INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: SANG BAI PI - 桑白皮 - CORTEX MORI - MULBERRY ROOT BARK

Pharmaceutical Latin: Cortex Mori
Common English: Mulberry Root Bark
White Mulberry Root Bark
Morus Bark

CATEGORY

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing: Herbs that Stop Cough and Wheezing (Anti-Asthmatics)

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Cold
Lung
(Spleen)
6-18g
Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Drains Heat from the Lungs, stops coughing and calms wheezing

Coughing and wheezing, fullness and hemoptysis due to Lung Heat

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Lung Heat obstructing the descending action of the Lung, preventing water from moving and stopping perspiration (floating edema, facial edema, swelling of the upper extremities, fever, thirst, urinary difficulty, a floating pulse)

Treats hypertension

Hypertension

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with coughing or wheezing due to Wind-Cold Affecting the Lungs.
  • Contraindicated for those with coughing and excessive urination.
  • Contraindicated for those with coughing due to Lung Deficiency.
  • Do not store in an iron container.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS:

Cx. Lycii
Di Gu Pi
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Rx. Lateralis Aconiti Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi

Per. Arecae
Da Fu Pi
Cx. Poria
Fu Ling Pi

Cough with thick sputum, fever, irritability, and thirst due to Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Lungs.

Coughing and wheezing with edema due to Kidney Yang Deficiency.

Superficial edema with difficult urination.

Sm. Lepidii/Descurainiae
Ting Li Zi

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Sm. Cassiae
Jue Ming Zi
Spica Prunellae
Xia Ku Cao
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Swelling of the face and eyes with urinary difficulty.

Wheezing from water and thin mucus retained in the Lungs.

Hypertension due to Liver Yang Rising.

Drains Heat from the Lungs and stops coughing and wheezing.

Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Sm. Dolichorus
Bai Bian Dou

 

 

Phlegm-Heat with nasal obstruction.

 

 

NOTES

  1. This herb is both a tonic and Heat clearing herb for the Lungs.
  2. It aids in descending Qi and Fluids.
  3. The leaves Sang Ye purge Wind-Heat, the twigs treat Bi Syndrome and the fruits nourish the Blood.
  4. The plant is the only one that satisfies silkworms and is widely used in the production of silk. The worm itself (Bombyx Batryticatus Jiang Can) treats Phlegm disorders.
  5. Do not store in an iron container.
  6. It is good for coughs with edema.
  7. This herb is particularly effective for swelling around the eyes.
  8. It has shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
  9. It is said that the juice cures black nevus, deteriorated muscles incised wounds and Stasis.
  10. Both Sang Bai Pi and Sm. Lepidii/Descurainiae Ting Li Zi drain the Lungs and facilitate the movement of Fluids in order to calm wheezing and dispel edema and swelling. They can be used together for swelling of the face and eyes with urinary difficulty and for wheezing from water and thin mucus retained in the Lungs. Sang Bai Pi is better for draining Lung Heat and is used when there is yellow Phlegm. Ting Li Zi drains the Lungs and facilitates the transformation of watery Phlegm. It is used more for wheezing and swelling due to excessive accumulation of water and Phlegm.
  11. Prepared Mulberry Root Zhi Sang Pi is less cooling and its draining property is decreased. Its ability to moisten the Lungs and stop wheezing is increased.
  12. Dry-fried Mulberry Root Chao Sang Bai Pi is less cold, its ability to drain the Lungs, promote urination, moisten and calm wheezing is decreased. It is rarely used.