Bai Tou Weng - Pulsatilla chinensis

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Bai Tou Weng
 
 Latin
Radix Pulsatillae
 Introduction Back to Top
Radix Pulsatillae is the dried root of Pulsatilla chinensis (Fam. Ranunculaceae). In spring, it's collected, washed clean, dried in the sun and sliced.

 Western medical Back to Top
This herb is indicated in the treatment of amebic dysentery, bacillary dysentery, necrotic enteritis, infantile jaundice and toothache, etc..

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, removes Toxin, cools Blood and stops dysentery.
  • Properties: Bitter, cold.
  • Channels entered: Large Intestine.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The herb contains triterpenoid saponin, protoanemonin and anemonin, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Anti-bacterial effect

Juice of fresh stem of bai tou weng had inhibitory effect on staphylococcus aureus and bacillus pyocyaneus in vitro.

Anti-amebic effect

bai tou weng decoction and its saponins could inhibit the growth of entamoebahistolytica in vitro and in vivo, but the dosages should be large.

Anti-trichomonas vaginalis effect

5% bai tou weng fluid extract could kill trichomonas vaginalis within 5 minutes in vitro.

Others

Aether extract of bai tou weng had certain analgesic and sedative effects.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Amebic dysentery

Water decoction of 15~30g root of bai tou weng each day was used to treat amebic dysentery in adults. For patients with severe condition, make 100ml juice from 30~50g bai tou weng for retention enema, once every day. 23 cases were observed, after an average 7 days' treatment, all cases were cured.

Bacillary dysentery

The formula consisting of bai tou weng 18g; huang bo 9~18g; qin pi 6~9g; mu xiang, chen pi, gan cao, 3g each was used to treat 123 cases of acute bacillary dysentery, or acute attack of chronic bacillary dysentery. 1 dose every day, 7~15 days as a course of treatment. Results: the curative rate was 78%.

Necrotic enteritis

bai tou weng, bai jiang cao, da huang, huai hua, zhi shi, dan shen, shao yao, etc., water decoction, 1 dose every day, fasting till abdominal pressure decreased, bloody stool and abdominal pain disappeared. After 2~5 days' treatment, 20 cases were cured, and 3 ineffective.

Infantile jaundice

bai tou weng 3~6g; huang qi, bai mao gen, 10~15g; huang qin, cang zhu, 5~10g. The dregs of the decoction was removed and 1~2g da huang was soaked in the juice for 10 minutes. 1 dose every day, taken in times. 2 doses for severe cases. 50 cases were cured, 39 were cured, 8 markedly effective and 3 ineffective.

Toothache

Whole plant of bai tou weng 2000g was made into 100 sachets of granules, 1~2 sachets daily. 31 cases of toothache due to Wind Fire were treated, 25 cured, 5 improved and 1 ineffective.

 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998