☯ TCM Properties
Controls pain; Stops cough; Promotes diuresis; Reduces toxicity
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bai Qu Cai is the aerial part of Chelidonium majus (greater celandine), a poppy-family herb with orange latex. Bitter and pungent with a toxic designation (Pharmacopoeia: bitter, cool), entering the Lung, Heart and Kidney (or Lung and Stomach) channels, it alleviates pain, stops cough, promotes urination and resolves toxicity. It is used for gastrointestinal and epigastric pain, chronic and whooping cough, edema and jaundice, and topically for sores, swellings and snake or insect bites.
The plant is rich in benzophenanthridine alkaloids and is officially classed as toxic; clinically significant hepatotoxicity has been documented with internal use. It is therefore given only in small, carefully controlled doses (roughly 3–6 g decocted) and avoided in liver-compromised patients.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Bai Qu Cai corresponds to Chelidonium majus, the greater celandine, a perennial herb of the poppy family Papaveraceae growing 30 to 80 centimetres tall. All parts of the plant exude a thick, bright orange-yellow latex when broken, which is a defining diagnostic character. Stems are erect, slender, and sparsely branched, bearing alternate, pinnately divided leaves whose lobes are themselves rounded and shallowly toothed, glaucous beneath. From late spring through summer the plant produces loose terminal umbels of four-petalled bright yellow flowers about 2 centimetres across, followed by slender, cylindrical capsules 3 to 5 centimetres long that split lengthwise to release shiny black seeds bearing white elaiosomes. The species is native to Europe and western Asia and is widely naturalised in China, North America, and elsewhere, favouring shaded, disturbed ground.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Bai Qu Cai.
No notes yet.