Headache from Wind-Cold

Body Aches

Mild body aches without sweating

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Cong Bai is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Wind-Cold

TCM Interpretation

TCM views the common cold caused by Wind-Cold as an invasion of external pathogenic factors that lodge at the body's surface, obstructing the Lung's ability to regulate the skin and breathing passages. The Lung governs the body's exterior defensive layer (Wei Qi), and when Cold overwhelms this defence, it produces chills, headache, body aches, clear nasal discharge, and an absence of sweating because the pores are clamped shut by Cold.

Why Cong Bai Helps

Cong Bai enters the Lung channel with its acrid, warm nature and gently opens the pores to promote mild sweating, which expels the Wind-Cold pathogen from the surface. Its action is mild enough for early or light colds, and it is often combined with Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) and Dan Dou Chi (fermented soybean) in the classical formula Cong Chi Tang to enhance its exterior-releasing effect. As a familiar kitchen ingredient, it is easily accessible for home preparation at the first signs of a cold.

Also commonly used for

Nasal Congestion

From Wind-Cold, including chronic rhinitis aggravated by cold

Headaches

Wind-Cold headache

Diarrhea

From internal Cold or Yang collapse

Urinary Retention

From Cold obstructing Bladder Qi

Mastitis

Early-stage with milk stasis, external application

Boils

External poultice with honey

Dysentery

Cold-type dysenteric disorders

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels Entered

Lungs Stomach

Parts Used

Bulb (鳞茎 lín jīng)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Cong Bai — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

3-15g (fresh)

Maximum dosage

Up to 30g of fresh herb for acute conditions, such as in rice congee preparations for Wind-Cold. No serious toxicity risk at food-level doses.

Dosage notes

For mild Wind-Cold symptoms, 3-9g in decoction or 2-5 fresh stalks are sufficient. For severe Yang collapse patterns (as in Bai Tong Tang), up to 4 stalks (approximately 15-20g) may be used. When used in rice congee for common colds, 15-30g of fresh herb is typical. Cong Bai must always be used fresh for full medicinal effect. Dosage is often described in number of stalks rather than by weight: light use is 2-3 stalks, heavier use is up to 5 stalks. When the root hairs (须) are included, the herb is said to have broader action in penetrating the channels.

Preparation

Cong Bai should be added near the end of the decoction (后下, hou xia), as prolonged boiling destroys its volatile aromatic oils, which are essential to its dispersing and exterior-releasing actions. A brief decoction of 5-10 minutes is sufficient. For external use, it is mashed or pounded fresh and applied as a poultice, sometimes warmed by stir-frying and wrapped in cloth for application over the navel or lower abdomen.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Cong Bai for enhanced therapeutic effect

Dan Dou Chi
Dan Dou Chi Cong Bai 3-7 stalks : Dan Dou Chi 10-30g

Together they form the classical pair in Cong Chi Tang. Cong Bai's acrid warmth opens the pores and promotes sweating, while Dan Dou Chi's mild dispersing action helps push pathogens out from the surface. The combination creates a gentle but effective exterior-releasing effect that is neither too hot nor too forceful.

When to use: Early-stage or mild Wind-Cold common cold with slight chills, headache, nasal congestion, and absence of sweating. This is the classic household remedy pairing.

Sheng Jiang
Sheng Jiang 1:1 (e.g. Cong Bai 9g : Sheng Jiang 9g)

Both are warm, acrid kitchen herbs that release the exterior and dispel Cold. Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) adds stronger stomach-warming and anti-nausea action, while Cong Bai contributes its Yang-unblocking property. Together they synergistically enhance sweating and Cold dispersal.

When to use: Wind-Cold colds with concurrent nausea, poor appetite, or stomach discomfort. Also a common folk remedy combination cooked into congee or tea.

Lai Fu Zi
Lai Fu Zi Cong Bai 4 stalks : Fu Zi 1 piece (as in Bai Tong Tang)

Fu Zi (prepared aconite) powerfully rescues collapsed Yang and warms the interior, while Cong Bai's penetrating acrid nature unblocks the pathways so that Fu Zi's warming power can circulate through the body. Cong Bai acts as a 'guide' that restores the upward-downward communication of Yang Qi, which Fu Zi then sustains.

When to use: Critical Yang collapse with Yin excess repelling Yang (阴盛格阳): icy extremities, watery diarrhea, faint pulse, paradoxical facial flushing. This is the core pairing in Bai Tong Tang.

Ge Gen
Ge Gen 1:1 (e.g. Cong Bai 9g : Ge Gen 9g)

Ge Gen (kudzu root) releases the muscles and generates fluids, while Cong Bai releases the exterior. Together they address exterior Cold with underlying Blood or Yin deficiency, as Ge Gen helps nourish fluids while dispersing pathogens.

When to use: Blood-deficient patients who catch a cold, especially after illness or blood loss. This pairing appears in Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Cong Bai in a prominent role

Cong Chi Tang 葱豉湯 King

The quintessential formula showcasing Cong Bai's exterior-releasing action. With just Cong Bai and Dan Dou Chi, this minimal formula from the Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang (Emergency Formulas) demonstrates Cong Bai's core ability to gently disperse Wind-Cold. It is the most widely known formula associated with this herb.

Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin 葱白七味饮 Deputy

From the Wai Tai Mi Yao (External Platform of Medical Secrets), this formula treats Blood-deficient patients who catch Wind-Cold after illness or blood loss. Cong Bai provides the exterior-releasing component while Blood-nourishing herbs (Di Huang, Mai Dong) protect the depleted Yin and Blood. It highlights Cong Bai's suitability for gentle exterior release.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Xie Bai
Cong Bai vs Xie Bai

Both are Allium family herbs that are warm and acrid. However, Cong Bai releases the exterior with a mild diaphoretic action and enters the Lung and Stomach channels, making it suited for Wind-Cold colds and Yang-blocking conditions. Xie Bai enters the Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine channels and specialises in unblocking Yang in the chest (treating chest pain and tightness from Phlegm-Cold obstructing the Heart Yang). Xie Bai lacks Cong Bai's exterior-releasing function.

Sheng Jiang
Cong Bai vs Sheng Jiang

Both are warm, acrid kitchen herbs that release Wind-Cold and are used in early-stage colds. Sheng Jiang is stronger at warming the Stomach, stopping vomiting, and transforming Phlegm in the Lungs. Cong Bai is more specifically suited for unblocking Yang Qi in collapsed-Yang emergencies and for external application to abscesses and urinary retention. In mild colds, they are often used together.

Jing Jie
Cong Bai vs Jing Jie

Both release the exterior for Wind-Cold patterns. Jing Jie is significantly stronger at expelling Wind and is also used for Wind-Heat and skin conditions (rashes, itching), while Cong Bai is milder and best for very early or light colds. Jing Jie lacks Cong Bai's unique Yang-unblocking action.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Cong Bai

As a common, inexpensive, and readily available culinary vegetable, Cong Bai is rarely subject to adulteration or substitution. However, clinically it is important to distinguish between different parts of the scallion plant, as they have different actions: the white bulb portion (葱白, Cong Bai) is used to release the exterior and free Yang Qi, while the green leaf portion (葱叶, Cong Ye) has a different focus on reaching the head and eyes and clearing the Liver. Additionally, the closely related Xie Bai (薤白, Allium macrostemon), which has somewhat similar appearance, is a distinct medicinal substance with very different indications (primarily for chest pain and phlegm obstruction in the chest). The two should not be confused.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Cong Bai

Non-toxic

Cong Bai is classified as non-toxic in both classical texts and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. As a widely consumed food ingredient, it has an excellent safety profile at standard dosages. No toxic components have been identified at normal culinary or medicinal doses. Excessive consumption of raw scallion in large quantities may cause gastric irritation or a drying effect due to its pungent, dispersing nature, but this does not constitute true toxicity.

Contraindications

Situations where Cong Bai should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating (表虚多汗). Because Cong Bai promotes sweating, it should not be used when the body surface is already weak and sweating excessively, as this would further deplete the body's protective Qi.

Caution

Yin deficiency with internal Heat. The warm, pungent, dispersing nature of Cong Bai can further injure Yin fluids and worsen Heat signs in people with underlying Yin deficiency.

Caution

Wind-Heat or warm-febrile disease patterns. Cong Bai is specifically indicated for Wind-Cold; using it in Wind-Heat conditions where the patient has fever, sore throat, and yellow phlegm would be inappropriate as it is a warming herb.

Caution

Should not be taken internally together with honey (蜂蜜, Feng Mi). This is a traditional dietary incompatibility noted in multiple classical sources.

Avoid

Known allergy to Allium species (onion family). Individuals with confirmed allergy to scallions, onions, or related plants should avoid use.

Classical Incompatibilities

Traditional Chinese pharmacological incompatibilities — herbs or substances to avoid combining with Cong Bai

Cong Bai does not appear on the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) or Nineteen Mutual Fears (十九畏) lists. However, multiple traditional sources note that Cong Bai should not be taken internally together with honey (蜂蜜, Feng Mi).

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Generally considered safe at standard culinary and medicinal doses during pregnancy. Classical texts including the Ming Yi Bie Lu (《名医别录》) actually note that Cong Bai can "calm the fetus" (安胎), and the Ben Cao Gang Mu records its use for pregnancy-related urinary bleeding. However, because it is a warm, dispersing herb that promotes sweating, excessive dosage should be avoided during pregnancy. Standard food-level intake poses no known risk.

Breastfeeding

Generally considered safe during breastfeeding. Classical sources and the Ben Cao Gang Mu specifically note that Cong Bai can "promote breast milk flow" (通奶汁) and "disperse breast abscesses" (散乳痈). It has been traditionally used to help with lactation difficulties and early-stage mastitis. There are no known concerns about transfer through breast milk at standard doses, as scallion is a common food ingredient.

Children

Cong Bai has a long history of pediatric use in TCM and is considered very safe for children at appropriate doses. Classical texts record its use for newborn urinary retention (combined with breast milk), pediatric constipation, and childhood digestive complaints. For infants and small children, external application (mashed and warmed over the navel area) is a common and gentle approach for abdominal cold-pain, bloating, and urinary difficulty. For internal use, dosage should be reduced proportionally (typically 1-3 stalks for young children). Its mild nature and food-grade safety make it one of the gentlest exterior-releasing herbs suitable for pediatric use.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Cong Bai

No well-documented serious drug interactions have been established for Cong Bai at standard medicinal doses. As a member of the Allium genus, it contains organosulfur compounds (including allicin) that theoretically share some properties with garlic. Based on this:

  • Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: Allium species have mild blood-thinning and antiplatelet properties. While the amounts used medicinally are small, concurrent use with warfarin, aspirin, or other anticoagulants may theoretically have an additive effect. Clinical significance at standard Cong Bai doses is likely minimal.
  • Hypoglycemic agents: Some preclinical research on Allium fistulosum suggests mild blood-sugar-lowering effects. Patients on diabetes medication should monitor blood glucose if consuming large medicinal quantities.

Overall, due to its widespread use as a food and its mild medicinal potency, clinically significant drug interactions are unlikely at normal doses.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Cong Bai

When taking Cong Bai to treat Wind-Cold conditions, avoid cold and raw foods (ice cream, cold salads, chilled drinks) as these counteract its warming, dispersing action. Warm foods and drinks support its therapeutic effect. After taking a Cong Bai decoction for sweating, avoid exposure to wind and cold drafts. Traditionally, Cong Bai should not be consumed together with honey internally. During the treatment of exterior conditions, it is generally advised to avoid greasy, heavy foods and alcohol.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Cong Bai source plant

Allium fistulosum L. is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Allium (onion) family that can grow up to 50 cm tall. It typically grows in clusters, with the entire plant having a characteristic pungent onion-like aroma. The roots are fibrous and white, arising from a cylindrical bulb (scallion white) that is slightly swollen at the tip, composed of layered white fleshy scales with visible longitudinal striations. The leaves are hollow, tubular, and green, arising from the top of the white bulb. Small white to pale purple flowers appear in round umbel clusters atop a hollow scape, blooming from July to September with fruits ripening from August to October.

The medicinal part, Cong Bai (葱白), is specifically the white bulb portion near the root. The plant thrives in fertile, well-drained soil and is widely cultivated as both a culinary vegetable and medicinal herb across East Asia. It does not form a true large bulb like the common onion (Allium cepa), instead developing thickened, elongated leaf bases.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Cong Bai is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Available year-round; can be harvested in any season as needed. Fresh use is standard.

Primary growing regions

Cong Bai is cultivated throughout all regions of China and does not have a single dominant terroir (道地药材) region, unlike many other Chinese herbs. It is native to China and widely grown across East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and parts of Russia. Shandong province is particularly well-known for its large-variety green onions (Zhangqiu scallions), though for medicinal purposes the finer, more delicate variety (known as 绵葱 mian cong, "silky scallion") is traditionally preferred over the coarser types.

Quality indicators

Good quality Cong Bai should be freshly harvested with firm, plump, white bulbs that are juicy when cut. The outer membrane should be intact, clean, and pale white. It should have a strong, characteristic pungent onion aroma and a sharp, spicy taste. The classical preference is for the fine, delicate variety (绵葱, mian cong) rather than the coarser, thicker-stalked types, as the finer variety is considered to have a cleaner, more penetrating medicinal quality. Avoid wilted, dried-out, yellowed, or slimy specimens. For medicinal use, it should always be used fresh rather than dried.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Cong Bai and its therapeutic uses

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》, Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica)

Original: 主伤寒寒热，出汗中风，面目肿。

Translation: It mainly treats cold-damage with chills and fever, induces sweating in wind-strike, and [treats] swelling of the face and eyes.

Ming Yi Bie Lu (《名医别录》, Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians)

Original: 治伤寒骨肉痛，喉痹不通，安胎。

Translation: It treats cold-damage with aching bones and flesh, throat obstruction and blockage, and calms the fetus.

Yong Yao Xin Fa (《用药心法》, Essential Methods of Drug Use) by Zhang Yuansu

Original: 通阳气，发散风邪。

Translation: It opens and frees the Yang Qi, and disperses Wind pathogens.

Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》, Compendium of Materia Medica) by Li Shizhen

Original: 葱，所治之症，多属太阴、阳明，皆取其发散通气之功。通气故能解毒及理血病。气者，血之帅也，气通则血活矣。

Translation: The conditions that scallion treats mostly belong to Tai Yin and Yang Ming [Lung and Stomach channels], all relying on its ability to disperse and move Qi. Because it moves Qi, it can also resolve toxins and regulate Blood disorders. Qi is the commander of Blood; when Qi moves freely, Blood circulates well.

Ben Cao Jing Shu (《本草经疏》)

Original: 葱，辛能发散，能解肌，能通上下阳气。故外来怫郁诸证，悉皆主之。

Translation: Scallion, being pungent, can disperse, release the muscle layer, and free Yang Qi above and below. Therefore, it governs all patterns of constraint caused by external pathogens.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Cong Bai's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Cong Bai first appeared in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica), dating to approximately 100 BCE, making it one of the earliest documented medicinal substances in Chinese medicine. The common scallion has long occupied a unique position as both everyday food and medicine, embodying the TCM concept of 药食同源 (medicine and food share a common origin).

The Jin-Yuan dynasty physician Zhang Yuansu (张元素) famously stated that "the white stalk of the scallion specializes in dispersal, to free the Yang Qi above and below." He noted its critical role in Zhang Zhongjing's Shang Han Lun formulas, particularly Bai Tong Tang (White Penetrating Decoction), where Cong Bai works alongside Fuzi (aconite) and Gan Jiang (dried ginger) to rescue collapsing Yang in severe cold conditions. Li Shizhen in the Ben Cao Gang Mu elaborated that its actions relate primarily to the Lung (Tai Yin) and Stomach (Yang Ming) channels, and articulated an important principle: "Qi is the commander of Blood; when Qi flows, Blood becomes active." The late-Qing scholar Zhang Shouyi (张寿颐) provided practical guidance, recommending the fine, delicate variety (绵葱) as medicinally superior and noting that 2 to 5 stalks is the typical dosage range, with the inclusion of the root hairs (须) broadening its ability to "penetrate all the vessels."

Modern Research

3 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Cong Bai

1

Phytochemical Analysis and In Vitro Effects of Allium fistulosum L. and Allium sativum L. Extracts on Human Normal and Tumor Cell Lines: A Comparative Study (In vitro study, 2021)

Tigu AB, Moldovan CS, Toma VA, et al. Molecules. 2021; 26(3): 574.

This laboratory study compared the chemical profiles and cell-inhibiting effects of Welsh onion (A. fistulosum) and garlic (A. sativum) extracts. Welsh onion extracts contained allicin, alliin, and multiple phenolic compounds, and showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects on several human cancer cell lines (colorectal, breast, and lung squamous cell carcinoma) in vitro.

PubMed
2

Ethanol Extract of Allium fistulosum Inhibits Development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Preclinical study, 2018)

Son MJ, et al. J Med Food. 2018; 21(4): 388-395.

In a mouse model fed a Western-style high-fat, high-sugar diet, supplementation with 1% ethanol extract of A. fistulosum significantly reduced body weight gain and attenuated hepatic fat accumulation. The extract inhibited the expression of genes involved in fat production in liver cells, suggesting potential use in preventing fatty liver disease.

PubMed
3

Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Aspects of Allium fistulosum L.: A Narrative Review (Review, 2023)

Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2023.

This comprehensive review documented the traditional uses, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological activities of A. fistulosum. Key bioactive constituents include fistuloimidates, onionins, flavonoids, and fistulosaponins. The review summarized evidence for anti-obesity, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities from animal and cellular studies, though clinical trials remain limited.

Link

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.