Herb

Bai Tou Weng

Pulsatilla Root | 白头翁

Also known as:

Yě Zhàng Rén (野丈人) , Hú Wáng Shǐ Zhě (胡王使者) , Bái Tóu Gōng (白头公)

Bai Tou Weng

Product appearance may vary from images shown

Properties

Heat-clearing herbs · Cold

Traditionally supports*

Digestive Health Gut Infections Gut Inflammation Gynecological infections

Parts Used

Root (根 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.

Select Product Type

Select Supplier

Select Size

Quantity

$36.00 ($0.36/g)
For shipments to: United States Change
Standard Shipping (3-5 business days): $4.99
Express Shipping (1-2 business days): $9.99
Free shipping on orders over $75

About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

Bái Tóu Wēng is a powerfully cooling herb best known for treating severe intestinal infections with bloody diarrhea, particularly dysentery. It clears toxic Heat from the gut, stops bleeding, and has been used for thousands of years as the lead ingredient in the classical dysentery formula. It is also used for vaginal itching and discharge caused by Damp-Heat.

Herb Category

Heat-clearing herbs Herbs that clear Heat and resolve Toxicity (清热解毒药)

Main Actions

  • Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity
  • Cools the Blood and Stops Dysentery
  • Dries Dampness and kills parasites

How These Actions Work

'Clears Heat and resolves toxins' means Bái Tóu Wēng is especially effective at clearing intense toxic Heat that has penetrated deeply into the Blood level of the Stomach and Large Intestine. This makes it a primary herb for bloody dysentery caused by Heat toxins, where there is foul-smelling stool mixed with blood and pus. It acts powerfully against the type of Heat that causes tissue damage and inflammation in the gut.

'Cools Blood and stops dysentery' describes the herb's ability to reduce the burning and bleeding that occur when Heat toxins scorch the blood vessels in the intestines. Because it enters the Blood level, it can directly address bloody stool (especially when there is more blood than mucus), a hallmark of severe hot dysentery. This action is why it is the lead herb in the classical formula Bái Tóu Wēng Tāng.

'Dries Dampness and kills parasites' refers to its secondary use for conditions where Damp-Heat causes vaginal itching, abnormal vaginal discharge, or parasitic infections. Its bitter and cold nature dries pathological Dampness while its toxin-clearing capacity addresses the underlying infection. It has been traditionally valued for amoebic dysentery, used either alone in larger doses or in combination formulas.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Bai Tou Weng 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 Tou Weng addresses this pattern

Bái Tóu Wēng is bitter and cold, entering the Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its core action of clearing Heat toxins and cooling Blood directly targets the pathomechanism of Damp-Heat accumulating in the Large Intestine, where Heat toxins scorch the blood vessels and cause blood and pus to mix into the stool. Its bitter nature dries the Dampness component, while its cold nature clears the Heat. This makes it the lead herb for hot dysentery with bloody stool.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Bloody Stool

Bloody diarrhea with more blood than mucus

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal cramping with tenesmus (straining)

Diarrhea

Urgent, foul-smelling diarrhea

Thirst

Thirst with desire to drink water

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels Entered
Stomach Large Intestine
Parts Used

Root (根 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

Quantity Description

Loading quantity information...

Concentration Ratio

Loading concentration information...

Fabrication Method

Loading fabrication information...

Supplier Certifications

Loading certifications information...

Botanical & Sourcing

Quality Indicators

Good quality Bai Tou Weng root is roughly cylindrical or conical, slightly twisted, 6–20 cm long and 0.5–2 cm in diameter. The surface should be yellowish-brown to dark brown with irregular longitudinal wrinkles or grooves. The outer bark peels away easily to reveal yellow wood underneath, sometimes with a net-like pattern of cracks. The root head should be slightly enlarged with clearly visible white woolly hairs (a key authentication marker) and remnants of sheath-like leaf bases. The texture should be hard and brittle, snapping cleanly. The cross-section shows a yellowish-white bark layer and pale yellow wood. The smell is faint, and the taste should be slightly bitter and astringent. Reject roots that lack the characteristic white hairs at the root head, are dark-centered or hollow throughout, or show signs of insect damage.

Primary Growing Regions

Primarily produced in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Hebei provinces. Also found in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan. Historically, Anhui (Chuzhou/滁州) was considered the principal source of the authentic herb. Classical texts such as the Ben Cao Yan Yi noted it grew in the mountains near Luoyang, Henan. The plant also occurs in Korea and the Russian Far East.

Harvesting Season

Spring (April–June, before flowering) or autumn (August–September). The root head's white hairs are preserved during collection.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

Loading supplier information...

Loading supplier attributes...

Miscellaneous Info

No additional information available

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

Loading dosage information...

Instructions for safe storage and consumption

Loading storage and consumption information...

Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

9–15g

Maximum

Up to 30g for severe hot dysentery or amoebic dysentery, under practitioner supervision. Classical sources such as the Ben Cao Zheng Yi note doses of up to 4–5 qian (approximately 12–15g) for severe heat-toxin conditions.

Notes

Use the standard range of 9–15g for most heat-toxin dysentery presentations. For amoebic dysentery, larger doses (up to 20–30g) of the single herb have been used effectively. When used in the classical formula Bai Tou Weng Tang, it is typically the chief herb at 15g paired with Huang Lian, Huang Bai, and Qin Pi. Excessive dosing in patients without genuine heat-toxin patterns can cause appetite loss, loose stools, and digestive discomfort. The Ben Cao Zheng Yi advises starting with lighter doses (3–4.5g) and increasing to 12–15g only when heat-toxin is severe.

Processing Methods

Processing method

Sliced pieces are stir-fried over low heat until the surface darkens and a fragrant aroma emerges.

How it changes properties

Stir-frying moderates the herb's harsh cold nature slightly, making it gentler on the Stomach. The core Heat-clearing and toxin-resolving actions are preserved but become somewhat less draining on the digestive system.

When to use this form

When the patient has some underlying Stomach weakness but still requires the Heat-clearing action, or for prolonged use where the raw herb's intense cold might damage digestion over time.

Toxicity Classification

Non-toxic

The dried root used in standard decoctions has very low toxicity. At normal dosages, decoctions cause no adverse reactions and the saponins in the root have a very low hemolytic index. However, the fresh plant contains protoanemonin, a volatile unsaturated lactone formed from the glycoside ranunculin when plant tissues are crushed. Protoanemonin is a potent irritant that can burn the skin and mucous membranes, and if ingested fresh can cause salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, nephritis, bloody urine, and in severe cases heart and respiratory failure. Crucially, protoanemonin is unstable and dimerizes into the much less toxic anemonin during drying and prolonged boiling, which is why properly dried and decocted Bai Tou Weng is safe. Additionally, the above-ground parts (stems and leaves) of the plant contain a cardiac-toxic compound (anemoninol/okinalin) with digitalis-like effects and should not be confused with the root. Long-term high-dose administration of concentrated Pulsatilla saponins has been shown in animal studies to cause chronic liver injury through disruption of lipid metabolism; vinegar processing can reduce this toxicity.

Contraindications

Avoid

Deficiency-cold diarrhea and dysentery (虚寒泻痢). As stated in the Ben Cao Jing Shu: dysentery with Stomach deficiency and poor appetite, undigested food in the stool, or diarrhea from deficiency-cold rather than damp-toxin are all contraindicated. Bai Tou Weng is bitter and cold, and will further damage the Spleen and Stomach Yang in these conditions.

Avoid

Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency with chronic loose stools. The bitter cold nature of this herb can severely impair digestive function in patients who already have a weak, cold digestive system.

Avoid

Use of the fresh, unprocessed plant. Fresh Pulsatilla contains protoanemonin, a potent irritant that can cause severe burns to the skin, mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract. Only the properly dried root should be used.

Caution

Prolonged use at high doses. Long-term administration of Pulsatilla saponins has been linked to chronic liver injury in animal studies through disruption of ceramide/sphingomyelin balance. Use should be limited to the duration of the acute condition being treated.

Caution

Large doses in patients with poor appetite. High dosages can cause reduced appetite and loose, frequent stools even in otherwise healthy individuals.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Use with caution during pregnancy. Bai Tou Weng is bitter and strongly cold, which can injure Spleen and Stomach Yang and potentially affect fetal nourishment. The closely related Western species Pulsatilla vulgaris is explicitly contraindicated in pregnancy and has been shown in vitro to reduce the amplitude of uterine contractions. While no specific teratogenicity data exists for Pulsatilla chinensis, the protoanemonin content (in insufficiently processed material) has irritant properties that pose theoretical risk. Avoid unless clearly indicated for acute heat-toxin dysentery under practitioner supervision.

Breastfeeding

Insufficient data on transfer of active compounds through breast milk. The NCBI LactMed database notes a lack of information on pulsatilla during breastfeeding and suggests that other agents may be preferred in nursing mothers. The bitter, cold nature of the herb could theoretically affect breast milk quality and infant digestion, potentially causing loose stools in the nursing child. Use only if clearly needed for an acute condition, under practitioner guidance, and for the shortest effective duration.

Pediatric Use

Can be used in children for acute heat-toxin dysentery at appropriately reduced doses based on age and body weight (typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose for children over 3 years). Classical formulas for pediatric dysentery include Bai Tou Weng San from the Sheng Hui Fang, which used smaller quantities. Because the herb is strongly bitter and cold, it should be used cautiously in young children whose digestive function is inherently delicate, and treatment duration should be kept as short as possible. Not recommended for infants without clear practitioner guidance.

Drug Interactions

No well-documented pharmaceutical drug interactions have been established for Bai Tou Weng in clinical literature. However, based on its known pharmacological properties, the following theoretical considerations apply:

  • Cardiac glycosides (digoxin): The above-ground parts of Pulsatilla contain compounds with digitalis-like cardiac effects. While the root (the medicinal part) is distinct, caution is warranted if any possibility of contamination with aerial parts exists. Concurrent use with cardiac glycosides should be approached carefully.
  • Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: Bai Tou Weng has traditional blood-moving (逐血) properties. While clinical significance is uncertain, monitoring is reasonable when combined with warfarin or similar agents.
  • Hepatotoxic medications: Given animal evidence that prolonged high-dose Pulsatilla saponin use can cause liver injury, concurrent use with other hepatotoxic drugs (e.g. acetaminophen/paracetamol at high doses, certain statins, methotrexate) warrants caution regarding liver function.

Dietary Advice

When taking Bai Tou Weng for dysentery or intestinal heat conditions, avoid greasy, fried, and spicy foods that can aggravate damp-heat in the intestines. Cold, raw foods should also be limited, as the herb is already very cold in nature and combining it with cold foods may further damage digestive function. Light, easily digestible foods such as rice congee are ideal during treatment. Alcohol should be avoided during acute dysentery. Classically, Bai Tou Weng was noted to work well with wine (得酒良), but this refers to specific prepared wine formulations for chronic conditions like scrofula, not to casual alcohol consumption during acute illness.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this formula 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.