Xie Bai San

Chinese: 泻白散

Pinyin: Xiè Bái Sàn

Other names: Drain the White Powder

Xie Bai San

Chinese: 泻白散

Pinyin: Xiè Bái Sàn

Other names: Drain the White Powder

Number of ingredients: 4 herbs

Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from the Organs

Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Pneumonia Pertussis Urticaria and four other conditions

Main actions:

Drains Heat from the Lungs
Calms wheezing

Contraindications: It is contraindicated for coughing and wheezing due to Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, or... It is contraindicated for coughing and wheezing due to Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, or Damp-Phlegm. It is often modified to protect the Spleen from injury by the cold-natured herbs in the formula. see more

Source date: 1119 AD

Source book: Craft of Medicinal Treatment for Childhood Disease Patterns

The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.

Xie Bai San is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi) as a principal ingredient.

Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs. Its main actions are: 1) drains Heat from the Lungs and 2) calms wheezing.

In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.

From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as early stage measles, pneumonia or bronchitis for instance.

On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Xie Bai San, we review the patterns and conditions that Xie Bai San helps treat.

The four ingredients in Xie Bai San

Sang Bai Pi is a king ingredient in Xie Bai San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

1. Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi)

Part used: Dried root bark

Nature: Cold

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: Lung

Category: Herbs that cool the Blood

Sang Bai Pi drains stagnant Heat from the Lungs and thereby stops the coughing and wheezing. It combines a moistening nature with an acrid flavor, allowing it to drain Heat without damaging the Lungs, which is regarded as the 'tender organ.' This is particularly suitable in a formula directed specifically at children.

Learn more about Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi)

Di Gu Pi is a deputy ingredient in Xie Bai San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

2. Goji Tree Root Bark (Di Gu Pi)

Part used: Dried root bark

Nature: Cold

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: Kidney Liver Lung

Category: Herbs that cool the Blood

Di Gu Pi sweet, bland and bitter. It enters the Kidneys to clear Heat from Deficiency and into the Lungs to drain accumulated Fire.

Learn more about Goji Tree Root Bark (Di Gu Pi)

Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Xie Bai San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

3. Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Part used: Dried root and rhizome

Nature: Neutral

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: Heart Lung Spleen Stomach

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."

In the context of Xie Bai San, it is used because it protects the Stomach from the cold properties of the other herbs.

Learn more about Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Jing Mi is an assistant ingredient in Xie Bai San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.