Fuzi and Baifuzi are both commonly used traditional Chinese medicines. Although they differ by only one word, their usage and effects are quite different. Let's take a detailed look at the differences between the two!
1. Morphological Identification
Baifuzi is similar in appearance to Fuzi, but smaller in size. The Baifuzi referred to in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia is the tuber of the perennial herb Aconitum carmichaeli, a member of the Ranunculaceae family. It is called Yubai Fu because it is produced in Yuzhou, Henan Province. Its surface is white or light yellow, and the interior is white.
In some areas, such as Shanghai, the Baifuzi commonly used is the tuber of the perennial herb Aconitum kusnezoffii, a member of the Araceae family. It is called Guanbai Fu because it is mainly produced in the northeast. Its surface is brownish-black, and the interior is white.
2. Differences in Nature and Flavor
Fuzi: It has a strong pungent and hot nature, is toxic, and enters the heart, spleen, and kidney meridians. It functions to restore yang and rescue collapse, warm the middle and relieve pain, and disperse cold and dry dampness. It is mainly used for spleen and kidney yang deficiency, cold and stagnation, yang deficiency and cold dampness arthralgia, especially suitable for lower Jiao cold dampness.
Baifuzi: It has a pungent, sweet, and warm nature, is toxic, and enters the Yangming stomach meridian. It functions to dispel wind and cold, expel cold and dampness, and stop spasms and relieve pain. It is mainly used for wind-phlegm excess, deviation of the mouth and eyes, headache and convulsions, especially suitable for wind in the upper Jiao and head and face.
3. Toxicity Differences
Both Fuzi and Baifuzi are toxic, and the toxicity of Baifuzi mainly manifests as strong irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. However, its toxicity is very weak, and when combined with different Chinese herbal medicines during preparation, it will not harm patients.
The process of Fuzi poisoning is as follows: first, a burning sensation in the stomach, then numbness of the lips, followed by numbness and tightness in the limbs, then a feeling of upward movement in the stomach, constant nausea, followed by vomiting and diarrhea, continuous restlessness and feeling cold, gradually loss of consciousness, leading to fainting and falling.
