Herb

Bai Ji

Bletilla rhizome | 白及

Also known as:

Chinese ground orchid , Hyacinth orchid

Bai Ji

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Properties

Hemostatic herbs (止血药) · Slightly Cool

Traditionally supports*

Bleeding Disorders Digestive Health Skin and Wound Care Respiratory Health

Parts Used

Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

Bái Jí (Bletilla tuber) is a well-known wound-healing and blood-stopping herb from the orchid family. It is commonly used for bleeding from the lungs or stomach, digestive ulcers, and externally for cuts, burns, cracked skin, and sores that are slow to heal. Its sticky, mucilage-rich texture gives it a unique ability to physically seal wounds and promote tissue repair.

Herb Category

Hemostatic herbs (止血药) Astringent herbs that stop bleeding (收敛止血药)

Main Actions

  • Astringes and Stops Bleeding
  • Reduces Swelling and Promotes Tissue Regeneration
  • Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores

How These Actions Work

'Astringes and stops bleeding' means Bái Jí has a strongly binding, sticky quality that physically seals damaged blood vessels and tissues, helping to halt bleeding. Its astringent taste and slightly cool nature make it particularly effective for bleeding from the Lungs (coughing up blood) and Stomach (vomiting blood), where Heat may be damaging the blood vessels. It can be taken internally as a powder for these conditions or applied directly to external wounds to stop bleeding on contact.

'Reduces swelling and promotes tissue regeneration' refers to Bái Jí's ability to help swollen, inflamed tissue resolve and new healthy tissue grow in its place. This is why it is widely used for skin sores, abscesses, burns, and cracked skin on the hands and feet. The herb's mucilage-rich, sticky texture forms a protective layer over damaged tissue, creating an environment that supports healing. It is applied externally as a fine powder, often mixed with sesame oil, for wounds that are slow to heal.

'Heals wounds and closes sores' extends the tissue-regenerating action specifically to chronic, non-healing ulcers and surgical wounds. Bái Jí is considered one of the most important herbs in the Chinese tradition for promoting wound closure, whether used internally for ulcers in the digestive tract or externally for skin damage.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Bai Ji is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.

The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.

Why Bai Ji addresses this pattern

When Heat accumulates in the Lungs, it can scorch the delicate lung blood vessels, causing them to leak blood. This leads to coughing up blood (hemoptysis), sometimes with thick yellow sputum. Bái Jí enters the Lung channel and, with its slightly cool nature, helps counteract the Heat while its astringent, binding quality seals the damaged lung vessels and stops the bleeding. The herb's sticky mucilage also provides a protective coating over injured lung tissue, supporting recovery. Classical texts describe it as a key herb for 'supplementing the Lung' after damage from bleeding.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Cough Of Blood

Blood in sputum, often bright red

Chronic Coughing

Lingering cough with blood-streaked phlegm

Dry Cough

Dry, hacking cough with damaged lung tissue

TCM Properties

Temperature

Slightly Cool

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ), Sweet (甘 gān), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels Entered
Lungs Liver Stomach
Parts Used

Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page

Product Details

Manufacturing, supplier, and product specifications

Product Type

Granules

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Botanical & Sourcing

Quality Indicators

Good quality Bai Ji tubers are irregularly flattened and round, typically with 2-3 claw-like branches, 1.5-5 cm long and 0.5-1.5 cm thick. The surface should be greyish-white or yellowish-white with several concentric ring nodes and brown dot-like root scars. The texture should be very hard and difficult to break. The cross-section should be nearly white with a horn-like (translucent, waxy) appearance. When chewed, high-quality Bai Ji is distinctly bitter and extremely sticky and mucilaginous. Avoid pieces that are dark, soft, fibrous, or that lack stickiness when chewed, as these indicate poor quality or age.

Primary Growing Regions

Bai Ji is distributed across southern and central China, including Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Henan, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Fujian provinces. Guizhou province has the largest production volume and is regarded as producing the best quality. Anlong County in Guizhou's Qianxinan Prefecture received national geographic indication protection for its Bai Ji in 2017, with polysaccharide and mucilage content consistently above 40%. The herb also grows in Taiwan, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), and Korea.

Harvesting Season

Summer to autumn (typically August to November), when the above-ground stems and leaves have withered.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

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Miscellaneous Info

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Usage & Safety

How to use this herb and important safety information

Important Medical Disclaimer

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. This herb is a dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking other medications. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions.

Recommended Dosage

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Instructions for safe storage and consumption

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Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

6–15g

Maximum

Up to 30g in severe hemorrhage (hemoptysis, hematemesis), under practitioner supervision. Externally, appropriate amount as powder applied to wounds.

Notes

For internal hemostasis (hemoptysis, hematemesis, or gastrointestinal bleeding), the standard decoction range is 6-15g. When used as a ground powder taken directly (not decocted), a smaller dose of 3-6g per administration is typical, as the mucilaginous polysaccharides are better preserved in powder form. The classical method for Lung conditions was to take the powder in pill form, dissolved slowly in the mouth (噙化) to allow it to coat the throat and reach the Lungs gradually. For external use on wounds, burns, or cracked skin, an appropriate amount of fine powder is applied directly. Higher doses (up to 30g) may be used in acute hemorrhage situations under supervision.

Processing Methods

Processing method

The dried tubers are ground into a very fine powder. This is the most common processed form, used both internally (swallowed with water) and externally (applied directly to wounds).

How it changes properties

The thermal nature and taste remain unchanged. Powdering increases the surface area and exposes the mucilage, significantly enhancing the herb's ability to coat tissue, stop bleeding on contact, and form a protective film over wounds. The hemostatic and tissue-regenerating effects are considered stronger in powder form than in decoction.

When to use this form

Preferred over decoction for acute bleeding situations (gastric hemorrhage, hemoptysis, traumatic wounds). Taken internally at 2-5g per dose, or applied externally to wounds. This is the standard form for the Bái Jí plus Hǎi Piāo Xiāo ulcer remedy.

Toxicity Classification

Non-toxic

Bai Ji is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Its primary active components are polysaccharides (glucomannans), bibenzyls, phenanthrenes, and mucilage. No significant toxic components have been identified. Preclinical studies on Bletilla striata polysaccharides have not reported significant toxicity, though formal long-term chronic toxicity studies in humans remain limited. The main safety concern is not toxicity per se but its strong astringent nature, which can trap pathogens if used at the wrong stage of illness.

Contraindications

Avoid

Incompatible with Wu Tou (Aconite) and its derivatives, including Chuan Wu, Cao Wu, and Fu Zi. This is one of the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反). Co-administration may increase the dissolution of toxic aconitine alkaloids and inhibit hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP3A, CYP1A2), increasing toxicity.

Avoid

Contraindicated in bleeding caused by externally contracted Heat excess with no underlying deficiency. Bai Ji's astringent, contracting nature can trap pathogenic Heat or Blood stasis inside the body. As noted in the Chong Qing Tang Sui Bi: 'If fire-Heat has not yet been cleared, it should not be used prematurely, as its astringent nature may retain pathogenic factors.'

Caution

Use with caution in patients with Lung abscess or cough with profuse phlegm from excess Heat. The highly viscous, astringent nature of Bai Ji may trap phlegm and block its expulsion, worsening congestion. It is only appropriate once acute Heat is subsiding and the condition is transitioning to a recovery phase.

Caution

Use with caution in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by Blood stasis (as opposed to deficiency-related bleeding). The astringent hemostatic mechanism works best for bleeding from tissue damage or deficiency, not for stasis-related hemorrhage where Blood-invigorating treatment is needed first.

Caution

Use with caution in patients with poor digestion or Spleen-Stomach deficiency with dampness. The extremely sticky, mucilaginous quality of Bai Ji can be difficult to digest and may worsen feelings of fullness or bloating.

Classical Incompatibilities

Bai Ji is one of the herbs listed in the Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反). It is incompatible with Wu Tou (乌头) and its related forms, including Chuan Wu (川乌), Cao Wu (草乌), and Fu Zi (附子). The classical mnemonic states: '半蒌贝蔹及攻乌' — Ban Xia, Gua Lou, Bei Mu, Bai Lian, and Bai Ji all oppose Wu Tou. Modern research suggests co-administration may increase toxic alkaloid dissolution and inhibit hepatic enzymes that metabolize aconitine, increasing the risk of aconite poisoning.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

There is limited specific data on Bai Ji use during pregnancy. While it is not traditionally listed among the strongest pregnancy-prohibited herbs, its astringent and Blood-constricting properties warrant caution. Its hemostatic action works by promoting coagulation and tissue contraction, which could theoretically affect uterine blood flow. Pregnant women should avoid use unless specifically prescribed by a qualified practitioner for an acute condition such as hemoptysis.

Breastfeeding

No specific traditional or modern data addresses the transfer of Bai Ji's active compounds through breast milk. As a non-toxic herb used primarily for hemostasis and tissue healing, it is not considered high-risk during breastfeeding. However, in the absence of formal safety studies, it should only be used during lactation when clinically necessary and under practitioner guidance. The bitter, cold properties could theoretically affect the nursing infant's digestion if significant amounts transfer to milk.

Pediatric Use

Bai Ji may be used in children at reduced doses proportionate to age and body weight, typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose for children over 3 years old. It is most commonly given to children as a powder (ground and mixed into food or liquid) rather than in decoction. Its extremely sticky texture can be difficult for young children to swallow. Given the lack of specific pediatric safety data, use should be limited to clear clinical indications under practitioner supervision.

Drug Interactions

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications: Bai Ji has strong pro-coagulant and hemostatic effects, working partly through activation of platelet ADP receptor pathways (P2Y1, P2Y12). This may directly antagonize the effects of anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin) and antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel). Concurrent use may reduce the efficacy of these medications.

Aconitine-containing preparations: Based on the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities and supported by modern research, Bai Ji may inhibit hepatic CYP3A and CYP1A2 enzymes when combined with aconite-derived compounds, slowing the metabolic clearance of aconitine and increasing its toxicity. This interaction should be treated as clinically significant.

General note: No large-scale human pharmacokinetic interaction studies have been conducted on Bai Ji. Patients on any blood-modifying medications should inform their prescribing practitioner before using this herb.

Dietary Advice

While taking Bai Ji for hemostasis or Lung conditions, avoid spicy, hot, and irritating foods (chilli, alcohol, strong ginger) that may aggravate bleeding or Heat in the Lungs. Avoid excessively greasy or heavy foods that may impair the digestive absorption of this viscous herb. Foods that support the Lung and Stomach, such as pear, lily bulb, and congee, are generally compatible.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this herb is typically safe for most individuals, it may cause side effects in some people. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, postpartum women, and those with liver disease should use the formula with caution.

As with any Chinese herbal remedy, it is advisable to seek guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning treatment.