Witnessed by: TCM
Ash bark (Fraxinus rhynchophylla), of the Oleaceae family. Deciduous tree of hill forest and stream banks; native range: northern China and the north-east. Globally recognized as qin pi (秦皮) in Chinese. The part used is branch and stem bark. Grey-brown curled bark strips, bitter and puckering, astringent on the tongue.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
ASH BARK
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- ash bark
- Scientific name
- Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance
- Family
- Oleaceae
Form
- Part used
- branch and stem bark
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · astringent
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Large Intestine · Liver · Gallbladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, dries dampness, resolves toxicity and checks dysentery, clears Liver heat and brightens the eyes
Cautions
- Contraindications
- avoid in cold from Spleen-Stomach deficiency
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