The efficacy and function of Baile

Baile is a medicinal material that can treat many diseases. If consumed scientifically and healthily, it can bring great benefits to our physical health and disease treatment. Now let’s take a closer look at the effects and eating methods of Baile.

【English Name】 Acanthopanax Trifoliate Root-bark

【Other names】 Acanthopanax bark, Liriodendron chinense, Acanthopanax trifoliatus, Acanthopanax thorny

[Source] It is the root bark of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr., a plant of the Araliaceae family. Dig up the roots in summer and autumn, wash them, peel off the root bark, and dry them in the sun.

[Original form] A climbing shrub, 1 to 7 meters high, with branches sparsely covered with downward-facing thorns. Palmate compound leaves, 3 leaflets, rarely 4-5, the central one is larger, elliptic-ovate to oblong, 2-8cm long, 1.5-4cm wide, pointed or shortly acuminate at apex, cuneate at base, serrated at margin, glabrous on both sides or with sparse prickles only along veins; petiole 2-5cm long, sparsely covered with hooked spines. Umbels of 3 to 10 are born at the top of twigs, rarely solitary, calyx has 5 teeth; petals 5, yellow-green; stamens 5; ovary 2-chambered, styles 2, fused to the middle. The fruit is oblate and black when ripe. The flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is October.

[Habitat distribution] Growing on hillsides, forest edges and bushes. It is distributed from the southern slope of Qinling Mountains in the north, but the northern boundary of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is about 31° north latitude, and it is produced everywhere to the south.

[Properties] The root bark is irregularly cylindrical, slightly curved, and 0.5 to 1 mm thick. The outer surface is gray-reddish brown, with small lenticels that are circular or slightly elongated laterally, 0.8 to 3.5 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter; the inner surface is gray-brown. There are brown dot-like resin ducts on the fractured surface, in which bright yellow-brown oleoresin can be seen. It has a slight fragrance and a slightly spicy and bitter taste.

【Chemical composition】 Contains kaurenoic acid and β-sitosterol.

[Functions and indications] Same as Acanthopanax sphenanthera.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

After understanding some of the effects and common knowledge of Baile, I hope that everyone can use scientific methods in the process of consumption to make it play a greater role.