White atractylodes, the foremost herb of the Spleen
Bai Zhu reads “the white Zhu”, as opposed to Cang Zhu, the grey-green Zhu, a neighbouring species of the same genus. A saying sums up its place in the Chinese pharmacopoeia: “in the south Zhu, in the north ginseng; of ten formulas, nine contain Zhu”. It is the thick, knobbly rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala, a perennial of the daisy family with reddish-purple flowers, almost vanished from the wild and now cultivated. Its reference growing area is Zhejiang, around Yuqian, whose Yu Zhu ranks among the “eight herbs of Zhejiang”; the Taoists nicknamed it “the Zhu of the immortals”.
Supplementing the Spleen to overcome Dampness
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bai Zhu is warm, bitter and sweet in flavour: sweetness supplements, bitterness dries, and warmth supports Spleen Yang. It thus brings together what the Spleen asks for, the Spleen that according to tradition likes dryness and dislikes Dampness. Tradition gives it the title of foremost herb for supplementing Spleen Qi: it nourishes this Qi and restores the Spleen’s capacity to transform food into Qi and Blood. It dries Dampness above all by strengthening the Spleen, not by forcing water out; this is what the formula “supplement Earth to overcome Dampness” sums up.
Stir-fried, for a harmonised Middle
The texts distinguish raw from prepared: raw, Bai Zhu expels Dampness and makes water flow; prepared, it harmonises the Middle, supplements Qi and generates Fluids. Stir-fried, it turns golden and smells toasted, and the cooking tempers its drying character by reducing its essential oil. It is found with poria in Si Jun Zi Tang, the basic Qi formula: Bai Zhu strengthens the Spleen so that it stops producing Dampness, while poria clears what is already there.
Key benefits
Spleen tonified & Qi supported
The foremost Spleen herb according to Chinese tradition, white atractylodes tonifies the Spleen and supports Qi, the basis of everyday energy.
Good digestion & harmonised Middle
Prepared, it harmonises the Middle and contributes to good digestion by restoring the Spleen’s capacity to transform.
Dampness dried
Bitter and warm, it dries the Dampness that a weak Spleen allows to build up.
