Ch 2 Herbs that resolve toxicity Flashcards
What are herbs in this chapter good for?
Antibiotic (for infections)
Inflammation
poisonous/venomous snake bites
cancer
Cautions for herbs in this chapter
Most herbs are cold, so avoid in cases of spleen qi deficiency with diarrhea
Jin Yin Hua ***
“Gold, Silver Flower”
honeysuckle flower
(also called just Yin Hua)
Sweet, cold, (light, very safe) 6-20g (up to 100g in clinic)
Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach
Clear heat and resolves fire toxicity (#1 herb for fire toxicity)
Vents and disperses externally-contracted wind heat (in Wei qi level, for early stage EPF, with fever, sore throat, etc)
Clears damp heat from lower burner
Cools blood, stops bleeding if charred
Jin Yin Hua with Lian Qiao
Both herbs resolve toxicity and clear heat, but enhance each other. For heat both interior and exterior, in Qi or Blood.
Jin Yin Hua with Gan Cao
Both sweet, cool, and resolve toxicity. Together balance tonifying and toxicity resolving to treat toxic sweating and sores. Not very strong actions
Jin Yin Hua cautions
Not for use in cases of deficiency cold of the spleen and stomach
Lian Qiao ***
forsythia fruit
Bitter, slightly acrid, slightly cold, 6-15g
Enters Heart, Lung, Gallbladder
Clears heat and resolves toxicity (vents heat especially in upper jiao) - Primarily for externally contracted Heat toxin (Wei qi) with fever and sore throat, best in early stages
Reduces abscesses and dissipates clumps (#1 at dispersing nodules)
Lian Qiao with Chi Xiao Dou
Clears fire from the Heart channel and eliminates toxic damp-heat. Therefore good for treating jaundice and painful urinary dribbling (damp-heat pouring downward), and gynecological disorders like postpartum fever
Lian Qiao Vs. Jin Yin Hua
edit
Both herbs are cooling and resolve toxicity and both can guide heat to the surface and cool internal heat.
Jin Yin Hua is light and goes to the surface
Lian Qiao is heavy and goes deep inside
Ban Lan Gen ***
woad root
Bitter, cold, 9-15g
Enters Heart, Lung, and Stomach
Drains heat, resolves toxicity, cools the blood, and benefits the throat (good for boosting immunity)
Ban Lan Gen Vs. Da Qing Ye Vs. Qing Dai
All come from same plant and are effecting for cooling heat
Ban Lan gen cool heat toxin, used for febrile disorder and throat obstruction due to mumps
Da Qing Ye cool heat toxin, generally used for rashes associated with warm toxin and swollen throat
Qing Dai cools the liver and drains fire, for toxin sores due to fire and heat, rashes, coughing or spitting up blood, and childhood convulsions
Ban Lan Gen Cautions
Not for use in cases of cold from deficiency of the spleen and stomach
Nan Ban Lan Gen
Addendum to Ban Lan Gen
grown in northern region
Bitter, cold
Enters Heart, Liver, Stomach
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, cools the blood and REDUCES SWELLINGs
Pu Gong Ying ***
“Hero”
(Dandelion)
Bitter, sweet, cold, 9-30g
Enters Liver, Stomach
Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules (and pus) - especially for breast and intestinal abscesses (and breast cancer, mastitis)
Clears the Liver and clears the eyes
Clears heat, resolves dampness, and unblocks painful urinary dribbling (LIN syndrome)
Pu Gong Ying With Xia Ku Cao
Both herbs bitter, cold, clear heat, and effect Liver (leg Jue Yin)
Used to treat swollen, sore throat, red, swollen eyes, or deep-rooted sores. Especially useful for early stage breast abscesses (internal and topical), hepatitis, and cholecystitis
Pu Gong Ying Vs. Zi Hua Di Ding
Both herbs cool heat, resolve toxicity, reduce swelling, and disperse clumping
Pu Gong Ying is stronger at dredging constraint and dispersing clumping, focus on Liver and Stomach channels
Zi Hua Di Ding stronger at cooling the blood and resolving toxicity, focus on Heart and Liver channels
Zi Hua Di Ding ***
(violet)
“purple flower son of the earth”
Acrid, bitter, cold, 15-30g
Enters Heart, Liver
Clears heat and resolves toxicity - red swollen eyes, snake bites, sore throat and ears, and mumps
Clears hot sores - especially indicated for deep-rooted sores and red swellings (primarily for head and back), Also for cancer
Can be used internally and topically
NOT for yin-type sores (pus, without redness)
Zi Hua Di Ding with Pu Gong Ying
For toxic accumulations due to heat in the blood leading to red, swollen, hot painful sores. Also for painful urinary dribbling. Broad scope.
Zi Hua Di Ding Vs. Pu Gong Ying
Pu Gong Ying excels at directing downward and dispersing stagnant qi, especially for breast abscesses
Zi Hua Di Ding is more effective in treating deep-set toxic sores and carbuncles, also for snakebite
Ye Ju Hua ***
“wild chrysanthemum”
Bitter, acrid, slightly cold, 9-15g
Enters Lung, Liver
Drains fire and resolves fire toxicity
Ye Ju Hua Vs. Ju Hua
Ye Ju Hua more powerfully drains fire and resolves toxicity, and is often used for toxic swollen sores and boils
Ren Dong Teng** (but very important)
“endure winter vine”
(honeysuckle vine, Jin Yin Hua is the flower)
Sweet, cold. 9-30g
Enters Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach
Clears heat and resolves toxicity
Dispels wind dampness, soothes the sinews, and unblocks the channels
Cools the blood - for hot Bi, for abdominal pain due to inflammation, and early or excessive menstrual bleeding, and breast inflammation (mastitis)
Ren Dong Teng with Gan Cao and wine
Great for all types of sores and eruptions, anywhere on the body
Ren Dong Teng Vs. Jin Yin Hua
Same plant (vine Vs. flower) Ren Dong Teng expels wind-heat and unblocks the channels/collaterals, stopping pain Jin Yin Hua is better at cooling and resolving toxicity
Ren Dong Teng cautions
Not for use in cases with SP/ST deficiency and particularly for qi deficient sores with clear pus
Ren Dong Teng Vs. Hong Teng
Ren Dong Teng best for clearing W-H from collaterals to stops pain
Hong Teng treats breast and abdominal abscesses and resolves toxicity but ALSO invigorates blood and stops pain
Da Qing Ye **
“Big blue leaf”
Bitter, salty, VERY cold, 9-15g
Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity (in both the qi and blood level, strong anti-biotic -viral) - throat pain, mouth sores, disperse nodules
Cools the blood and dissipates maculae
- Also in combination for acute wind-heat EPF before heat penetrates
Da Qing Ye Cautions
not for use in cases of cold from deficiency of SP/ST
Qing Dai **
“Blue (dye)”
(indigo, used to dye eyebrows and cloth)
Salty, cold, 1.5-3g
Enters Liver, Lung, Stomach
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, cools the blood, reduces maculae and swellings - benefits throat, oral sores, mumps
Drains Liver fire, dispels summer-heat, extinguishes wind to stop tremors
Clears Liver fire, drains Lung heat, and cools the blood (stops bleeding from nose, or vomit)
Qing Dai Cautions
Not for use in cases of stomach cold
Si Gua Luo **
Luffa
Sweet, neutral, 6-15g
Enters Lung, Stomach, Liver
Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling (for breast abscess, distention, or lumps, and insufficient lactation)
Unblocks the channels and collaterals while dispelling wind (Bi syndrome) - invigorates blood
Expels/transforms phlegm
Si Gua Luo cautions
not for Yin type sores
Bai Jiang Cao ***
“defeat sauce grass”
Acrid, bitter, slightly cold, 6-15g Enters Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach Clears heat, resolves toxicity, expels pus - especially for Intestinal abscess (if combined may also be used for Lung abscesses) Dispels blood stasis and stops pain NOT for pregnancy
Bai Jiang Cao with Pu Gong Ying
disperse stagnation due to heat toxin in Qi and Blood level for Abdomen and GYN
Bai Jiang Cao Vs. Pu Gong Ying
Pu Gong Ying enters Qi level, better at dredging constraint and dispersing clumping (LV ST)
Bai Jiang Cao better to eliminate stasis, expel pus, clearing toxicity from qi and blood level
Bai Jiang Cao Vs. Yu Xing Cao
Yu Xing Cao best for cooling lung (toxins like abscesses and pus) and promotes urination
Bai Jiang Cao enters qi and blood to clear blood stagnation and toxicity in ST and LI
Bai Jiang Cao Cautions
Caution for use during pregnancy, only use if absolutely necessary
Yu Xing Cao***
“Fishy smell grass”
Acrid, Cool, 15-30g
Enters Lung, Large Intestine
Clears heat and toxin, reduces swellings and abscesses -for really sticky-phlegmy cough (good for pneumonia but doesn’t treat the fever)
Drains damp heat and promotes urination
Yu Xing Cao with Jie Geng
For Lung Qi stagnation with obstruction of phlegm in hot swollen conditions
Bai Hua She She Cao ***
“White flower snake tongue grass”
Bitter, sweet, cold, 15-30 g
Enters Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine
Clears heat, strongly resolves fire toxicity, and reduces abscesses - used to treat cancer and snake bites
Clears heat and facilitates resolution of dampness by promoting urination
Bai Hua She She Cao Vs. Ban Zhi Lian
Bai Hua She She Cao is stronger at unblocking painful urinary dribbling.
Ban Zhi Lian better for transformation of stagnation, blood stasis, swelling
Both used for cancer treatment
Bai Hua She She Cao Cautions
Not for use during pregnancy
Bai Tou Weng ***
“White hair old man”
Bitter, cold, 6-15g
Enters Large Intestine, Stomach
Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity - for dysenteric disorders, and cools blood
(mostly middle and lower warmer for damp heat)
Bai Tou Weng Vs. Ya Dan Zi Vs. Ma Chi Xian
All for dysentery
Ya Dan Zi - when alternating between mild and severe
Ma Chi Xian - with mucus and blood in stools, cools blood, stops bleeding
Bai Tou Weng - can be used for both types
Ma Chi Xian ***
“Horse teeth (wild vegetable)”
(purslane)
Sour, cold, slippery
Enters Large Intestine, Liver
Resolves fire toxicity and cools the blood - “primarily for bacillary dysentery with incomplete bowel movements”
Clears damp heat and treats sores
Antidote for pain and swelling of wasp stings and snakebite
Stops bleeding, unblocks painful urinary dribbling
Ma Chi Xian with Bai Tou Weng
Used together for bloody and white stools from dysentery
Ma Chi Xian Cautions
Not for use during pregnancy
Bai Xian Pi ***
“white moss skin”
(Chinese Dittany root bark)
Bitter, cold, 4.5-9g
Enters Spleen, Stomach
Clears heat, resolves fire toxicity, expels wind, and dries dampness - sores, carbuncles, and rashes (skin stuff, superficial treatment)
Clears damp heat, stops itching - topically for vaginal itching with discharge
In “Yin Care”
Bai Xian Pi Vs. Ku Shen
Both for damp heat in lower jiao
Ku Shen expels wind and kills parasites - better for itching
Bai Xian Pi can enter muscles to facilitate joint movement - better for Bi syndrome
Tu Fu Ling ***
“Earth Fu Ling”
(smooth greenbriar rhizome)
Sweet, bland, neutral, 15-60g
Liver, Stomach
Resolves toxicity and eliminates dampness - eases the joints, painful urination
Clears damp heat from the skin - and psoriasis
Also for syphillis
Tu Fu Ling Cautions
Some people are allergic to this herb
Tu Fu Ling with Chuan Xiong
Best for HA due to constrained damp heat in the liver channel
Ban Zhi Lian ***
“Half branch/twig lotus”
(barbat skullcap)
Acrid, slightly bitter, cool, 9-30g
Enters Liver, Lung, Stomach
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, invigorates the blood, and reduces swellings - sores, abscesses, snakebite
***Recently used in treating various types of cancer and chronic hepatitis (with ascites)
Promotes urination and reduces edema
Mildly dispels blood stasis and stops bleeding
Ban Zhi Lian Cautions
not for use during pregnancy
Ma Bo ***
“Horse Rise up”
(very active)
Acrid, neutral, 1.5g-6g
Enters Lung
Clears lungs, resolves fire toxicity, and improves the condition of the throat (Primary action for throat!)
Stops bleeding (not strong action)
Ma Bo Vs. Shan Dou Gen
Ma Bo clear lung fire, disperse constrained fire, stop bleeding, assist in healing sores
Shan Dou Gen clears heat from heart and lungs, and directs fire downward in Intestines, dries dampness and kills parasites, also heat pain in gums
She Gan ***
“Shooting dryness”
Bitter, cold
Enters Lung
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, and improves the condition of the throat (primarily to relieve throat and clear lungs)
Transforms phlegm and clears the lungs - for obstruction
She Gan Vs. Ma Bo
She Gan also helps with phlegm. but both benefit the throat
Chuan Xin Lian **
“Puncture the Heart lotus”
Bitter, cold, 6-15g
Enters LI, Lung, SI, Stomach
Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity - usually for Upper and Lower Jiao. And for skin issues like eczema and carbuncles
Clears heat, dries dampness, and stops diarrhea (UTIs)
Considered an antibiotic
Chuan Xin Lian Vs. Ban Zhi Lian
Chuan Xin Lian better at clearing heat and resolve toxicity
Ban Zhi Lian better for eliminating stagnation, reduce swelling and alleviating pain
Chuan Xin Lian Cautions
This herb is bitter and cold it can easily damage the Stomach Qi and should not be taken long term or in too high a dosage
Shan Ci Gu **
“Mountain nice/kind mushroom”
Sweet, slightly acrid, cold (strong)
Enters Liver and Stomach
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses, and dissipates nodules
Resolves toxicity, dissipates nodules, and reduces swellings
Primarily used to treat cancer patients
Shan Ci Gu Cautions
A bit toxic, not for use with weak patients
Lu Dou **
mung bean
Sweet, cold (mild, used preventatively), 15-30g Enters Heart and Stomach Clears summerheat Clears heat and resolves toxicity Antidote (for Zhi Fu Zi or fava beans) Use as Tea, powder in ointment
Lu Dou with Gan Cao
together they can “resolve the hundred toxins” as anti dote for poisoning from toxic herbs. Also good for summer heat, heat rash, and poisoning by foot spoiled by heat
Lu Dou Vs. Chi Xiao Dou Vs. Hei Dou
Lu Dou best for summer heat and reducing toxic reactions to other herbs
Chi Xaio Dou benefit ST in dysentery and promote urination to reduce edema, enters blood to resolve heat toxin in blood and move blood
Hei Dou move blood, promote urination, expel wind
Shan Dou Gen **
“Mountain bean root”
(Bushy sophora)
Bitter, cold
Enters Lung, LI
Clears heat, resolves fire toxicity, and improves the condition of the throat
Clear heat, resolves fire toxicity, and disperses swellings - for abscesses and other toxic sores, Cancer
Shan Dou Gen With Bei Ban Lan Gen
Most appropriate for accumulated and clumped heat toxin causing swelling and pain of the throat, and swelling and pain of the teeth and gums. But if from heat EPF they can prevent release of exterior and cause complications
Shan Dou Gen with She Gan
For clumped phlegm heat that clogs the throat and leads to a swollen, sore throat with phlegm that is difficult to expectorate, hoarseness, and rattling sound of phlegm in the throat
Shan Dou Gen Vs. Bei Ban Lan Gen
Bei Ban Lan Gen excels at resolving toxicity and cooling the blood, can be used for rashes from W-H
Shan Dou Gen cools heat above and below, excels at dispersing clumps, drying dampness and killing parasites
Bai Lian **
“White___”
Bitter, acrid, neutral tending towards cold
Enters Heat, Stomach, Liver
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses, disperses clumps, and GENERATES FLESH - to help resolve sore and close up/heal the wounds or burns
Used internally and externally for burns
Shan Dou Gen Cautions
Not for use with cold from deficiency of SP/ST, poor appetite, or loose stools
Bai Lian Cautions
Not for use in cases of cold from deficiency of SP/ST. It is incompatible with Zhi Chuan Wu
Bai Lian Vs. Pu Gong Ying
Bai Lian is stronger at dispersing clumps and generating flesh - good for expressing and healing sores
Pu Gong Ying used for any yang type sores that are red, swollen, hot, painful. Especially for breasts
Hong Teng **
“Red vine”
Bitter, sweet, cold, 9-15g
Enters Liver, Stomach, LI, SI
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses, and stops pain
Invigorates the blood and disperses stasis
Hong Teng Cautions
Not for use during pregnancy
Hong Teng Vs. Yu Xing Cao Vs. Bai Jiang Cao
All 3 good for cooling, resolving toxicity and disperse, and are blood cooling
Hong Teng - for intestines and breasts
Yu Xing Cao - for lungs
Bai Jiang Cao - for intestines
He Ye **
Lotus leaf
Bitter, slightly sweet, neutral
Enters Heart, Liver, Spleen
Clears heat, resolves summer-heat, and raises clear yang, stops bleeding
Hong Teng Vs. Ji Xue Teng
Ji Xue Teng unblocks collaterals and invigorates blood
Hong Teng invigorates the blood but more dispersing, cooling, and able to resolve toxicity, essential for abdominal pain for pelvic inflammation
Ya Dan Zi **
“Crow Gallbladder son”
Bitter, cold, toxic, 0.5-2g
Enters LI, Liver
Cools heat, resolves toxicity, expels dampness, kills parasites
For dysenteric disorders, and intermittent fever and chills
Also topically for warts and corns, as paste or ointments (used as last resort because its toxic)
Ya Dan Zi cautions
Toxic side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver congestion and fatty degeneration, renal congestion and degeneration. Severe cases somnolence, convulsion, death
