Ch4 Herbs that drain dampness Flashcards
Fu Ling ***
Poria, fungus that grows on roots of pine trees
Sweet, bland, neutral
HT, SP, KD, LU
Promotes urination and leaches out dampness; Strengthens the SP and harmonizes the middle burner; Strengthens the SP to transform phlegm; Quiets the HT and calms spirit
Fu Ling Cautions
Not for use with yin xu, sunken SP Qi, or cold from deficiency with spermatorrhea
Fu Ling Pi Vs. Fu Ling
More diuretic than Fu Ling but less tonifying. Good for subcutaneous edema
Fu Shen Vs. Fu Ling
The heart of the fungus (fu ling). Fu Shen is used primarily for spirit calming effect
Fu Ling with Ze Xie
Excel at eliminating dampness from middle and lower jiao by directing downward
Fu Ling with Gui Zhi
For water and dampness disorders to direct downward when water qi disturbs HT and running piglet qi
Zhu Ling ***
“Pig’s fungus”
Sweet, bland, neutral
SP, KD, BL
Promotes urination and leaches out dampness
Zhu Ling Vs. Fu Ling
Zhu Ling promotes urination strongly and leaches out dampness
Fu Ling promotes urination and leaches out dampness. Also tonifies SP, harmonize middle, calm spirit
Together for draining lower jiao dampness
Ze Xie ***
“Marsh drain/leach out”
(water plantain)
Sweet, bland, cold
KD, BL
Promotes urination and leaches out dampness; Settles ministerial fire in the KD (with yin fire heat) by draining damp-heat from lower jiao
Ze Xie cautions
Not for use in patients with sunken middle burner qi
Ze Xie with Bai Zhu
Used when SP xu leads to dampness, with urinary difficulty, loose stool/diarrhea, or vaginal discharge
Zi Xie Vs. Zhu Ling
Both for damp heat in lower jiao leading to spermatorrhea
Ze Xie with predominant heat
Zhu Ling with predominant damp
Yi Yi Ren ***
Job’s tears, coix seeds
Sweet, bland, slightly cold
LU, SP, ST, KD
Facilitates the resolution of dampness and strengthens SP; Facilitates the resolution of dampness to eliminate Bi; Clears heat and expels pus; Clears D-H for any damp-heat disorder with greasy tongue coating and GI problems – for edema, pus, internal abscess, diarrhea. Best in large doses
Yi Yi Ren Vs. Fu Ling
Both strengthen SP to remove dampness.
Yi Yi Ren often used for abscesses of LU and LI, removes damp from bones, muscles, sinews
Fu Ling augments HT and SP, calms spirit
Che Qian Zi ***
“Before the cart seed”
(Plantago seed)
Sweet, cold
BL, KD, LV, LU
Promotes urination and clears damp-heat; promote urination to solidify stool; clears the eyes (for LV or KD Xu); expels phlegm and stops cough
Che Qian Zi *** cautions
Not for use with loss of essence due to KD xu. Potential caution during pregnancy
Che Qian Zi Vs Ze Xie
Both facilitate water and reduce edema
Che Qian Ze benefits KD, clears eyes, transforms phlegm, more full heat
Ze Xie clears and drains ministerial fire, for yin fire, more empty heat
Hua Shi ***
“Slippery stone”
(talcum)
Sweet, bland, cold
ST, BL
Clears heat, facilitates the resolution of dampness; clears summerheat and facilitates the resolution of dampness; absorbs dampness. Topically – has binding quality for eczema
Hua Shi *** cautions
Not for use with weak SP Qi, incontinent semen, or injury to fluids from hot d/o. Caution during pregnancy
Hua Shi Vs. Shi Gao
Hua Shi alleviates thirst by harmonizing SP/ST, leaches out dampness
Shi Gao for eliminates thirst by clearing heat, for removing pathogenic heat in Yang Ming that has damaged fluids
Hua Shi with Shan Yao
(edit)
Mu Tong ***
“wood unblock”
Bitter, slightly cold
BL, HT, SI
Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dribbling; promotes urine to drain heat from HT via SI, promotes lactation and unblocks the blood vessels (especially with pig feet)
Mu Tong with Deng Xin Cao
(edit)
Mu Tong Vs. Ze Xie
(edit)
Mu Tong Vs. Hu Po
(edit)
Di Fu Zi ***
“Earth Skin Seeds”
(broom cypress)
Sweet, bitter, cold
BL, KD
Clears damp-heat and promotes urination; expels dampness and stops itching (like eczema, scabes, any kind of rashes)
Di Fu Zi Vs. Ku Shen
(edit)
Bi Xie ***
“Soft tokoro rhizome”
(fish poison yam rhizome)
Bitter, neutral
BL, LV, ST
Separates pure from turbid; expels wind-dampness, relaxes the sinews, and unblocks the collaterals; Clears damp-heat from the skin (eczema, pustular sores, etc)
Ch 4 Herbs that drain dampness general characteristics and indications?
Most are sweet, bland or cold. Promote urination or sweating mostly to leach out dampness
Jin Qian Cao ***
“gold money grass”
Promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dribbling, expels urinary tract stones; Clears damp-heat in LV/GB and expel gallstones (jaundice and eyes); Resolves toxicity and swelling
Chi Xiao Dou ***
“Small red beans”
Promotes urination and reduces edema; facilitates the resolution of dampness and heat; Disperses blood stasis, reduces swelling, and reduces fire toxicity
Yin Chen (Hao) *** “full/effulgent old”?
Clears heat, resolves dampness, and reduces jaundice (#1 herb for jaundice—D-H or D-cold); Clears heat and facilitates the resolution of dampness
Tong Cao **
“Unblocking grass”
Promotes urination and clears heat; promotes lactation in cases where it is insufficient or absent
Deng Xin Cao **
“Lamp heart herb/grass”
Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dribbling; Clears the HT (and LU) and directs fire downward
Qu Mai **
“Wheat— “
Clears the damp-heat, promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dribbling; breaks up blood stasis
Bian Xu **
Clears damp-heat from the BL, promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dribbling; expels (intestinal) parasites and stops itching
Shi Wei **
a mineral/stone
Clears damp-heat and unblocks painful urinary dribbling for either hot, stony, or painful bloody urinary dribbling due to damp-heat; Clears heat and stops bleeding; Clears the LU. Helps to unblock and facilitate passage of stone
Dong Gua Zi **
“winter melon seed” (wax gourd seed)
Clears heat, expels phlegm, and promotes the discharge of pus (internal abscesses); Clears heat and drains dampness (pathogenic water)
Dong Gua Pi **
‘Winter melon peel/skin”
Facilitates urination and reduces swelling
Hai Jin Sha **
“Gold Sea sand”
Promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dribbling, expels stones (KD and GB); Promotes urination, reduces edema, and decreases jaundice
Ban Bian Lian **
“Half edge lotus”
Promotes urination and reduces edema; Cools the blood and resolves toxicity (for bee/wasp stings and snake bites)
Han Fang Ji **
“Han protect yin-earth/self”
(Stephania root)
Promotes urination and reduces edema (esp lower body); expels wind-dampness and alleviates pain
Mu Fang Ji **
“Wood protect yin-earth/self”
Dispels wind and eliminates dampness; promotes urination and reduces swellings
Yu Mi Xu **
corn silk
Promotes urination, reduces eczema, and unblocks painful urinary dribbling; Clears damp-heat from LV and GB
