Drain Dampness Flashcards
What are the 3 primary actions of herbs in the drain damp category?
- promote the smooth functioning of the water pathways
- lead to an increase in urine output
- treat fluid accumulation/dampness
What are the main contraindications for herbs in this category?
Yin deficiency or depleted fluids
What are the 4 functions of fu ling - poria?
- Promotes urination, leaches out dampness
- Strengthens the spleen, harmonizes the middle jiao
- Transform phlegm
- Quiets the heart and calms the spirit (fu shen)
Sweet, bland, neutral
HT, SP, KD, LU
What are the main actions of zhu ling - polyporus
- Promotes urination and leaches out dampness
It has stronger diuretic properties than fu ling, but does not tonify
Has anti-cancer properties
Sweet, bland, sl cold
SP, KD, BL
What are the 2 actions of ze xie - alisma rhizome
- Promotes urination and leach out dampness
- Settles ministerial fire in the KD by draining damp heat from the lower burner
Sweet, bland, cold
KD, BL
What are the 4 actions of yi yi ren - coix seed
- Resolves dampness and strengthens the spleen
- Eliminates painful obstruction (bi syndrome)
- Clears heat, expels pus
- Clears damp heat
Sweet, bland, sl cold
LU, SP, ST, KD
What are the 2 actions for dong gua zi - benincasa seed
- Clear heat, expel phlegm, promote discharge of pus
- Clear heat and drain damp
Sweet, cold
LU, ST, LI, SI
9-15g
What are the 2 main actions of Han fang ji - stephaniae root
- Stimulates urination, reduces edema
- Dispels wind damp heat (hot bi syndrome with fever, red swollen painful joints)
Bitter, acrid, cold
What are the 3 main actions of yin chen - artemisia
- Clears damp heat from LV and GB
- Clears damp heat and releases the exterior
- Clears damp heat from the skin
Bitter, acrid, cool
LV, GB, SP, ST
What are the 4 main actions of shi wei - pyrrosia leaf
- Clears damp heat and regulates urination
- Clears heat and stops bleeding
- Clears the lungs, reduces phlegm, stops cough
- Replenishes white blood cells in post chemo treatment
Sweet, bitter, cool
UB, LU
What are the 4 actions of che quan zi - plantain seed
- Clears damp heat and stimulates urination
- Promotes urination to solidify the stool (damp summer heat diarrhea)
- Clears liver heat from the eyes
- Clears heat from the lungs, expels phlegm, stop cough
Sweet, cold
UB, KD, LV, LU
What are the 4 main actions of hua shi - talcum
- Restores healthy urination and drains heat from the bladder
- Clears summer heat
- Clears damp heat (topical)
- Detoxifies
Sweet, bland, cold
ST, UB
What are the 4 main actions of deng xin cao - junci medulla
- Clears damp heat from the lower jiao and stimulates urination
- Clears heat from the heart through the small intestine through urination
- Clears heat from the lungs
- Cools the blood to stop bleeding
Sweet, bland, cool
HT, LU, SI
1.5-4.5 g
What are the 4 main actions of mu tong - akebia
- Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dribbling
- Promotes urination and drains heat from the HT through the SI
- Promotes lactation
- Unblocks blood stasis
Bitter, sl cold
UB, HT, SI
What are the 4 main actions of tong cao - tetrapanacis
- Stimulates urination
- Clears heat
- Resolves damp heat
- Boosts lactation
Sweet, bland, sl cold
LU, ST