Phellodendron, particularly Phellodendron amurense (Amur cork tree), has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where its bark—known as "Huang Bai"—is considered a bitter, cold herb. In TCM, it is used to "clear heat" and "drain dampness," which are concepts that roughly correspond to inflammatory and metabolic disorders, including conditions like gout. Gout, traditionally associated with "damp-heat" in the joints, has therefore been treated with formulas containing Phellodendron bark for centuries. Historical texts, such as the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and later materia medica, mention the use of Huang Bai for swollen, painful joints, although they do not specifically use the term "gout" as understood in modern medicine.

Scientifically, there is limited direct research on Phellodendron's effectiveness for gout. Some laboratory studies have found that compounds in Phellodendron, such as berberine, may possess anti-inflammatory and uric acid-lowering properties, but clinical trials in gout patients are lacking. Thus, while the traditional use is well documented and some plausibility exists based on its pharmacology, robust scientific validation specifically for gout is currently insufficient.