Mulberry bark alleviates edema by inducing diuresis

What's Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi)?
Medicinally, it mainly refers to the dried root bark of Morus alba L. This is a species commonly known as white mulberry in the family Moraceae. So, please keep in mind that it is the root bark rather than the stem bark that is used as a medicine. Try not to mix them up clinically. And it is also known as mulberry root bark, Cortex Mori, Cortex Mori Albae Radicis, white mulberry bark, mulberry white bark, Sohakuhi, mulberry tree bark, and more. It is widely cultivated to obtain white mulberry leaf because this is the main food for silkworms. As you know, silkworm cocoon is one of main sources of the commercial production of silk. In China, it can be found in most regions, in particular Anhui, Henan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Hunan. And the root bark is usually dug up from late autumn when mulberry tree leaf is falling off to next spring before the sprouting. After that, remove dirt and fibril, scrape off the yellow-brown tertia when it is still fresh, peel the root bark off, vertically cut the cortex by a knife, pound it with a mallet in order to separate the cortex from xylem, remove the xylem, and dry them in the sun. When used as medicine, it is generally raw and cut into shreds, or stir-fried with honey.

The dried root bark of mulberry tree is often in the shape of twisted, elongated plate or a trough due to both sides curl inward. They have varying lengths and widths, usually 1 to 5mm thick. The outer surface is relatively smooth, yellowish white or nearly white, and with a few brown or reddish yellow spots and longitudinal cracks and sparse fibers. Inner surface is yellowish-white or pale yellow, smooth, and with fine vertical stripes, or exposed fibers due to splitting vertically. It is light weight, tough, and hard to break, but it is easy to be split vertically and white dust is generated when it is torn. It has kind of similar smell of the bean and sweet but slightly bitter taste. Medicinally the whiter, thicker, and more powdery one is preferred.

Mulberry bark benefits
The inner bark of some species in the mulberry family, such as Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), is the main source of making mulberry bark cloth or fabric and handmade mulberry bark paper. This is simply because its woody bast fiber is an ideal raw material for manufacturing exceptionally pure, translucent paper or a paper-like fabric, which is extensively used for rubber stamping projects, handmade cards, scrapbook project, etc. these days. Besides of the above-mentioned applications, mulberry bark health benefits are of equal importance.

a) It alleviates edema by inducing diuresis. Therefore, consuming it can do good to those are susceptible to Edema after a long ride or after the surgery;

b) It helps get rid of athlete’s foot since it is a good odor remover.
Specifically, boil appropriate amount of them with hot water and then soak feet. By doing so, athlete’s foot can be treated or prevented;

c) It adjusts endocrine system and urinary system. Eating it can help the body regulate endocrine disorders and urinary problems;

d) Instead of by burning or acidizing skin tissue, it removes scars by nourishing and enhancing skin’s self-healing capabilities. Besides, it has a whitening effect too, which can be used to reduce scar color left after wounds have been healed.