Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark

Chinese: 炙桑白皮
Pinyin: Zhi Sang Bai Pi
Latin: Cortex Mori Radicis Praeparata

Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Zhi Sang Bai Pi (炙桑白皮), this sweet, cool herb enters the Lung. Traditionally, it clears Lung Heat and directs rebellious Lung Qi downward ... prepared Sang Bai Pi remains a cough and wheezing herb for hot, constrained, or dry-irritative Lung patterns, most often applied for wheezing, asthma, and cough. Modern research has identified Prenylated among its active constituents.

Part used: Bark

Also Known As

Prepared Sang Bai Pi Processed Mulberry Root Bark Mori Cortex

Latin: Cortex Mori Radicis Praeparata | Pinyin: Zhi Sang Bai Pi | Chinese: 炙桑白皮

TCM Properties

Taste: sweet
Temperature: cool
Channels: Lung

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

Clears Lung Heat and directs rebellious Lung Qi downward ... prepared Sang Bai Pi remains a cough and wheezing herb for hot, constrained, or dry-irritative Lung patterns.
Promotes urination and reduces edema ... it is used when Lung Heat or upper-burner congestion is tied to impaired water movement and swelling.
Moderates the sharper coldness of raw Sang Bai Pi ... the prepared bark is generally framed as a gentler, slightly more middle-friendly dispensing form when repeated dosing is needed.

Secondary Actions

This processed page should stay distinct from the future raw `white-mulberry-root-bark` sibling ... both are Sang Bai Pi, but this lane follows the toasted prepared bark strips shown in the local illustration workflow.
Compared with mulberry leaf or fruit pages, the medicinal focus here is specifically the root bark's downward Lung direction rather than general Morus alba nutrition.

Classic Formulas

Xie Bai San ... classic Lung-heat wheezing formula centered on Sang Bai Pi.
Ding Chuan Tang ... Sang Bai Pi commonly supports descending Lung Qi and calming wheeze.
Modified cough and edema prescriptions ... prepared Sang Bai Pi is often selected when a milder processed bark is preferred.

Classical References

Materia medica texts describe Sang Bai Pi as entering the Lung to drain Heat and calm panting or cough.
Traditional use also includes promoting urination to relieve edema, especially when Heat or congestion is part of the presentation.
Prepared forms are used to soften the raw bark's colder edge without changing its essential downward Lung direction.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

Prenylated flavonoids such as kuwanon G and morusin ... signature root-bark constituents studied for anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity
Mulberroside-type phenolics and related stilbenoids ... discussed across Morus alba medicinal-part reviews
Polysaccharides and antioxidant phenolics ... broader Morus alba constituents relevant to immunomodulatory research

Studied Effects

A 2024 overview of Morus alba medicinal parts summarized the chemistry and pharmacology of Mori Cortex, supporting its long-standing anti-inflammatory and respiratory relevance within the larger mulberry materia medica (PMID 38694910).
A mouse asthma-model study found that Cortex Mori Radicis extract showed antiasthmatic effects linked to regulatory T-cell enhancement and Th2 cytokine suppression, which fits the herb's traditional Lung-heat wheezing lane (PMID 21875661).
A 2014 study on kuwanon G isolated from Morus alba root bark reported reduced allergic airway responses in an ovalbumin asthma model, giving a plausible modern correlate for Sang Bai Pi's classic descending-Lung use (PMID 25116225).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

Cold-pattern cough or wheezing without Heat
Frequent urination or dehydration from deficiency patterns without edema

Cautions

The prepared bark is gentler than raw Sang Bai Pi but is still fundamentally a downward-draining Lung herb rather than a generic mulberry tonic.
Patients should not assume mulberry fruit, leaf, and root-bark products are clinically interchangeable.

Drug Interactions

Diuretics ... theoretical additive fluid and electrolyte effects may matter in sensitive patients

Conditions

Wheezing Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
Asthma Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
Cough Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
Edema Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark used for?

Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark is traditionally used to Clears Lung Heat and directs rebellious Lung Qi downward ... prepared Sang Bai Pi remains a cough and wheezing herb for hot, constrained, or dry-irritative Lung patterns., Promotes urination and reduces edema ... it is used when Lung Heat or upper-burner congestion is tied to impaired water movement and swelling., Moderates the sharper coldness of raw Sang Bai Pi ... the prepared bark is generally framed as a gentler, slightly more middle-friendly dispensing form when repeated dosing is needed.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2024 overview of Morus alba medicinal parts summarized the chemistry and pharmacology of Mori Cortex, supporting its long-standing anti-inflammatory and respiratory relevance within the larger mulberry materia medica (PMID 38694910).; A mouse asthma-model study found that Cortex Mori Radicis extract showed antiasthmatic effects linked to regulatory T-cell enhancement and Th2 cytokine suppression, which fits the herb's traditional Lung-heat wheezing lane (PMID 21875661)..

What are other names for Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark?

Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark is also known as Prepared Sang Bai Pi, Processed Mulberry Root Bark, Mori Cortex. In TCM: 炙桑白皮 (Zhi Sang Bai Pi); Cortex Mori Radicis Praeparata.

Is Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark safe during pregnancy?

The safety of Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.

What are the contraindications for Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark?

Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark should not be used in: Cold-pattern cough or wheezing without Heat; Frequent urination or dehydration from deficiency patterns without edema. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark interact with any medications?

Prepared White Mulberry Root Bark may interact with: Diuretics ... theoretical additive fluid and electrolyte effects may matter in sensitive patients. Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.