☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Heat Toxins; Kills Intestinal parasites; Treats ocular diseases
Traditional Chinese Uses
Zi Bai Pi is the bark of Catalpa ovata (Cortex Catalpae), a minor and now seldom-used remedy. It is bitter and cold, and traditional materia medica classify it primarily among the parasite-expelling (anthelmintic) herbs while also crediting it with clearing Heat and resolving toxicity. It has been used to expel intestinal worms, notably roundworm, to relieve itching, weeping sores and skin ulcers, and, applied as a wash, for various eye complaints; some sources also note it for Heat-type vomiting.
Because the drug is uncommon and its supply unreliable, Sang Bai Pi (mulberry root bark) is frequently substituted for it. The folk name is applied somewhat loosely across regions, so botanical identity should be confirmed before clinical use.
Botanical Description
Zi Bai Pi ("purple-white bark") is a folk-medicine name with no single, confirmed botanical referent. Various regional sources have attributed it to the bark of Catalpa bungei (Bignoniaceae), certain Diospyros species, or other trees with violet-tinged inner bark, but none of these identifications can be considered authoritative. Without a verified Latin binomial, morphological description is not possible. The name appears sporadically in minor Chinese folk-medicine compilations and is not catalogued in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia or in Bensky and Gamble. Until a reliable identification is established, this entry should be treated as botanically uncertain.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poultice | As needed | 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 Zi Bai Pi.
No notes yet.