Ren Zhong Bai
Homo sapiens L.
β― TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Drains Fire; Resolves Toxicity; Dispels Stasis and Stops Bleeding; Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores
Botanical Description
Ren Zhong Bai is the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeial name for the white sediment obtained from long-stored human urine. In classical preparation, urine (preferably from healthy young males) was collected in earthenware vessels and allowed to stand for an extended period; the precipitated salts and amorphous deposit that settled on the walls and base of the vessel were scraped off, sun-dried, and ground. The resulting substance is a light, friable, greyish-white to pale yellow powder consisting chiefly of urinary inorganic salts such as calcium phosphates, urates, and oxalates together with desiccated organic residues; it has a faintly salty, slightly fishy odor. A related and more refined preparation, Qiu Shi, was obtained by further recrystallization. The substance is essentially obsolete in modern clinical practice.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | β | β | β |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ren Zhong Bai (calcified urine sediment from clay chamber pots, urinary scale) is a cool substance used in Chinese medicine to clear Heat, cool the Blood, and dissolve Blood stasis. It is applied for conditions including nosebleeds, hemoptysis, and oral ulcers from Heat in the Blood, as well as for certain types of throat inflammation. As an unusual substance derived from the mineral deposits of dried urine, it represents the broad scope of materials included in the classical Chinese materia medica.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.