Bǎi Hé (百合) — Lily bulb
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Key formulas
- Modern research
- Cautions and contraindications
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Bǎi Hé (百合) — Lilium brownii / lancifolium — is known in English as Lily bulb. It belongs to the category of Yin tonics in the Chinese Materia Medica and is one of the important herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is used in Chinese herbal medicine as a component of classical herbal formulas and in tailored prescriptions.
I prescribe Bǎi Hé as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan. Herbs are always combined with other herbs selected to match the patient’s individual TCM pattern. Online consultations are available for patients who cannot attend my clinic in person.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Bǎi Hé |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 百合 |
| Latin name | Lilium brownii / lancifolium |
| English name | Lily bulb |
| Nature | slightly cold |
| Flavour | sweet |
| Channels entered | Heart, Lung |
| Category | Yin tonics |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Nourishes Lung Yin and moistens the Lungs — a gentle, food-grade Yin tonic
- Clears Heat from the Heart and calms the Mind
- Nourishes Heart Yin and relieves restlessness
- Stops cough
Indications
- Dry cough from Lung Yin deficiency — one of the most gentle Lung-moistening herbs
- Insomnia, anxiety and restlessness from Heart Yin deficiency — the classical 'Lily Disease' pattern
- Melancholy, grief and mild depression from Lung and Heart Yin deficiency
- Long COVID — restores Lung and Heart Yin depleted by illness
- Menopausal symptoms with anxiety, insomnia and dry cough
4. Key formulas containing Bǎi Hé
Bǎi Hé appears in the following key formulas:
- Bai He Gu Jin Tang
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
See the full Chinese herbal medicine formula directory for detailed information on all 70 classical formulas.
5. Modern research
Lilium brownii (Bai He) is a gentle, food-grade medicinal herb with significant modern research. Key bioactive constituents include steroidal saponins, polysaccharides, colchicine alkaloids and flavonoids. Research confirms immunomodulatory properties (Bai He polysaccharides enhance T-cell function), anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, sedative and anxiolytic activity, and anti-cancer properties (colchicine-related compounds). A systematic review of Bai He-based formulas for the classical 'Lily Disease' pattern confirmed significant improvements in anxiety and depression scores. As a widely consumed food in East Asia, it has an excellent safety profile.
6. Cautions and contraindications
Generally very safe — one of the most gentle and well-tolerated herbs in the Materia Medica. Use with caution in patients with Cold and deficiency-Cold patterns, Wind-Cold cough and diarrhoea, as the cold, moistening nature may aggravate these.
Important: Chinese herbs should always be prescribed by a fully qualified herbalist who is a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Never self-prescribe or self-administer Chinese herbs without professional guidance. Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto is a member of the RCHM with over 25 years of clinical experience.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Bǎi Hé as part of tailored herbal formulas for a range of conditions including Insomnia, Anxiety, Long COVID, Menopausal symptoms. Every prescription is individually formulated following a full TCM assessment and adjusted throughout treatment as the pattern responds.
I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Online Chinese herbal medicine consultations are available throughout the UK and internationally. Visit the prices page for consultation fees.
Return to the Chinese herb directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
