Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Individual Herbs - 02 Clear Heat - Coggle Diagram
Individual Herbs - 02 Clear Heat
Clear Heat and Drain Fire
Shi Gao
Enters Lung and Stomach. Sweet, acrid and very cold. Shi Gao acts on the Qi level and is very cold. One of the best herbs at clearing fire at the Qi level of the Lung and Stomach. Also disperses to vent the exterior and release the muscle layer.
15-60g
DUI YAO - Chuan Xiong
According to the book this pair can be used for wind-heat headache, but I couldn't find it any major formulas together. According to Dr. Luk may be used for back pain.
Chuan Xiong 6-10g, Shi Gao 30-60g
DUI YAO - Ma Huang
Featured together in Ma Xing Shi Gan tang where Shi Gao cools the pathogen which has converted to heat in the Lungs and Ma Huang disperses and unclogs the Lungs. Also used together in Yue Bi tang for wind edema. Shi Gao leads Ma Huang to the muscle layer where it helps to release heat that has trapped with water.
Ma Huang 3-10g, Shi Gao 15-60g
DUI YAO - Xi Xin
Used together for disorders in the head (such as headache, toothache, swollen gums) caused by wind-heat or stomach fire blazing upward. The coolness of Shi Gao balances the warmth of Xi Xin. Xi Xin opens the orifices and can relieve pain. Xi Xin lifts the coolness and action of Shi Gao to the head.
Shi Gao 15-30g, Xi Xin 1-3g
DUI YAO - Zhi Mu
Featured together in Bai Hu tang. Together they strongly clear heat while Zhi Mu protects fluids and yin. They act on Yang Ming heat (or Qi level based on 4 level differentiation).
Shi Gao 15-30g, Zhi Mu 6-10g
DUI YAO - Dan Zhu Ye
Featured together in Zhu Ye Shi Gao tang. Shi Gao is acrid and very cold while Dan Zhu Ye is bland and drains heat through the urine. It is not as strong as Shi Gao/Zhi Mu combination for clearing excess qi level heat. Used for lingering heat causing irritability, insomnia with dry tongue and scanty coating. Also for mouth ulcers and swollen gums due to Ht/St heat.
Shi Gao 15-60g, Dan Zhu Ye 5-15g
Zhi Zi
Enters Heart, Lung, Stomach, Liver and San Jiao. Bitter and cold. Primary function is to resolve constrained heat in the chest. Specifically constrained heat. It is not for floating or dispersed or clumped heat. It also drains damp heat from Liver/GB and San Jiao out through the urine. Zhi Zi also cools the blood.
6-9g
DUI YAO - Dan Dou Chi
Zhi Zi drains heat downward to relieve chest heat constraint while Dan Dou Chi ascends and disperses constrained chest heat.
Dan Dou Chi 6-10g, Zhi Zi 5-10g
Zhi Mu
Know Mother
Enters lung, stomach and kidney. Bitter, sweet and cold. Clears heat and drains fire in the lung, stomach and kidney. Not only clear heat, but also nourishes yin and moistens dryness. Compared to Shi Gao, Zhi Mu also goes to the kidney and tonifies Yin.
DUI YAO - Bai He
Together they nourish Ht/Lu yin and clear heat. Treat insomnia and calm the spirit. Bai He 15-30g, Zhi Mu 6-9g
DUI YAO - Chuan Bei Mu
This combination is featured in Er Mu San (Two Mother Powder) with equal parts of both herbs. Both herbs are cooling and moistening with primary indication for lung heat and dryness. Secondarily it transforms phlegm and nourishes yin.
Chuan Bei Mu 6-10g, Zhi Mu
6-12g
DUI YAO - Huang Bai
Featured together in Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. Drains kidney yin deficient fire causing fever, steaming bone disorder and night sweats.
Huang Bai 6-10g, Zhi Mu 6-10g
DUI YAO - Shi Gao
Featured together in Bai Hu tang. Together they strongly clear heat while Zhi Mu protects fluids and yin. They act on Yang Ming heat (or Qi level based on 4 level differentiation).
Shi Gao 15-30g, Zhi Mu 6-10g
Dan Zhu Ye
Bland Bamboo Leaves
Enters the heart, small intestine, and stomach. Sweet, bland and cold. This herb clear heat from the heart primarily, and secondarily from the stomach. It is cold and bland and leeches out dampness and promotes urination. It drains heart heat out through the small intestine and out through the urine. Compared to Zhi Zi it is not as cold and only enters the qi level, while Zhi Zi enters the qi and blood level.
DUI YAO - Shi Gao
Featured together in Zhu Ye Shi Gao tang. Shi Gao is acrid and very cold while Dan Zhu Ye is bland and drains heat through the urine. It is not as strong as Shi Gao/Zhi Mu combination for clearing excess qi level heat. Used for lingering heat causing irritability, insomnia with dry tongue and scanty coating. Also for mouth ulcers and swollen gums due to Ht/St heat.
Shi Gao 15-60g, Dan Zhu Ye 5-15g
Lu Gen
Reed Root
Enters lung and stomach. Sweet and cold herb. This is a cold herb that clears heat at the qi level, primarily in the lungs and stomach. It also generates fluids. It promotes urination in an indirect manner: lung heat and stomach heat impairing the spleen can affect water metabolism. If there is heat in these channels it will cause urinary urgency and spillage. Cooling the channels will promote proper urination.
Shan Dou Gen
Mountain Bean Root
Very bitter and cold. Enters lung and large intestine. This herb is very better, very draining and very cold. Drains fire and clears toxicity especially in relation to red, swollen, painful throat. Be cautious if prescribing over 9g.
DUI YAO - Ban Lan Gen
These are 2 bitter and cold herbs that together strongly clear heat and resolve toxin especially for sore throat.
Ban Lan Gen 10-15g, Shan Dou Gen 6-12g
Lian Zi Xin
Lotus Seed Heart
Enters Heart and Pericardium. Bitter and cold. Drains heat from the Heart and Pericardium causing insomnia, delirium, irritability and mouth and tongue sores. It can also stop bleeding in cases of hematemesis and bind the essence to treat spermatorrhea.
1.5-3g.
Tian Hua Fen
Heavenly Flower Powder
Enters Lung and Stomach. Slight bitter, cool, slight sweet. This is the root of the same vine that Gua Lou Pi comes from. It cools heat and generates fluid in the stomach and nourishes yin to treat wasting and thirsting disorder. Also clears Lung heat and transforms Lung phlegm. Resolves toxicity to treat breast and intestinal abscess. Also invigorates blood.
10-15g.
Xia Ku Cao
Summer Withered Herb
Enters Gallbladder and Liver. Bitter, acrid and cool. This is a cool and dispersing herb often used for Liver fire due to constraint causing dizziness, hypertension, and pain and redness of the eyes. Also disperses clumps, especially those associated with Liver heat that has turned fluids into phlegm accumulations such as in scrofula. Also especially noted to treat eye pain that worsens at night.
9-15g
Clear Heat and Cool the Blood
Shui Niu Jiao
Water Buffalo Horn
Enters Heart, Liver and Stomach. Salty and cold. This is modern replacement for rhinoceros horn. Cools Ying and Xue level heat. Enters the blood level and acts on the Heart to clear heat causing clouded consciousness and convulsions. Stops bleeding due to blood heat. Clears heat to stop tremors.
30-120g
Xuan Shen
Enters Kidney, Lung and Stomach. Salty, sweet, bitter and cold.
Cools the blood and nourishes yin. Also softens hardness. It is able to drain fire while also nourishing yin. Very similar to Sheng Di Huang but Sheng Di Huang is stronger for clearing heat. Xuan Shen however focuses more on Lungs and Kidneys.
9-15g.
DUI YAO - Ban Lan Gen
Ban Lan Gen drains fire while Xuan Shen clears heat and nourishes yin. Together they clear heat and resolve toxin. Can be used for sore throat or other fire toxin.
Ban Lan Gen 10-15g, Xuan Shen 10-15g
Mu Dan Pi
Mouton root bark
Enters heart, liver and kidney. Acrid, bitter and cool. This is a cool herb that clears heat and cools the blood and also invigorates blood. It can treat Wen Bing disease in the Xue level (hematemesis, hematuria, epistaxis). Often combined with Chi Shao.
DUI YAO - Dan Shen
Dan Shen focuses primarily on invigorating blood, secondarily it is cooling. Mu Dan Pi focuses on cooling the blood, secondarily it is invigorating. Together they treat heat in the Ying/Xue level causing bleeding disorders.
Dan Shen 10-15g, Mu Dan Pi 6-10g
Zi Cao
Purple Herb
Enters the heart and liver. Sweet and cold. This herb clears heat and cools the blood. It is primarily used for rashes such as measles and chicken pox to help promote expression and eruption of rash and thereby resolve the toxicity. It can also help treat constipation associated with blood heat and fire toxicity.
Sheng Di Huang
Fresh Earth Yellow
Enters Heart, Kidney and Liver. Sweet, bitter, cold. Clears heat and cools the blood. Nourishes yin and generates fluids. Often used when there is concurrent damage to the yin and fluids. Blood cooling herbs tend to be either salty or sweet. Sweeter herbs like Sheng Di Huang tend to support yin and fluids as well. It also benefits blood stasis caused by heat in the blood drying up fluids causing thick/clotted blood, by generating fluids. 9-15g.
DUI YAO - Shu Di Huang
Together they treat yin deficiency and clear heat.
Sheng Di Huang 10-15g, Shu Di Huang 10-30g
DUI YAO - Xi Xin
Dispels wind and heat, especially to treat headache and toothache caused by wind-heat. Xi Xin is acrid and lifts Sheng Di Huang to the head and nose. Sheng Di is sweet and cold and balances the drying properties of Xi Xin.
Sheng Di Huang 6-10g, Xi Xin 1-3g
Clear Heat and Dry Dampness
Huang Qin
Scutellaria root
Enters Lung, Stomach, GB and LI. Bitter and cold. Enters Lung and Stomach to clear heat and dry dampness. Often combined with Huang Lian to thoroughly clear heat from upper and middle-jiao. Also clears heat to stop bleeding. Calms the fetus.
3-9g
DUI YAO - Bai Zhu
This combination is used to calm the fetus. both herbs individually calm the fetus and together they can also treat bleeding during pregnancy. Pregnancy tends to create heat due to warm transformation of growing fetus as well as heat generated by the fetus. Bai Zhu strengthens the spleen to control the blood while Huang Qin drains the heat.
Bai Zhu 10-15g, Huang Qin 6-12g
DUI YAO - Ban Xia
Key combination used in both Xiao Chai Hu tang and Ban Xia Xie Xin tang. In both those situatios they are used in scenarios of combined hot and cold complexes. Their opposite temperatures allow them together to clear hot/cold complexes with phlegm
Ban Xia 6-10g, Huang Qin 6-10g
DUI YAO - Chai Hu
This combination is featured in Xiao Chai Hu tang. Together they harmonize the interior and the exterior. Chai Hu disperses at the qi level while Huang Qin drains internal heat. They are both cool herbs and act in conjunction especially for damp-heat constraint in the liver and gallbladder.
Chai Hu 5-15g, Huang Qin 5-10g
DUI YAO - Huang Lian
Both are bitter cold herbs that drain fire and dry damp. Huang Qin acts on Lung/St while Huang Lian acts on Heart/St. Together they thoroughly drain the upper jiao. Can also be used together for short time in pregnancy to calm fetus due to heat.
Huang Qin 6-10g, Huang Lian 3-6g
Huang Lian
Enters Heart, LI, Liver and Stomach. Bitter and cold. Enters Heart and Stomach to clear heat and dry dampness. Huang Lian acts on the Heart/St while Huang Qin acts on Lung/St, so together they thoroughly clear heat from upper and middle-jiao. Also clears damp-heat from Large Intestine.
1.5-9g
DUI YAO - Ban Xia
Ban Xia warms the spleen while Huang Lian cools the stomach. They both dry dampness. Ban Xia is acrid while Huang Lian is draining. Used together for nausea and vomiting due to middle-jiao phlegm.
Ban Xia 6-10g, Huang Lian 6-10g
DUI YAO - E Jiao
This combination is the foundation of Huang Lian E JiaoTang. Huang Lian drains heart fire downward to warm the kidneys and E Jiao tonifies the kidney water to rise and quiet the heart. Also used in combination for dysenteric disorder. Huang Lian clears heat toxin in the intestine while E jiao nourishes blood and dredges heat toxin from the intestine.
E Jiao 6-10g, Huang Lian 4-6g
DUI YAO - Gan Jiang
Featured together in Ban Xia Xie Xin tang. For clumping of heat and cold in the middle burner. This results in focal distention that is soft to palpation. Gan Jiang is hot and acrid so it warms and lifts. Huang Lian is cold and bitter so it cools and drains.
Gan Jiang 3-10g, Huang Lian 3-10g
DUI YAO - Huang Qin
Both are bitter cold herbs that drain fire and dry damp. Huang Qin acts on Lung/St while Huang Lian acts on Heart/St. Together they thoroughly drain the upper jiao. Can also be used together for short time in pregnancy to calm fetus due to heat.
Huang Qin 6-10g, Huang Lian 3-6g
DUI YAO - Mu Xiang
Used together in Xiang Lian Wan to clear heat, transform damp and regulate qi to relieve dysentery. Mu Xiang is specific for treating tenesmus and directs the action to the Large Intestine.
Huang Lian 3-10g, Mu Xiang 6-10g
DUI YAO - Rou Gui
Featured as the only 2 ingredients in Jiao Tai Wan (Grand Communication Pill). Huang Lian dosage is 15g and Rou Gui is 1.5g. This is for Heart and Kidney disharmony. Huang Lian drains Heart fire that is flaring and Rou Gui warms Kidney yang to steam water and calm the Heart. For irritability, insomnia and palpitations.
Huang Lian 1.5-15g, Rou Gui 3-6g
DUI YAO - Wu Zhu Yu
Used together in Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill). It is for Liver-Stomach disharmony causing GERD/abd pain. Huang Lian drains the Heart which is the son organ of Liver, thereby reducing Liver. Wu Zhu Yu is acrid and guides Liver heat downward. The ration of HL:WZY is 6:1. Reducing Heart also strengthens Lung which is where the name comes from.
Huang Lian 3-10g, Wu Zhu Yu 2-5g
DUI YAO - Zi Su Ye
Zi Su Ye regulates Spleen qi and Huang Lian drains Stomach fire. Together they can be used during pregnancy to treat morning sickness, irritability or calm the fetus whenever this is caused by middle-jiao stagnation and heat.
Huang Lian 3-10g, Zi Su Ye 3-10g
Long Dan Cao
Dragon Gallbladder Herb
Enters liver and gallbladder. Bitter and cold herb. This is a very bitter and cold herb that drains damp heat in the liver and gallbladder and directs downward (red swollen eyes, jaundice, vaginal discharge, bitter taste). It should not be used for very long.
Ku Shen
Bitter Root
Enters bladder, Ht/SI and liver. Bitter and cold. This is a very bitter and cold herb. Most prominent indication is for damp heat in the lower jiao and treating vaginal discharge or dysentery. It enters into the bladder to clear heat and dry damp. Also clears and drains heart fire and damp-heat out through the small intestine and urine.
Qin Pi
Ash Bark
Enters Liver/GB and LI. Bitter, cold, astringent. This herb clears heat and dries damp, especially for dysentery. It is featured in Bai Tou Weng tang. It works in combination with Bai Tou Weng. BTW goes to the blood level and cools the blood while Qin Pi acts on the qi level and clears heat and dries damp. Also drains liver fire specifically for benefiting the eyes.
Huang Bai
Yellow Fir
Enter the kidney in the bladder. Bitter, cold. Drains damp-heat in the lower jiao (vaginal discharge and diarrhea). Also used in situations of excess pathogenic fire in the kidneys.
DUI YAO - Cang Zhu
Together these two herbs make up Er Miao San (Two-Marvel powder). Used to clear damp-heat in the lower-jiao for vaginal discharge. Also used for pain, swelling and weakness of the lower extremities due to damp-heat. Cang Zhu lifts while Huang Bai drains. Cang Zhu is warm while Huang Bai is cold.
Cang Zhu 6-10g, Huang Bai 6-10g
DUI YAO - Zhi Mu
Featured together in Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. Drains kidney yin deficient fire causing fever, steaming bone disorder and night sweats.
Huang Bai 6-10g, Zhi Mu 6-10g
Clear Deficient Heat
Qing Hao
Sweet Wormwood.
Enters Kidney, Liver and Gallbladder. Bitter, acrid and cold.
Clears Yin deficiency heat. It also clears heat from the bones and deep yin levels upward to the yang levels. Cools the blood and can also clear summerheat. Able to clear all types of yin level heat without injuring qi, blood or yin.
6-12g
Di Gu Pi
Earth Bone Bark
Lycium Bark
Enters Lung, Liver and Kidney. Sweet, bland and cold. Primarily enters Lung to clear deficient heat. Similar to Qing Hao its able to clear heat without damaging Stomach yang. Also treats steaming bone disorder like Qing Hao.
6-15g
DUI YAO - Sang Bai Pi
Used together in Xie Bai San to drain heat from the lungs. Sang Bai Pi is the chief herb and acts on the qi level while Di Gu Pi is the deputy herb and acts on the yin level.
Di Gu Pi 10-15g, Sang Bai Pi 6-10g
Yin Chai Hu
Silver Barbarian Kindling
Enters the liver and stomach. Sweet and cool. This herb clears yin deficient heat especially in relation to steaming bone disorder and childhood nutritional impairment. This herb is ideal for entering deep into the yin level to treat muscle-layer heat and steaming bones. It is completely different and has nothing to do with Chai Hu.
Hu Huang Lian
Barbarian Yellow Link
Enters the liver, stomach and large intestine. bitter and cold herb. I believe this herb is incorrectly classified in “deficient heat” chapter based on based on early commentators? This herb is actually very cold and downward draining and should not be used in patients with weak constitutions. It is more accurately classified as an herb that clears heat and drains damp. In fact, considered even more intensely bitter and cold than Huang Lian. It primarily targets lower-jao damp heat disorders. No relation whatsoever to Huang Lian.
Bai Wei
Cynanchi root
Enters the lungs, stomach and kidneys. bitter, salty and cold. Very cold herb that clears heat that has entered into the Ying and Xue level. It clears heat and cools the blood. Also clears heat in the lung to promote urination. Primarily used for Ying and Xue level heat causing postpartum fevers or in Wen Bing cases.