---
title: "Ba Dou"
url: "https://books.drcassone.com/21/traditional-medicines-of-east-asia/294/ba-dou"
---

 ![ba dou, crotoisn fructus.jpg](/u/ba-dou-crotoisn-fructus-5mmkfU.jpg) 

# Ba Dou

### Crotonis Fructus

_acrid, hot, toxic_

#### PRIMARY FUNCTION:

_**Drain Downward and Harshly Expel**_

CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Constipation
 - Due to cold patterns in the middle jiao and lower
jiao
- Abdominal fullness and distention
 - Due to cold patterns in the middle jiao and lower
jiao
- Ascites
 - Due to cold patterns in the middle jiao
- Labored breathing
 - Due to the accumulation of cold phlegm in the
upper jiao
- Wheezing
 - Due to the accumulation of cold phlegm
- Fullness in the chest
 - Due to the accumulation of cold phlegm in the
upper jiao
- Ulcers
- Abscesses

This herb is a major cathartic. It is toxic and must be used with
extreme caution. It is hot and moves cold patterns down and out
of the body. Cold accumulation of this nature can display with
such symptoms as constipation, distended abdomen, and
abdominal pain.

When there is excess water, such as ascites or edema, this herb
can help to remove it from the body. The toxic quality of this
herb suppresses ADH production in the pituitary and aldosterone
in the adrenal glands so that the body can flush the poison. This
flushing mechanism, which is a reaction to the herb as poison,
eliminates pathogens and has a detoxifying effect.

It breaks up phlegm congestion to help breathing and decrease
wheezing when the pattern is from cold phlegm. It can also
improve a cold throat. Ba Dou helps pustular abscesses express
and can be used with severe ulcers.

**Channels:** lung, stomach, large intestine

COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL
POSSIBILITIES:
- Diuresis
 - Toxic nature flushes the body
- Laxative
 - Toxic nature flushes the body
- Gastritis
 - Removes harmful irritants
- Dermatitis
 - Detoxifies liver and gut
- Antimicrobial
- Stimulate pancreas exocrine function
 - Enzyme
- Antiparasitic

**Formulas:**
- San Wu Bei Ji Wan
- Tian Tai Wu Yao San

**Contraindications:** this herb is very toxic and should not be
used with patients of weak constitution or with pregnant patients, should not be taken in hot decoction (let cool before
taking), do not combine with Qian Niu Zi, She Chuang Zi, or Shi
Hu

**Zoo Image:** a frigid vulture has a Popsicle stick up its rear with abscessed
strawberries all over its body and a phlegm frozen scarf

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