The efficacy and function of Yubaifu

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Yubaifu has great medicinal value and can treat many diseases. Let’s take a closer look at it below.

[Other names] Milk white atractylodes (Chinese Materia Medica), Chicken heart white atractylodes (Discussion on Chinese Medicinal Materials Varieties).

[Source] It is the tuber of the Araceae plant, Unicornia paniculata . Dig up the tubers in autumn, remove the remaining stems and fibrous roots, bump off or scrape off the rough skin with a bamboo knife, wash and dry them.

[Original morphology] The plant morphology is detailed in the entry for "Unicornia".

[Habitat distribution] Mainly produced in Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hubei. It is also produced in Gansu, Shanxi and other places. Henan has the largest output and the best quality.

[Properties] Dry tubers are oval or ovate in shape, 2 to 4 cm long and about 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The surface is white or yellowish white, slightly rough, with ring marks and small pit-like root marks. There is a stem scar or bud scar at the top. It is hard and difficult to break, with a white cross section, powdery, odorless, light taste, and a spicy and pungent taste when chewed. The best ones are those that are large, plump, peeled, white and powdery.

[Chemical composition] Contains mucus, calcium oxalate, sucrose, saponin, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-D-glucoside, and inositol. There is also a biological alkali reaction.

[Preparation] Raw Yubaifu: pick out impurities, wash and dry. Preparation of Yubaifu: Take raw Yubaifu and separate them into large and small pieces. Soak them in cold water, and change the water 2 to 3 times a day. After soaking for several days, if sticky foam appears, add a little alum when changing the water. Change the water again after soaking for one day. Soak until there is no spicy feeling in the mouth. Take it out, spread it evenly in a container with fresh ginger slices and alum powder, add a little water, marinate for about 3 to 4 weeks, pour it into a pot and cook it thoroughly, take it out, pick out the ginger slices, and let it dry until 60% dry. After it is moistened, cut it into slices and dry it.

[Properties and flavors] "Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica": "Very warm in nature, pungent and sweet in taste, and toxic."

【Meridian】 "Sichuan Chinese Medicine Annals": "enters the stomach and liver meridians."

【Functions and indications】 Expel wind and phlegm, calm the nerves and relieve pain. It is used to treat aphonia caused by stroke, heart pain and blood stasis, hemicrania, sore throat, scrofula, and tetanus.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1 to 3 qian; or soak in wine. For external use: mash and apply or grind into powder and apply.

【Note】 Pregnant women should not take this medicine. It should be taken internally by humans with caution.

[Additional prescription] ① For treating injuries from falls, bleeding from wounds, and tetanus: 12 liang of raw Yubaifu, 1 liang of Saposhnikovia divaricata, 1 liang of Angelica dahurica, 1 liang of raw Arisaema confusa, 1 liang of Gastrodia elata, and 1 liang of Notopterygium wilfordii. Grind the above six ingredients into fine powder, sieve and mix evenly. Apply externally to the affected area, and three to five fen internally. Pregnant women should not take it internally. (Yuzhen Powder in Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

Above, we introduced what Yubaifu is and understood the effects and functions of Yubaifu. Yubaifu can improve our immunity. Yubaifu also has a therapeutic effect in health care and has many benefits to our body.