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Bai Xian (Dictamni Cortex)

Taste: bitter, salty. Nature: cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: Head wind (headache caused by wind pathogen), jaundice, cough with reverse flow of qi, strangury (painful and dribbling urination), swelling and pain in the female genitalia, damp-bi syndrome causing necrosis of muscles and skin, inability to flex and extend limbs, difficulty in walking; treats restlessness of the four limbs, high fever in the abdomen during epidemic febrile diseases accompanied by thirst, desire to run and shout, pediatric convulsions and epilepsy, residual pain after childbirth in women.

Habitat: Grows in Chuan Valley of Shanggu and Yuanju. Harvest time: Roots are collected in April and May and dried in the shade. Incompatibilities: Avoid Mantis Egg Case (Pi Xiao), Platycodon Root (Jie Geng), Poria (Fu Ling), and Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome (Bi Xie).

Tao Hongjing stated: It is found everywhere near the capital, but those from Shu are considered superior. Commonly called Bai Yang Xian (pronounced "Xian"), its odor resembles that of mutton fat (shan), hence sometimes named Bai Shan.

The Annotation of the Tang Materia Medica notes: The leaves resemble Cornus officinalis fruit (Zhu Yu); the seedlings grow over a chi tall; the root bark is white and the center is solid; the flowers are purple-white. The root should be harvested in February. If harvested in April or May, it becomes hollow and inferior. Ministers Yu Xi et al., according to the Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals, state: Dictamni Cortex is a subordinate herb. It treats all kinds of heat-toxin wind pathogens, aversion to wind, wind sores, scabies, tinea with redness and ulceration, brittle hair and eyebrows falling out, tight skin and muscles, severe fever with aversion to cold. It is excellent for resolving various types of jaundice such as heat jaundice, wine jaundice, acute jaundice, grain jaundice, and consumptive jaundice. Ri Huazi stated: It unblocks joints, benefits the nine orifices and blood vessels, treats all wind-bi syndromes, weak sinews and bones, promotes diuresis for water accumulation in the small intestine, and treats epidemic febrile diseases, headache, and eye pain. The root bark is effective. The flower has the same efficacy and can also be eaten as a vegetable. It is also known as Jin Que Er Jiao.

The Illustrations of Materia Medica states: Bai Xian grows in Chuan Valley of Shanggu and Yuanju; it is now also produced in Hezhong, Jiangning Prefecture, Chuzhou, and Runzhou. The seedlings grow over a chi tall; the stem is green; the leaves are slightly white like Sophora japonica leaves, resembling Cornus officinalis fruit. It blooms pale purple flowers in April, resembling small Hibiscus mutabilis. The root resembles Raphanus sativus, with yellowish-white bark and a solid center. Roots are collected in April and May and dried in the shade. It is also noted that harvesting in February is preferable; harvesting too late results in hollow and inferior quality. Its odor completely resembles mutton fat, hence commonly called Bai Yang Xian, also known as Di Yang Shan, and Jin Jue Er Jiao. Its seedlings are used as vegetables by mountain dwellers. Ge Hong treated cases of rats burrowing into ears with wounds and discharging pus and blood by administering one sheng of decoction made from Dictamni Cortex, which would cause the rat pup to be vomited out, leading to recovery. Li's Manual of Military Department Prescriptions: For treating lung cough, there is a formula of Dictamni Decoction, which is very effective.