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Individual Herbs - 04 Drain Downward - Coggle Diagram
Individual Herbs - 04 Drain Downward
Downward Draining Herbs
Da Huang
Drains and purges Yang Ming heat. Most important action is as a purgative, it purges accumulation downward. It also enters the Liver to cool and invigorate blood. One of the few herbs to cool AND invigorate.
DUI YAO - Fu Zi
Use for cold constipation. The patient may have constipation but there is cold in the interior. Da Huang helps to move while Fu Zi warns the interior. Featured in Da Huang Fu Zi tang. Da Huang enters the liver to relieve liver constraint and provide an exit through the bowels. It can also be used for cold cough with cold constipation. According to dr Luk if insufficient blood, add Dang Gui.
Da Huang 6-10g, Fu Zi 6-10g
DUI YAO - Mang Xiao
Paired together most famously in Da Cheng Qi tang. Mang Xiao breaks up and softens the hardness while Da Huang drains the accumulation downward. Together they purge heat accumulation.
Da Huang 3-15g, Mang Xiao 6-15g
Mang Xiao
Mirabilite or Sodium Sulfate. Salty and very cold. It acts to break up accumulation and soften hardness. Also drains fire from Stomach and Large Intestine.
DUI YAO - Da Huang
Paired together most famously in Da Cheng Qi tang. Mang Xiao breaks up and softens the hardness while Da Huang drains the accumulation downward. Together they purge heat accumulation.
Da Huang 3-15g, Mang Xiao 6-15g
Fan Xie Ye
Purgative Leaf of Foreigners
Enters the large intestine. bitter and cold. This is the Senna leaf. It is bitter and cold and drains heat downward and guides out stagnation. Supposedly it is stronger than Da Huang. It is used for constipation. Often paired with Chen Pi as Chen Pi is acrid and warm and regulates the Middle qi, while Fan Xie Ye is draining and cold to clear the bowel.
Lu Hui
Aloe
Enters the large intestine, liver and stomach. Bitter and cold. This is a very bitter and cold herb that drains fire and guides out accumulation from the large intestine. Compared to Fan Xie Ye it also clears heat from the liver and kills parasites. This is the Aloe plant.
Moisten the Intestines
Huo Ma Ren
Hemp Seed. Enters Spleen and Large Intestine. Main function is to moisten the intestine, but also nourishes Spleen Yin fluids.
Yu Li Ren
Contrained Plum Pit
Enters large intestine, small intestine, and spleen. Acrid, bitter, sweet and neutral. This is the Bush Cherry pit. Primarily unblocks the intestine, but unlike Huo Ma Ren it is not tonifying. It actually drains the yin and yang energy as it promotes movement of water qi over the whole body to reduce edema. Should only reserve use for emergency measures or treating the branch.
Harsh Expellants
Gan Sui
Cold and toxic. Acts to drain water downward. Thin mucus can accumulate into clumps. When this happens typical methods of drying, draining, and transforming don't work anymore. In those instances use Gan Sui. Powerful herb for draining pathogenic water. Typically used for water in chest and abdomen.
Qian Niu Zu
Morning Glory seeds
Enters the kidney, lung, large intestine and small intestine. Bitter acrid and cold. Drains water from all three jiao. It can drain water from the lung to treat phlegm and also drain water from the lower jiao kidney for damp obstruction. Often paired with Xiao Hui Xiang.
Yuan Hua
Genkwa flower
Enters kidney lung and large intestine. Bitter, acrid and warm. This herb drives water downward from the chest and abdomen. It is a cathartic. All the herbs in this group are characterized by an ability to strongly descend and rid the body of edema and accumulated fluids in the abdomen and chest. Yuan Hua is often paired with Gan Sui and Da Ji as in Shi Zao tang. All three harsh expellants work together. Da Ji drains damp from the yin and yang organs. Gan Sui drains damp from the channels and collaterals. Yuan Hua drains damp from the chest and lungs.