Bark of Chinaberry Tree

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

• Strongly expels intestinal parasites - classically used for roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, and mixed helminth patterns when abdominal pain, irritability, anal itching, or worm expulsion indicate a significant parasitic burden.
• Kills parasites and relieves itching externally - powdered or decocted topical use addresses tinea, scabies, eczema, and vulvovaginal itching when damp-heat and parasites combine at the skin surface.
• Clears damp-heat from localized toxic lesions - its bitter coldness helps dry dampness and reduce inflammatory itching when hot, weeping, or foul lesions accompany fungal or parasitic skin disease.
• Acts as a harsh short-course eliminant rather than a daily tonic herb - traditionally reserved for defined excess conditions and usually combined with supportive or harmonizing herbs to reduce the burden of its toxicity.

Secondary Actions

• Traditional internal use may extend to trichomonas-type vaginal itching and damp-heat leukorrhea, especially when combined with external washing methods.
• Because Ku Lian Pi is cold and toxic, classical practice often limits the treatment course and balances it with digestive support rather than prescribing it as a long-term single herb.

Classic Formulas

• Hua Chong Wan (化虫丸) - traditional worm-expelling pill in which Ku Lian Pi is combined with Shi Jun Zi, Bing Lang, and other antiparasitic herbs for stubborn intestinal parasite accumulation.
• Lian Liu Er Pi Yin (楝榴二皮饮) - a regional decoction pairing Ku Lian Pi with Shi Liu Gen Pi for hookworm and related intestinal parasite presentations.
• External Ku Lian Pi powder or wash preparations mixed with vinegar, oil, or fat are repeatedly recorded in materia medica practice for scabies, tinea, and itching skin lesions.

Classical References

• Ming Yi Bie Lu and later materia medica list Ku Lian Pi as a cold, bitter, toxic bark that powerfully expels worms and should not be overused because of its harsh nature.
• TCM Wiki and related educational materia medica emphasize its dual internal-external role: strong antiparasitic action internally and damp-heat itching relief externally.
• The classical cautions to decoct thoroughly and avoid prolonged or excessive dosing reflect longstanding recognition that therapeutic value and toxicity sit close together in this herb.