Herb module

Huang Bai

Phellodendron BarkPhellodendron amurense

A bright yellow tree bark, used in Resilience | Fós to cool Fire and clear Damp-Heat from the lower body.

Huang Bai is the inner bark of the Amur cork tree, and it is one of the classic cooling herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is used to drain Damp-Heat, especially from the Lower Jiao, the lower part of the body, and to drain Kidney Fire. In Resilience | Fós it brings a cooling balance to the formula, settling Heat that can build up when the body is under strain.

Best functions

Traditionally used to drain Damp-Heat, especially from the Lower Jiao
Used to drain Kidney Fire
Traditionally used to relieve toxicity and drain Fire toxin
Used to clear Damp-Heat from deep in the body, down to the bones
Research has looked at its natural compound berberine for its effects on inflammation and microbes

Fascinating facts

Huang Bai comes from the inner bark of the Amur cork tree, which is native to northeast Asia and takes its name from the Amur River region.
The tree has thick, spongy, cork-like outer bark. Under it, the inner bark is a vivid yellow, and 'Huang' in its Chinese name means yellow.
A simple way to remember Huang Bai is "yellow bark, cold fire-drainer." The phrase is a nod to its golden inner bark and its cooling role in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Researchers have compared bark from two related species, Phellodendron chinense and Phellodendron amurense, to see how each acts on nerve cells in the lab.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Huang Bai is a bitter, Heat-clearing herb. It is cold in nature and enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Resilience · Fós page

Biomedical deep dive

Huang Bai Phellodendron Bark

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Huang Bai (Philodendron, Cortex phellodendri) is cold and enters the KI and BL meridians; drains Damp-Heat especially from the Lower Jiao, drains Kidney Fire and relieves toxicity. Resilience | Fós sheet

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

The Resilience sheet says the combination of magnolia bark and Phellodendron bark has been shown to reduce the impact of cortisol (the main stress hormone) exposure.
Berberine (a yellow alkaloid in the bark) activates AMPK, a cell energy sensor; anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering effects have clinical evidence. Noa’s notes
Broad-spectrum antimicrobial against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Noa’s notes
Anti-inflammatory: inhibits NF-κB (a master switch for inflammation), IL-6 and TNF-α (inflammatory messengers). Noa’s notes

What the research says

In moderately stressed adults, a magnolia and Phellodendron bark combination was associated with lower fatigue and lower feelings of stress and anxiety (Talbott et al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2013).

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
The Resilience fact sheet cautions anyone with a medical condition or taking medication to consult their doctor before use.
The Resilience fact sheet advises that if the formula interferes with sleep, the last dose should be taken earlier in the day.
Caution in pregnancy. Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

Resilience | Fós (#8 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.