Single Herb Glossary
Sāng Bái Pí 桑白皮
| Pharmaceutical name | Mori Cortex Mulberry root bark Morus bark “mulberry white bark” |
| Category | Stop Cough, Calm Wheezing |
| Key Properties | Drains the lungs, esp. heat Drains fluids, treats edema |
| Properties | Sweet Cold |
| Tropism | LU |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Drains Heat from LU, stops cough, calms wheezing: due to LU-Heat 2) Promotes urination, reduces edema: impaired water movement and perspiration due to LU-Heat 3) recently used for Hypertention |
| Dosages | 6-15g |
| Contraindications (TCM) | CI: cough or wheeze from LU Cold |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Morusin, mulberrin, mulberrochromene, cyclomulberrin, cyclomuberrochromene, mulberrofuran A, kuwanon, sanggenon, moracenin, betulinic acid, α-amyrin, β-amyrin |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Diuretic: water and alcohol extracts given via oral or intraperitoneal administration had marked diuretic effect by increasing excretion of water, sodium, chloride and potassium • Cardiovascular: water and alcohol extracts have moderate and prolonged antihypertensive effects in dogs, rabbits, and rats; antihypertensive effect was negated by administration of atropine • Gastrointestinal: intravenous injection of alcohol extract in dogs stimulated intestinal smooth muscle to increase peristalsis; water extract did not have same effect • Analgesic: water extract has analgesic effect in mice; at 2 g/kg, comparable in effect to 0.5 g/kg of aspirin • Antibiotic: inhibitory effect against S. aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Bacillus dysenteriae • Others: antitussive, sedative, hypnotic, and antipyretic effects |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | |
| Classical Formula(s) |
Ren Shen Ge Jie San (Ginseng and gecko powder) 人參蛤蚧散 Wu Pi San (Five Peel powder) 五皮散 Bu Fei Tang (Tonify the Lungs Decoction) 補肺湯 Jiu Xian San (delete Mi Zhi Ying Su Ke) (Nine-Immortal Powder) 九仙散（減蜜製罌粟殼） |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.