Is white mulberry root the same as Houttuynia cordata?

Jun 25, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, Bai Mao Gen (Imperata root) is not Yu Xing Cao (Houttuynia cordata). These two are different plants. Bai Mao Gen is the dried rhizome of Imperata cylindrica of the Gramineae family. It is cylindrical in shape, yellow-white or light yellow in color, slightly glossy, with longitudinal wrinkles, distinct nodes, brittle texture, and fibrous fracture surface.

Generally speaking, Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma) is not Yu Xing Cao (Houttuyniae Herba), as they are two distinct plants. A detailed analysis is as follows:

Bai Mao Gen refers to the dried rhizome of the grass plant Imperata cylindrica, which is cylindrical in shape, has a yellow-white or light yellow surface with a slightly glossy appearance, longitudinal wrinkles, clearly defined nodes, a brittle texture, fibrous cross-section, hollow center, a faint aroma, and a slightly sweet taste. It has functions including cooling the blood to stop bleeding and clearing heat to promote urination. It is commonly used to treat symptoms such as hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria, irritability and thirst due to heat syndromes, and cough due to lung heat. In contrast, Yu Xing Cao is the fresh whole herb or dried aerial part of Houttuynia cordata of the Saururaceae family. Its stem is flattened cylindrical, twisted, with a yellowish-brown surface, several longitudinal ridges, clearly visible nodes, residual roots often present at nodes on the lower part, brittle texture easily broken, leaves when flattened are heart-shaped with an acuminate apex, entire margins, an upper surface ranging from dark yellow-green to dark brown, and a lower surface gray-green or gray-brown. It emits a fishy odor when crushed, has a slightly astringent taste, and functions to clear heat and detoxify, resolve abscesses and expel pus, and promote urination to relieve dysuria. It is commonly used for treating conditions such as lung abscess with expectoration of pus, phlegm-heat asthma and cough, heat dysentery, and urinary tract infections with dysuria. Therefore, Bai Mao Gen and Yu Xing Cao significantly differ in plant origin, morphological characteristics, and medicinal effects.

To avoid risks associated with herbal use, it is recommended to use traditional Chinese medicine under the guidance of qualified TCM practitioners and to strictly distinguish their plant origins. During treatment, maintain a light diet and avoid spicy or stimulating foods to enhance therapeutic effectiveness.

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What should reed rhizome (bai maogen) be combined with to treat kidney disease?

In traditional Chinese medicine, kidney disease is often associated with downward infiltration of damp-heat, deficiency of the spleen and kidneys, and blood stasis blocking the channels. Imperata root (Bai Mao Gen) clears heat, promotes urination, cools the blood, and stops bleeding; when combined with other herbs, it can enhance therapeutic effects. Commonly used clinical combinations include Poria (Fu Ling), Astragalus (Huang Qi), Salvia (Dan Shen), Plantago seed (Che Qian Zi), and Atractylodes (Bai Zhu). Kidney disease management requires treatment based on pattern differentiation, and the above herbal combinations should be used only under professional guidance. In daily life, patients should avoid overexertion and control their intake of salt and protein.

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Can Imperata root be used to treat nosebleeds?

Imperata root (Bai Mao Gen) is generally used to alleviate mild nosebleeds caused by lung heat or excessive internal heat. However, it is not effective for nosebleeds resulting from trauma, blood disorders, or those involving significant blood loss. In daily life, maintain indoor humidity, avoid aggressive nose picking, eat a light diet low in spicy foods, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. For mild nosebleeds associated with internal heat, Bai Mao Gen decoction may be used as a supportive remedy.