White Mulberry Root Bark

Chinese: 桑白皮
Pinyin: Sang Bai Pi
Latin: Cortex Mori

Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮), this sweet, cold herb enters the Lung. Traditionally, it drains Lung heat and directs rebellious Lung qi downward ... raw Sang Bai Pi is a classic herb for cough, panting, wheezing, and thick hot sputum, most often applied for wheezing, asthma, and cough. Modern research has identified Prenylated among its active constituents.

Part used: Bark

Also Known As

Raw Sang Bai Pi Mori Cortex Mulberry Root Bark

Latin: Cortex Mori | Pinyin: Sang Bai Pi | Chinese: 桑白皮

TCM Properties

Taste: sweet
Temperature: cold
Channels: Lung

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

Drains Lung heat and directs rebellious Lung qi downward ... raw Sang Bai Pi is a classic herb for cough, panting, wheezing, and thick hot sputum.
Promotes urination and reduces edema ... it is used when upper-burner heat or Lung obstruction interferes with water movement and swelling develops.
Keeps the colder, more direct raw-bark lane ... compared with prepared bark, this form is understood as less moderated and more clearly heat-draining.

Secondary Actions

This page should stay distinct from the already-live `prepared-root-bark-white-mulberry` sibling ... both are Sang Bai Pi, but this lane follows the raw peeled root bark rather than the toasted prepared form.
The medicinal focus is on the root bark and its downward Lung action, not on mulberry leaf, fruit, or general Morus alba nutrition.

Classic Formulas

Xie Bai San ... the defining Lung-heat wheezing formula centered on Sang Bai Pi.
Ding Chuan Tang ... common formula context when descending Lung qi and calming wheeze are both treatment priorities.
Modified cough and edema prescriptions ... raw Sang Bai Pi is often chosen when stronger heat-clearing is preferred over the gentler prepared bark.

Classical References

Materia medica texts describe Sang Bai Pi as entering the Lung to drain heat, calm wheezing, and promote urination for edema.
Traditional teaching also distinguishes raw from prepared bark, with the raw form retaining a colder and more direct heat-clearing profile.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

Prenylated flavonoids such as kuwanon G and morusin ... signature root-bark constituents with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic interest
Mulberroside-related phenolics and stilbenoids ... important compounds discussed across Morus alba medicinal-part reviews
Polysaccharides and antioxidant phenolics ... supportive components in broader mulberry pharmacology
Root-bark flavonoid fractions ... relevant to respiratory and airway-inflammation research

Studied Effects

A 2024 overview of different medicinal parts of Morus alba summarized the chemistry and pharmacology of Mori Cortex, supporting its long-standing respiratory and anti-inflammatory relevance within the mulberry materia medica (PMID 38694910).
A 2011 mouse asthma-model study found that Cortex Mori Radicis extract showed antiasthmatic effects linked to regulatory T-cell enhancement and suppression of Th2 cytokines, fitting the herb's traditional wheezing lane while remaining preclinical (PMID 21875661).
A 2014 study on kuwanon G isolated from Morus alba root bark reported reduced allergic airway responses in an ovalbumin model, adding 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

Raw Sang Bai Pi is colder and more draining than the prepared form, so it is a poor fit for dry weak cough without heat signs.
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 White Mulberry Root Bark used for?

White Mulberry Root Bark is traditionally used to Drains Lung heat and directs rebellious Lung qi downward ... raw Sang Bai Pi is a classic herb for cough, panting, wheezing, and thick hot sputum., Promotes urination and reduces edema ... it is used when upper-burner heat or Lung obstruction interferes with water movement and swelling develops., Keeps the colder, more direct raw-bark lane ... compared with prepared bark, this form is understood as less moderated and more clearly heat-draining.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2024 overview of different medicinal parts of Morus alba summarized the chemistry and pharmacology of Mori Cortex, supporting its long-standing respiratory and anti-inflammatory relevance within the mulberry materia medica (PMID 38694910).; A 2011 mouse asthma-model study found that Cortex Mori Radicis extract showed antiasthmatic effects linked to regulatory T-cell enhancement and suppression of Th2 cytokines, fitting the herb's traditional wheezing lane while remaining preclinical (PMID 21875661)..

What are other names for White Mulberry Root Bark?

White Mulberry Root Bark is also known as Raw Sang Bai Pi, Mori Cortex, Mulberry Root Bark. In TCM: 桑白皮 (Sang Bai Pi); Cortex Mori.

Is White Mulberry Root Bark safe during pregnancy?

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

What are the contraindications for White Mulberry Root Bark?

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 White Mulberry Root Bark interact with any medications?

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.