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bai wei 

   

Edited by Joe Hing Kwok Chu

Pharmaceutical name:Radix Cynanchi Baiwei
Biological name:Cynanchum atratum Bge. or Cyanchum versicolor Bge.
Pronounced in Japanese:byakubi
Pronounced in Korean:baengmi
Pronounced in Cantonese:pak mei
Common Name:swallowwort root
Distribution:throughout China, especially Liano Ning, An Hui, Shan Dong, Hu Bei
Characteristics and channel (meridian) relation:bitter, salty, cold. Related to lung, stomach, kidney. Larger amount is toxic to the heart.
Uses:relieves heat, edema, snake bite, toxic sores, swollen and painful throat; promotes urination. Dosage: 5-10 grams.
Chemical ingredients:essential oil: cynanchol and cardiac tonic:atratoside A,B,C,D; atratogenin A,B; glaucogenin C; cyantratoside A,BC,D,E,F; glaucoside C; cynjapogenin A; thevetosied; cynanversicoside A,B,C,D,E; neocynanversicoside.
Modern Research:Cardiac tonic ingredients of bai wei stimulate the heart muscle and improve contraction and slow down heart rate.  Bai wei can inhibit pneumococcus. Toxic amount: 30-40 grams.

 

 


Last update: April 11,  2004; 9:00 a.m. LA

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