04/15/2025
Sang Bai Pi
Basic Info
Chinese name: Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮)
Latin name: Cortex Mori Radicis
Source: Root bark of the Morus alba (white mulberry) tree
Nature: Cold
Taste: Sweet
Channels entered: Lung
Clears Lung heat and stops cough
Especially for cough with yellow phlegm, wheezing, or shortness of breath due to Lung heat or heat-phlegm.
Promotes urination and reduces edema
Helps drain excess fluids, particularly when Lung heat is disrupting water metabolism.
Lowers rebellious Lung Qi
Helps redirect "rebellious" Qi downward (useful in asthma or chronic coughs where Qi is moving upward improperly).
Modern Research (in brief)
Has shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects.
Some studies suggest hypoglycemic and antihypertensive actions as well.
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (麻杏石甘汤)
Category: Clears heat from the Lungs
Ingredients:
Ma Huang (麻黄)
Xing Ren (杏仁)
Shi Gao (石膏)
Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮)
Functions:
Clears Lung heat
Calms wheezing and cough
Facilitates the flow of Lung Qi
Indications:
Cough, wheezing, fever, no sweating, or labored breathing due to Lung heat obstructing Qi.
💨 Xie Bai San (泻白散) – “Drain the White Powder”
Category: Clears deficient heat from the Lungs
Ingredients:
Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮)
Di Gu Pi (地骨皮)
Zhi Gan Cao (炙甘草)
Jing Mi (粳米)
Functions:
Drains heat from the Lungs
Calms coughing and wheezing
Indications:
Dry cough, hot palms and soles, afternoon fever, scanty sputum due to Lung heat from Yin deficiency.
🌫️ Ding Chuan Tang (定喘汤) – “Arrest Wheezing Decoction”
Category: Stops wheezing and resolves phlegm
Ingredients:
Ma Huang (麻黄)
Bai Guo (白果)
Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮)
Xing Ren (杏仁)
Su Zi (苏子)
Kuan D**g Hua (款冬花)
Ban Xia (半夏)
Huang Qin (黄芩)
Gan Cao (甘草)
Functions:
Stops asthma and wheezing
Clears Lung heat
Transforms phlegm and descends Qi
Indications:
Wheezing with thick, yellow sputum, chest tightness, chills and fever – often used for external Wind-Cold with internal phlegm-heat.
💧 Yue Bi Jia Ban Xia Tang (越婢加半夏汤)
Category: Promotes urination, relieves edema
Ingredients:
Ma Huang (麻黄)
Shi Gao (石膏)
Sheng Jiang (生姜)
Da Zao (大枣)
Gan Cao (甘草)
Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮)
Ban Xia (半夏)
Functions:
Reduces edema via sweating and urination
Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Directs rebellious Qi downward
Indications:
Edema with cough and wheezing due to Lung Qi failing to regulate water pathways.
