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Bai Zhu

Bai Zhu is a plant whose root is used to make medicine. Bai Zhu is used for stomach upsets, abdominal pain, bloating, water retention, diarrhea, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss due to cancer, allergies to dust mites and rheumatic joint pain. Bai Zhu is used in combination with other medicinal herbs of traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung cancer and complications of dialysis.

How does Bai Zhu work?

Chemicals contained in Bai Zhu may improve the function of the digestive tract and reduce pain and swelling.

How effective is Bai Zhu?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of Bai Zhu for the treatment of appetite loss. Recent research shows that taking a purified ingredient of Bai Zhu called atractylenolide appears to improve appetite in people who have lost weight due to stomach cancer. There is also insufficient scientific data to evaluate the effectiveness of Bai Zhu for rheumatic joint pain, stomach upset, abdominal pain, bloating, edema and diarrhea. Further scientific studies are required to be able to make a statement regarding the effectiveness of Bai Zhu in these areas of application.

Safety and side effects

Atractylenolide, a chemical found in Bai Zhu, appears to be safe when used at an appropriate dosage (1.3 grams per day) for a period of up to seven weeks. Possible side effects include nausea, dry mouth and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. There is not enough information available to assess whether other Bai Zhu products are safe and harmless.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of Bai Zhu during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid products made from this plant to be on the safe side.

Allergies to broom weed and related plants: Bai Zhu may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this plant family include broomweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds and daisies. If you suffer from allergies, you should consult your doctor before taking Bai Zhu.

Interactions

At present, there is no information on interactions between Bai Zhu and medications.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Bai Zhu depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Bai Zhu. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

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