Phellodendron Bark is bitter and cold in nature, with the effects of clearing heat and detoxification (removing heat and toxicity from the body) and clearing heat and drying dampness (removing heat and drying dampness). Cangzhu is bitter, warm and dry, with the effect of drying dampness and strengthening the spleen. The combination of the two is often used in the case of Damp-Heat Hyperemesis (invasion of the intestines, bladder and lower limbs by dampness and heat evils).
Phellodendron Bark belongs to the drug of clearing heat and drying dampness, its bitter to dry dampness, cold to clear heat, long for clearing dampness-heat in the lower Jiao (dampness and heat evil invade the intestines, bladder, lower limbs, etc.), used for the treatment of dampness-heat diarrhea (diarrhea caused by dampness-heat evil), dampness-heat jaundice, swollen and painful feet and knees, impotence, sores and eruptions of heat poisoning and eczema, etc.. Huangbai can also clear deficiency heat to treat yin deficiency fever.
Cangzhu is pungent, bitter and dry, good at strengthening the spleen and drying dampness (strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness), as well as eliminating wind-dampness, relieving the symptoms and clarifying the eyes, and is used for treating the distension and fullness of the epigastrium (abdomen) caused by dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach, and for treating the pain and swelling of the feet and knees caused by damp-heat infiltration and impotence, etc. It is also used for treating wind-dampness paralysis. In addition, it is also used to treat rheumatic paralysis, limb joint pain, wind-cold surface evidence, night blindness, eyes and eyes dimming.
It should be noted that Huangbai is bitter and cold and injures the stomach, and may cause diarrhea after taking it, and is contraindicated for those who have deficiency of spleen and stomach (weak and cold spleen and stomach). Cangzhu is warm and dry, for Yin deficiency and internal heat, Qi deficiency and sweating should not be taken.
Although Huangbai and Cangzhu have many effects, but the adverse effects of the two are not clear, need to be identified by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to use, avoid self medication.