Huang Bo (Cortex Phellodendri)

Huang Bo’s barks are used for medicine. It is bitter, cold in nature, and helps to clear heat and dry dampness, purge fire and remove toxicity, subdue deficiency heat.It is mainly used to treat dysentery, enteritis, hepatitis, jaundice, flaccidness in legs and knees, as well as scanty urine with reddish tinge and burning pains in the urethra. Moreover, it can also be used to treat heat toxin, carbuncle, eczema and purulent discharge in the ears. Like goldthread, it is antibacterial in a broad spectrum, and helps to lower blood pressure and promote the discharge of bile from the system. The first-class Huang Bo has thick bark and strong stickiness after being soaked, while those with less viscid granules and lighter color are of less quality.