Herbs that Relieve Cough and Asthma: Bai Bu

Bai Bu: Moistening yin def. coughs, getting rid of fleas!



百部
Bai Bu = "Hundred Parts"

Lung only
Sweet, bitter, slightly warm
Acute and chronic coughs
3-9 grams ("in 20-30 percent of patients [bai bu] leads to some mild adverse reactions...burning in the chest, dryness of mouth, nasal, or throat mucosa, dizziness, tightness of chest, rapid breathing, anorexia, abdominal pain, or diarrhea")
CI: loose stools, spleen deficiency


A superstar at directing lung qi downward, for all sorts of coughs, Bai Bu is especially good for yin deficient / chronic cough.

This herb seems to be whatever you want it to be. Instead of "Hundred Parts" perhaps it should be called "Hundred Faces," kind of like Lon Chaney, the man of a hundred faces from the classic horror movies.
Above, Lon Chaney, otherwise known (on this blog at least) as Bai Bu. Is he coughing or did he just learn he has lice?

There is disagreement about its temperature, some saying slightly cold, some saying slightly warm (Bensky says slightly warm). It's good for chronic or acute, excess or deficient coughs. Because it is moistening, it excels at deficient coughs.

One this is for sure, though, and that is because Bai Bu a root that has many "rootlets" pointing downward, it is noted for being excellent at sending lung qi downwards.

The second function this herb is known for is scaring away parasites -- particularly if applied topically to someone with lice or fleas.