White Atractylodes Rhizome
白术 · Báizhú
Atractylodes macrocephala
Family: Asteraceae · Part used: Rhizome · Origin: Yuqian, Zhejiang, China
Nature
Warm
Flavor
Bitter, sweet
Meridian
Spleen, Stomach
Bai Zhu is the chief spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving herb of Chinese medicine. The 'Yuqian shu' of Zhejiang — large, plump, and cloud-patterned — is the finest grade. It dries dampness while tonifying qi, the twin actions that make it central to nearly every classical spleen formula.
🌿 Functions & Actions
- •Tonifies spleen qi
- •Dries dampness and promotes water metabolism
- •Stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating
- •Calms the fetus (traditional)
📋 Traditional Indications
- •Poor appetite and fatigue
- •Loose stools and diarrhea
- •Edema and fluid retention
- •Excessive sweating
- •Dizziness from phlegm-fluid
- •Heavy limbs
📖 Usage & Dosage
6–12 g in decoction; stir-fried (chao bai zhu) strengthens its drying action for diarrhea.
🍵 Classic Recipes
Si Jun Zi Tang
Bai zhu 10 g + codonopsis 15 g + poria 10 g + licorice 6 g — the foundational spleen-qi formula.
Bai Zhu & Poria Congee
Bai zhu 10 g + poria 15 g cooked with rice for dampness-related fatigue.
🔬 Modern Research
Atractylodes polysaccharide A is studied for gastrointestinal motility, immune modulation, and anti-inflammatory effects.
⚠️ Contraindications
Avoid in yin deficiency with dryness and heat patterns.
