Bì Bá (荜茇) — Long Pepper
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1. Overview
Bì Bá (荜茇) — the dried unripe fruit of Piper longum — is one of the strongly warming herbs of the Chinese pharmacopoeia, originally introduced from India and South Asia. It enters the Stomach and Large Intestine channels powerfully and is used for cold-pattern epigastric pain, vomiting and diarrhoea where the cold is deep enough to require a hotter herb than Gan Jiang. It is also one of the classical topical herbs for toothache from Cold — a single piece held against the affected tooth or its powder rubbed on the gum.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Bì Bá |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 荜茇 |
| Latin name | Fructus Piperis Longi / Piper longum |
| English name | Long pepper |
| Nature | Hot |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels entered | Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Category | Warm interior herbs that expel Cold |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Warms the Middle Jiao and disperses Cold
- Descends rebellious Qi and stops pain
Indications
- Severe cold-pattern epigastric pain unresponsive to milder warming herbs
- Vomiting of clear thin fluids and acid regurgitation from Stomach Cold
- Cold diarrhoea with abdominal pain
- Toothache from Cold (topical application)
- Migraine and headache from Cold in the Liver and Stomach channels
4. Key formulas containing Bì Bá
- Bi Ba Wan — Cold-pattern abdominal pain and diarrhoea
- Wu Ling Zhi Wan — Cold abdominal pain with Blood stasis
5. Cautions
Contraindicated in Yin deficiency with Heat, in Stomach Fire patterns, in pregnancy and in conditions where Heat has invaded the eyes. Standard clinical doses are 1–3 g. Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.
6. Treatment at my clinic
I see patients at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Online consultations are available. Return to the Chinese herb directory.
Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide. After a full video consultation, Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto formulates a bespoke herbal prescription and posts your Chinese herbs directly to your door.
