Chinese Pulsatilla Root … Classic Formulas

Bai Tou Weng · Radix Pulsatillae

Primary Actions

  • Clears toxic heat and cools the blood in the intestines ... Bai Tou Weng is one of the classic dysentery herbs for heat, blood, mucus, abdominal pain, and tenesmus.
  • Stops toxic diarrhea and enteric inflammation ... it is especially valued when the stool is hot, urgent, offensive, or blood-streaked rather than simply loose from deficiency.
  • Resolves heat toxicity in skin and lower-burner patterns ... traditional extension of use includes boils, inflammatory lesions, and some hot discharges.

Classic Formulas

  • Bai Tou Weng Tang ... the canonical formula for toxic-heat dysentery with tenesmus and blood.
  • Pairings with Qin Pi, Huang Bai, and Huang Lian ... classic lower-bowel heat and toxin logic.
  • Topical or wash traditions for hot inflammatory lesions and skin irritation.

Classical Text References

  • Materia medica teaching consistently gives Bai Tou Weng a focused role in toxic-heat dysentery rather than a broad indiscriminate anti-diarrheal role.
  • Its reputation comes from cooling, clearing, and detoxifying the intestines, especially when blood and tenesmus are present.