10/26/2026
Bai Bu 百部 | Stemona Root 🌿
A classic Lung herb in Chinese medicine. Sweet, bitter, and slightly warm, Bai Bu enters the Lung channel. Traditionally it moistens the Lungs, directs Qi downward, and calms cough, whether the cough is new or has lingered for a long time. Honey-fried Bai Bu (蜜百部) is gentler on the stomach and the traditional choice for dry, lingering coughs.
It has a second traditional use as an external wash. Practitioners have long used it to expel parasites and to treat lice.
Notice the twisted pieces with deep lengthwise furrows. Good-quality Bai Bu is yellowish-white to pale brown.
Practitioner note: in Chinese medicine, Bai Bu is used with caution when digestion is weak or the stools are loose, and it is not intended for long-term, high-dose use.
Educational content only, not medical advice. Work with a licensed practitioner.