Herbs that Drain
Damp
HCR class 3
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Herbs for Draining
Dampness
Most have diuretic action.
Tx impaired fluid metabolism
SP, LU, KD regulate fluid distribution; UB, SI
associated with urination.
All neutral -> cold
Sweet/bland - Milder action, seep dampness, safer for
deficiency
Bitter - Clear damp heat, Lin syndrome, HT fire ->SI,
stronger action
Caution in patients using diuretics (Furosemide, etc)
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Fu Ling - Poria, Hoelen / Poria cocos
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neutral, sweet, bland / HT, SP, LU
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A&I: Transforms dampness & strengthens spleen:
dysuria, edema, diarrhea, etc. (Si Jun Zi Tang, Shen
Ling Bai Zhu San, Wu Ling San)
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Phlegm-damp patterns. (Er Chen Tang)
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Calms mind: palpitations, insomnia. (Gui Pi Tang)
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Use skin (Fu ling pi) for edema, red poria (Chi fu ling)
for turbid urine or damp-heat, heart w/pine root (Fu
shen) for calming mind.
9-15 g
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Zhu Ling - Polyporus
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sl. cool, sweet, bland / SP, K, UB A&I:
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A&I: Transforms dampness, promotes urine: dysuria,
turbid urine, edema, diarrhea, leukorrhea. (Zhu Ling
Tang, Wu Ling San)
C&C: Do not use if no damp sx. Long term use
damages Yin.
5-10 g
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Hua shi - Talc / Pulvus Talci
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cold, sweet, bland / ST, UB
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A&I: UB damp-heat: painful urination. (Ba Zheng San)
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Summerheat-damp: thirst, restlessness, dysuria,
diarrhea. (Liu Yi San)
Topical: damp weepy skin sores.
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C&C: Contraindicated for Sp def, spermatorrhea, fluid
damage, excess urine. Long term causes granuloma
in LI, vagina.
9-18g decoct in cheese-cloth
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Yi Yi Ren - Coix seed, Job's tears / Sm Coicis
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sl cold, sweet, bland / SP, LU, K
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A&I: Sp def edema, diarrhea. (Shen Ling Bai Zhu San)
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Damp-heat: dysuria, leukorrhea. (Si Miao San)
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Wind-damp bi: stiffness, spasm. (Xuan Bi Tang)
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C&C: Contraindicated in pregnancy.
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Tonify spleen: dry-fry.
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9-30g
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Dong Gua Ren - Benincasa seed / Sm Benincasae
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cold, sweet / LU, ST, LI, SI
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A&I: Phlegm-heat in lung. Damp-heat: lung or LI
abcess, leukorrhea. (Da Huang Mu Dan Tang, Wei
Jing Tang)
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Skin (Dong gua pi): edema d/t summerheat-damp.
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C&C: Caution in damp cold, loose stool.
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Seed: 3-12 g Skin: 15-30 g
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Mu Tong - Akebia / Caulis Akebiae seu Clematis
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cool, bitter / UB, HT, SI
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A&I: UB damp-heat: dysuria, edema. (Ba Zheng San)
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Heart fire -> SI: mouth & tongue ulcers, irritability,
red/bloody urine. (Dao Chi San)
Promotes lactation.
C&C: Contraindicated during pregnancy. C&C:
Caution in yin def. OD can cause renal failure.
Banned in UK; some species contain aristolochic acid.
3-9 g
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Tong Cao - Ricepaper pith / Medulla tetrapanacis
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sl cold, sweet, bland / LU, ST
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A&I: UB damp-heat: dysuria, edema. (San Ren Tang)
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Promotes lactation.
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C&C: Caution in pregnancy, qi or yin def.
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Often used as substitute for Akebia Mu Tong.
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3-6 g
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Deng Xin Cao - Juncus pith / Medulla junci
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sl cold, sweet, bland / HT, LU, SI
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A&I: Heart fire -> SI, esp children.
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Insomnia d/t damp-heat or Ht yin def.
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Damp-heat dysuria. (Ba Zheng San)
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C&C: Caution in def cold.
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1.5-4.5 g
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Qu Mai - Dianthus / Herba dianthi
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cold, bitter / UB, HT, SI
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A&I: UB damp-heat: dysuria w/blood, pain. (Ba Zheng
San)
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Amenorrhea d/t blood stasis.
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C&C: Contraindicated in pregnancy, SP or KD def.
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6-12 g
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Di Fu Zi - Broom cypress fruit / Fructus kochiae
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cold, sweet, bitter / UB
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A&I: Damp-heat dysuria.
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Topical/internal: stop itching, damp-heat skin sores.
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6-15 g
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Bian Xu - Common knotgrass / Hb Polygoni avicularis
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sl cold, bitter / UB
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A&I: UB damp-heat: dysuria w/blood, pain. (Ba Zheng
San)
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Damp-heat skin sores: eczema, trichomonas, tinea.
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C&C: OD harms essence, qi.
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9-15 g
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Shi Wei - Pyrrosia leaf / Folium Pyrrosiae
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sl cold, bitter, sweet / UB, LU
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A&I: Clears damp-heat: hot/stony/bloody dysuria.
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Clears lung heat cough & phlegm.
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Bleeding d/t reckless movement of blood.
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C&C: Contraindicated in yin def. Do not use if no
damp-heat.
3-9 g
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Che Qian Zi - Plantain seed / Sm plantaginis
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cold, sweet / K, UB, LR, LU
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A&I: UB damp-heat w/dysuria, hematuria. (Ba Zheng
San)
Damp-heat diarrhea.
Red eyes d/t liver heat, yin def. (Long Dan Xie Gan
Tang, Zhu Jing Wan)
Lung heat cough w/phlegm.
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Herb (Che qian cao): toxic sores, jaundice.
C&C: Contraindicated during pregnancy. Caution in
yang qi def.
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Wrap in cheesecloth for decoctions.
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Seed: 5-10 g
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Herb: 9-30 g
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Dong Kui Zi - Abutilon / Sm Malvae
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cold, sweet / UB, LI, SI
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A&I: Dysuria, edema w/bloody or painful urination.
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Promotes lactation.
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Dry constipation
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C&C: Caution: pregnancy. Contraindicated: sp def
diarrhea.
6-12 g
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Bei Xie - Hypoglauca yam / Rz Dioscoreae
hypoglaucae
neutral, bitter / UB, LR, ST
A&I: Turbidity in lower jiao: cloudy urine, leukorrhea.
(Bei Xie Fen Qing Yin)
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Wind-damp bi.
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C&C: Caution: KD Yin def.
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9-15 g
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Jin Qian Cao - Lysimachia / Hb Lysimachiae
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neutral, sweet, bland / UB, GB, K, LR
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A&I: Stony dysuria or gallstones.
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Liv/GB dampheat: jaundice, red eyes.
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Fire toxin, snakebite.
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C&C: Large doses long-term may cause potassium
loss.
9-15 g, up to 60 g for stones
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Chi Xiao Dou - Aduki bean / Sm Phaseoli
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neutral, sweet, sour / HT, SI
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A&I: Edema, leg qi.
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Blood stasis, fire toxin: sores, boils.
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Mild cases of damp-heat jaundice.
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C&C: Can cause dryness.
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9-30 g
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Ze Xie - Alisma / Rz Alismatis
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cold, sweet, bland / K, UB
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A&I: Various damp sx esp lower jiao: dysuria, edema,
diarrhea. (Wu Ling San, Zhu Ling Tang)
Drains Kd yin def fire. (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan)
C&C: lower jiao discharge d/t Kd yang def or dampcold.
6-15 g
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Yin Chen Hao - Oriental wormwood / Hb Artemisiae
capillaris
cool, bitter, acrid / LR, SP, GB, ST
A&I: Jaundice, d/t damp-heat or damp-cold depending
on combination. (Yin Chen Hao Tang)
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Exterior heat or Shaoyang patterns.
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C&C: jaundice d/t deficiency
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9-15 g
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Han Fang Ji - Stephania / Rx Stephaniae
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cold, acrid, bitter / UB, SP, K
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A&I: Lower body damp or damp-heat: edema, leg qi,
ascites, gurgling. Wind-damp-heat bi. (Fang Ji Huang
Qi Tang)
C&C: Banned in UK because of possible substitution
w/aristolochia Guang Fang Ji.
3-9 g
Dispel WindDampness
Herbs for expelling Wind
Dampness
• Use for Wind-Cold-Damp Bi pain, acute
or chronic
• Acrid/bitter, may be warm, neutral or cold
• Most enter LR (sinews); also K (bones)
or SP (flesh); some have tonic properties
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Du Huo - Pubescent angelica / Rx Angelicae
pubescentis
warm, acrid, bitter / K,UB
A&I: Wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, especially lower
extremities. (Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang, Qiang Huo Sheng
Shi Tang)
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C&C: Contraindicated in def yin or blood with heat.
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3-9 g
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Qin Jiao - Large-leaf gentian rt / Rx Gentianae
macrophyllae
sl cold, bitter, acrid / GB,LR,ST
A&I: Wind-damp bi w/yin def heat. (Du Huo Ji Sheng
Tang)
Damp-heat jaundice, esp infants.
Counteracts drying properties of other Wind-damp
herbs.
C&C: Contraindicated for weak constitution, Sp def
diarrhea, frequent urine.
4.5-12 g
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Wei Ling Xian - Clematis root / Rx Clematidis
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warm, acrid, salty / UB
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A&I: Wind-cold-damp bi.
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Fish bone stuck in the throat.
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C&C: Contraindicated in def qi & blood.
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Fish bone: decoct w/ vinegar & brown sugar.
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6-12 g fish bone: 15-30 g
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Hai Tong Pi - Erythrina bark / Cx Erythrinae
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neutral, bitter, acrid / LR,SP,K
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A&I: Wind-damp bi w/heat or cold, especially lower
extremities.
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Superficial edema d/t damp.
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Gargle for toothache.
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C&C: Contraindicated in def yin or blood
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6-15 g
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Mu Gua - Chaenomeles fruit, Chinese quince / Fructus
chaenomelis
sl warm, sour / LR,SP
A&I: Wind-damp bi w/cramps, spasms, esp lower
extremities.
Painful swollen legs d/t cholera or leg qi.
C&C: Contraindicated in exterior patterns, xs use
harms teeth & bones
4-12 g
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Can Sha - Silkworm excrement / Excrementum
Bombycis mori
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warm, acrid, sweet / LR,SP,ST
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A&I: Wind-damp bi. (Xuan Bi Tang)
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Eczema, itchy skin d/t wind-damp.
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Cramps d/t cholera.
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Wrap in cheesecloth. Often taken alone.
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9-15 g
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Sang Zhi - Mulberry twigs / Ramulus Mori
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sl cold, bitter, sweet / LR
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A&I: Wind-damp bi syndrome, especially upper
extremities. (Juan Bi Tang)
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C&C: Caution in yin deficiency
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10-30 g
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Wu Jia Pi - Acanthopanax bark / Cx Acanthopanacis
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warm, acrid, bitter / LR,K
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A&I: Wind-damp bi, esp Liv/Kd def.
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Strengthens sinews & bones, esp w/bl stasis. For
weak/chronic elderly or developmental/motor probs in
children.
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C&C: Caution in yin deficiency heat.
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4.5-15 g
Often steeped in wine
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Cang Er Zi - Xanthium fruit / Fr Xanthii
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warm, sweet, toxic / LU
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A&I: Nasal congestion w/thick sticky discharge. (Cang
Er Zi San)
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Wind-damp bi.
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Wind-cold headache.
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C&C: Contraindicated in headache d/t blood def. OD:
vomit, ab pain, diarrhea.
3-9 g
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Xi Xian Cao - Siegesbeckia / Herba Siegesbeckiae
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cold, bitter / LR,K
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A&I: Wind-damp-heat bi.
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Strengthens sinews: paralysis, hemiplegia.
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Damp-heat sores, rashes.
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Hypertension d/t Liv Yang.
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C&C: Contraindicated in yin or blood def.
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6-15 g
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Luo Shi Teng - Chinese starjasmine / Caulis
trachelospermi
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sl cold, bitter / LR
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A&I: Wind-damp-heat bi.
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Sore throat, abscesses d/t fire toxin.
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C&C: Counteracts Bei mu, Shi chang pu
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3-9 g
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Hai Feng Teng - Futokadsura stem / Caulis Piperis
futokadsurae
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sl warm, acrid, bitter / LR
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A&I: Wind-cold-damp bi.
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Ab pain, diarrhea d/t cold invading Sp/St.
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C&C: none noted.
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6-15 g
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Bai Hua She - Agkistrodon
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warm, sweet, salty, toxic / LR,SP
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A&I: Strongly unblocks channels, extinguishes wind:
wind-damp pain, numbness, spasm, tremors,
paralysis.
Rashes d/t wind in skin.
C&C: Contraindicated in yin def w/heat. Caution in
blood def.
decoct: 3-10 g, powder: 1-1.5 g
Transform Phlegm,
Stop Coughing
Transform Phlegm, Stop
Coughing
• Primarily used for Phlegm collecting in
the Lungs (cough), may also include
Phlegm in Stomach (nausea, vomiting),
Heart (irritability, mania) and channels
(lumps).
• Phlegm frequently result of Spleen
disharmony, so many Phlegm
transforming herbs also enter Spleen.
Transform Phlegm, Stop
Coughing
• Two Phlegm subcategories: PhlegmHeat and Phlegm-Cold.
• 1. Phlegm-Heat: Cold + sweet (moisten),
bitter (clear heat) or salty (soften)
• 2. Phlegm-Cold: Warm and acrid (scatter
and disperse)
• A third subcategory specifically focuses
on relieving cough; mostly bitter.
Herbs for Phlegm
Heat
• Qian hu - Peucedanum root / Rx
Peucedani
• sl cold, bitter, acrid / LU
• A&I: Phlegm-heat and/or wind-heat in
the lungs: cough w/yellow thick sputum,
chest oppression. (Ren Shen Bai Du
San)
• none
• 4.5-9 g
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Chuan bei mu - Tendrilled fritillary bulb / Blb fritillariae
cirrhosae
sl cold, bitter, sweet / H, LU
A&I: Chronic dry cough d/t lung yin def, phlegm-heat
or wind-heat. (Bei Mu Gua Lou San)
Scrofula, mastitis, lung abscess d/t phlegm-heat.
C&C: Ineffective for cold phlegm-damp cough.
Expensive.
decoct: 3-12 g ; powder: 1-1.5 g
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Zhe bei mu - Fritillary bulb / Blb fritillariae thunbergii
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cold, bitter / H, LU
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A&I: Similar to Chuan bei mu, but used more for
swellings d/t phlegm-fire, less for phlegm-heat cough.
(Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang)
C&C: Not useful for Yin def. Ineffective for cold
phlegm-damp cough.
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Cheaper than Chuan bei mu.
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3-9 g
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Gua lou - Trichosanthes fruit / Fr Trichosanthis
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cold, sweet / LI, LU,ST
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A&I: Phlegm-heat cough. (Bei Mu Gua Lou San)
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Chest oppression d/t phlegm or blood stasis. (Gua Luo
Xie Bai Bai Jiu Tang)
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Constipation.
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Mastitis.
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Peel (Gua Lou Pi) clears/transforms phlegm heat dissipates nodules, regulates qi: dry cough, throat,
difficult to expectorate sputum.
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C&C: Sp/St def cold, phlegm-cold or phlegm-damp
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Fruit: 9-30 g ; Peel: 6-12 g
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Gua lou ren - Trichosanthes seed / Sm Trichosanthis
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cold, sweet / LI, LU,ST
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A&I: Phlegm-heat cough, chest oppression w/dry
symptoms. (Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan)
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Dry constipation.
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C&C: Contraindicated in Sp/St def cold w/diarrhea.
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9-12 g
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Tian hua fen - Trichosanthes root / Rx Trichosanthis
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cold, sweet, bitter / LU,ST
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A&I: Dry cough or cough w/blood d/t lung heat. (Bei
Mu Gua Lou San)
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Thirst in diabetes, febrile diseases.
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Swellings w/pus.
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C&C: Contraindicated in pregnancy, Sp/St def cold
w/diarrhea. Hi dose: Liv/Kd failure.
9-15 g
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Zhu ru - Bamboo shavings / Caulis bambusae in
taenis
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sl cold, sweet / GB,LU,ST
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A&I: Phlegm-heat cough. (Wen Dan Tang)
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Mind disturbed by phlegm-heat: irritable, insomnia,
palpitations. (Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang)
Nausea, vomiting d/t St heat. (Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang)
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C&C: Contraindicated for vomiting d/t def cold, cold
food stagnation.
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Fry w/ginger to stop vomiting.
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4.5-9 g
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Zhu li - Bamboo juice / Succus Bambusae in Taeniam
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very cold, sweet / H,LU,ST
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A&I: Heart misted by phlegm-heat: epilepsy, mania,
paralysis.
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Phlegm-heat cough.
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C&C: Contraindicated in Sp/St def cold w/diarrhea.
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30-60 g
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Tian zhu huang - Concretio bambusae
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cold, sweet / GB,H,LR
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A&I: Infantile fright-wind, seizures d/t phlegm-heat.
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Phlegm-heat cough.
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C&C: Contraindicated in Sp/St def cold w/diarrhea.
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decoct: 3-9 g directly: 0.6-1.2 g
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Fu hai shi - Pumice
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cold, salty / LU
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A&I: Phlegm-heat cough. (Ke Xue Fang)
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Scrofula, nodules d/t phlegm and qi accumulation.
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C&C: Contraindicated for cough d/t def cold. Decoct
in cheesecloth.
6-15 g
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Hai ge ke - Sea clam shell / Concha Meretricis
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neutral, bitter, salty / K,LU,ST
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A&I: Phlegm-heat cough, esp w/chest & rib pain. (Ke Xue
Fang)
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Scrofula, goiter, neck tumors.
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C&C: Contraindicated in qi def cold.
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Extended decoction in cheesecloth.
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decoct: 6-15g;
powder: 1-3 g
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Kun bu - Laminaria / Thallus Laminariae
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cold, salty / K,LR,SP
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A&I: Resolves phlegm-fire nodules: goiter, neck
swellings, testicular swelling. (Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang)
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Edema.
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C&C: Contraindicated in Sp/St def cold.
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4.5-15 g
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Hai zao - Seaweed / Sargassum
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cold, bitter, sweet, salty / K, LU, LR, ST
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A&I: Resolves phlegm-fire nodules: goiter, neck
swellings, testicular swelling. (Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang)
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Edema.
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C&C: Contraindicated in Sp/St def cold.
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Counteracts Licorice root (Gan cao).
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4.5-15 g
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Pang da hai - Boat sterculia seed / Sm Sterculiae
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cold, sweet / LI, LU
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A&I: Disperses LU qi: sore throat, coarse voice,
phlegm-heat cough.
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Moistens LI: Heat constipation w/red eyes.
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none
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4.5-9 g