Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry Dampness

Question 1

Name the 6 herbs that dry dampness

Answer 1

huang qin
huang lian
huang bai
long dan cao
ku shen
qin pi

Question 2

huang qin

Answer 2

Clears all 4 excess heat types (fire, blood, damp-heat, toxicity)

• Clears Lung Heat: fever, irritable, thirst, cough, thick yellow sputum
• Calm Fetus
• Clears Heat from LV/GB: headache, irritability, bitter taste, flushed face, shaoyang syndrome

6-15gm
jui zhi to enhance clearing of LU damp heat
chao tan- to stop bleeding

Question 3

huang lian

Answer 3

Clears all 4 excess heat types (fire, blood, damp-heat, toxicity)

• Clears HT Fire: shen disturbance due to heat
• Dries damp heat in ST and Intestines: diarrhea, vomit, acid reflux, jaundice

1.5-9gm

Question 4

huang bai

Answer 4

Dries dampness; clears heat in lower jiao: thick yellow vaginal discharge, dysuria, foul smelling diarrhea; jaundice; red, hot, swollen knees, feet, legs, edema of lower legs; gout

• Drains KD Fire

3-12 gm

Question 5

Long Dan Cao

Answer 5

Dries Damp heat from LV/GB
GB: red, swollen throat and eyes, swollen ears, ear or sinus infection
lower jiao: swelling or pain in genitals, foul smelling vaginal discharge and itching, herpes simplex, shingles

• Drains LV/GB Fire: live fire blazing with headache, fever, red eyes, flank pain, irritability; spasms, convulsions

3-9gm

Question 6

Ku Shen

Answer 6

Dries Dampness in Lower Jiao: blood in stools; vaginal discharge

• Disperses wind; kills parasites; *stops itching: skin lesions or infestations with itching
• Clears heat; promotes urination: dysuria during pregnancy

3-15gm

Question 7

Qin Pi

Answer 7

Dries Damp Heat: astringent action helps to prevent loss of body fluids

Drains Liver Fire; benefits eyes: liver heat affecting eyes which are red, swollen and painful or for superficial visual obstruction

4.5-15gm