Downward Draining Herbs

Question 1

Da Huang

Answer 1

1. Purges clumped heat in intestines (accumulated obstruction d/t heat from excess, constipation, damp heat in middle and lower burners)
2. Cools blood, removes blood stasis (heat from excess in blood level, blood stasis, bleeding d/t reckless movement of hot blood)
3. Stops bleeding (charred) (blood in the stool from bleeding hemorrhoids or heat in the intestines)

Question 2

Mang Xiao

Answer 2

1. Softens hardened clumping of heat in the intestines (constipation d/t heat from excess with hard impacted stool)
2. Clears heat, drains fire, reduces swelling (topically): painful swollen eyes, mouth, throat or breasts; phlegm fire)

Question 3

Fan Xie Ye

Answer 3

Drains downwards and guides out stagnant heat in intestines (accumulated pathogenic heat in LI, small dosage can dissolve food stagnation)

Question 4

Lu Hui

Answer 4

1. Cool the LV, relieve constipation (habitual constipation d/t clumped heat in the intestines, vertigo, red eyes, anger/irritability, restless insomnia)
2. Kills parasites (abdominal pain d/t bowel parasites

Question 5

Huo Ma Ren

Answer 5

Enriches yin fluids, moistens the intestines (dry constipation in older or deficient patients or post postpartum d/t blood def)

Question 6

Yu Li Ren

Answer 6

1. Mositens the intestines, unblocks the bowels (constipation d/t qi stag and dryness)
2. Promotes urination (swelling and distention of abdomen and limbs d/t edema)

Question 7

Qian niu zi

Answer 7

1. Drains water, promotes urination (edema, ascites from pathogenic water)
2. Drives out phlegm (cough, wheezing from thin mucus obstructing the lungs)
3. Expels parasites (roundwarms, tapeworms with abdominal stagnation)

Question 8

Gan Sui

Answer 8

1. Vigorously drains water downward, drives out thin mucus (generalized edema, ab distention from pathogenic water)
2. Drives out phlegm (seizures or psychiatric disorders d/t phlegm)
3. Clears heat, reduces swelling (topically) swollen, painful nodula skin lesions

Question 9

Hong Da Ji

Answer 9

Drains water downward, drives out thin mucus (Moderate accumulations of fluids in the chest)

Question 10

Jing Da Ji

Answer 10

Vigorously drains water downwards, drives out thin mucus (Severe, excess accumulations of fluids)

Question 11

Yuan Hua

Answer 11

Harsh cathartic (Accu. of fluids in chest and ab; cough, wheezing with preponderance of dampness and cold)

Question 12

Ba Dou Shuang

Answer 12

1. Warmly unblocks, vigorously purges (severe constipation and abdominal fullness from cold accumulation
2. Breaks up clogged phlegm in head and throat (phlegm clogging throat or sensory orifices)
3. Drives out water (Ascites, primarily from schistosomiasis)

Question 13

Shang Lu

Answer 13

Drives out water from lower orifices (edema from excess with severe constipation and urinary difficulty)

Question 14

Fu Ling

Answer 14

1. Strengthens SP, harmonizes the middle (SP def with damp, phelgm, thin mucus)
2. Promotes urination, eliminates dampness (MB dampness, generalized edema)
3. Quiets the heart, calms the spirit (Insomnia and palpitations d/t insufficiency of HT and SP)