Herbs that Drain Dampness

Question 1

Fu Ling

Answer 1

sweet, bland, neutral
HT, KD, SP, LU
9-15
1. Promotes urination and leaches out dampness (urinary difficulty, diarrhea or edema dt stagnation of fluids or dampness. Also used in case of scanty urine dt damp heat)
2. Strengthens the SP and harmonizes the Middle Burner (SP deficiency compounded by dampness)
3. Strengthens the SP, transforms phlegm (SP deficiency with thin mucus in which phlegm moves upward)
4. Quiets the heart and calms the spirit (SP or HT insufficiency or internal obstruction of turbid phlegm)

Question 2

Zhu Ling

Answer 2

sweet, bland, sl cool
SP, KD, BL
6-12
1. Promotes urination and leaches out dampness (for problems caused by stagnation of dampness. Stand alone for lin during pregnancy)

Question 3

Ze Xie

Answer 3

sweet, bland, cold
KD, BL
4.5-9
1. Promotes urination and leaches out dampness (stagnation associated with dampness. Especially useful for dampness in the lower burner)

Question 4

Yi Yi Ren

Answer 4

sweet, bland, sl cold
LU, SP, ST, KD
9-30
1. Facilitates the resolution of dampness and strengthens the SP (tx both root and manifestation)
2. Facilitates the resolution of dampness and eliminates bi (for wind damp bi. Especially effective for increasing joint mobility and reducing spasms in chronic cases)
3. Clears heat and expels pus (for soft, pustulated carbuncles as well as LU or Intestine abscess)
4. Clears damp heat (any damp heat d/o at any level characterized by a greasy coat and digestive problems)

Question 5

Che Qian Zi

Answer 5

sweet, cold
BL, KD, LV, LU
9-15 (keep in separate cloth bag and decoct with other herbs)
1. Promotes urination and clears damp heat (any kind of edema or lin dt damp heat. Generally used for damp heat pouring into the lower burner)
2. Promotes urination to solidify the stool (diarrhea associated with either damp heat or damp summer heat)
3. Clears the eyes (eye problems associated with either LV or KD deficiency or heat in the LV channel depending on the other herbs)
4. Expels phlegm and stops cough (LU heat induced cough with yellow, copious sputum)

Question 6

Mu Tong

Answer 6

bitter, sl cold
BL, HT, SI
3-6
1. Promotes urination and unblocks lin (lin from damp heat in the BL. Also edema and ascites)
2. Promotes urination and drains heat from the HT via the SI (irritability accompanied by sores of the mouth or tongue and scanty urine)
3. Promotes lactation and unblocks the blood vessels (for insufficient lactation. Less commonly for amenorrhea and for pain and stiffness of the joint)

Question 7

Tong Cao

Answer 7

sweet, bland, sl cold
LU, ST
2-4.5
1. Promotes urination and clears heat (Damp warmth or damp heat lin. Usually as assistant or envoy)
2. Promotes lactation in cases where it is insufficient or absent)

Question 8

Deng Xin Cao

Answer 8

sweet, bland, sl cold
HT, LU, SI
1.5-4.5
1. Promotes urination and unblocks lin (hot lin and other heat d/o with dark, scanty urine)
2. Clears the HT and directs the fire downward (moves heat from the HT channel downward into the SI channel where it is expelled through the urine.)

Question 9

Qu Mai

Answer 9

bitter, cold
BL, HT, SI
9-15
1. Clears damp heat, promotes urination, unblocks lin (any type of lin, especially bloody)
2. Breaks up blood stasis (auxiliary herb for amenorrhea dt blood stasis)

Question 10

Bian Xu

Answer 10

bitter, sl cold
BL
9-15
1. Clears damp heat from the BL, promotes urination, unblocks LIn (damp heat lin)
2. Expels parasites and stops itching (damp heat skin lesions with itching including tinea or for intestinal parasites)

Question 11

Shi Wei

Answer 11

bitter, sweet, sl cold
BL, LU
6-9
1. Clears damp heat and unblocks lin (for either hot, stony, or painful bloody lin dt damp heat)
2. Clears heat and stops bleeding (bleeding dt chaotic movement of hot blood, especially in cases of vomiting blood, uterine bleeding, and painful blood lin)
3. Clears the LU, expels phlegm and stops coughs (LU heat coughs and wheezing)

Question 12

Di Fu Zi

Answer 12

sweet, bitter, cold
BL, KD
9-15
1. Clears damp heat and promotes urination (lin dt damp-heat accumulating in the BL)
2. Expels dampness and stops itching (used both internally and topically for damp skin d/o and other dermatological problems where itching is amajor symptom. Also for damp heat in the external genitals)

Question 13

Dong Gua Zi

Answer 13

sweet, cold
LU, ST, LI, SI
9-15
1. Clears heat, expels phlegm, and promotes the discharge of pus (heat that has collected in the LU or Intestines with expectoration of thick, yellow sputum. Also for damp heat with phlegm obstruction in the upper or lower burner as in LU or intestinal abscess)
2. Clears heat and drains dampness (especially useful in the treatment of damp heat vaginal discharge)

Question 14

Dong Gua Pi

Answer 14

sweet, bland, sl cold
LU, SI
15-30
1. Facilitates urination and reduces swelling (for edema, primarily from damp heat)

Question 15

Dong Kui Guo

Answer 15

sweet, cold
BL, LI, SI
3-9
1. Promotes urination and unblocks lin (hot, bloody, stony lin. Also used as an adjunctive herb in treating edema without lin. Especially useful when d/o accompanied by constipation.)
2. Benefits the breasts (insufficient lactation, painful swollen breasts, or early stages of breast abscess)
3. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (adjunctive herb for constipation dt insufficient fluids)

Question 16

Qing Ma Zi

Answer 16

bitter, neutral
BL, LI, LV
3-9
1. Clears heat, facilitates resolution of dampness (red and white dysenteric c/o and lin)
2. Resolves toxicity

Question 17

Bi Xier

Answer 17

bitter, neutral
BL, LV, ST
9-15
1. Separates the pure from the turbid (resolving turbid dampness in the lower burner. Can be used for problems dt either deficiency or damp heat)
2. Expels wind dampness, relaxes the sinews, and unblocks the collaterals (wind dampness or damp heat bi. Mild)
3. Clears damp-heat from the skin (damp-heat skin lesions such as eczema and pustular sores)

Question 18

Jin Qian Cao

Answer 18

sweet, salty, sl cold
BL, GB, KD, LV
15-30
1. Promotes urination, unblocks lin, and expels urinary tract stones (various types of lin. Very important herb for treating urinary tract stones and can be used alone for this purpose in large doses taken as a tea
2. Clears damp heat in the LV and GB and expels gall stones (jaundice and/or red swollen eyes dt damp heat as well as gall stones)
3. Resolve toxicity and swelling (snake bite, abscess and traumatic injury. The fresh herb is applied topically)

Question 19

Hai Jin Sha

Answer 19

sweet, bland, cold
BL, SI
6-15; decoct in a cheese cloth bag
1. Promotes urination, unblocks painful lin, expels stones (for lin of any type. Also for both urinary tract and biliary tract stones)
2. Promotes urination, reduces edema and decreases jaundice (swelling and fullness dt SP dampness as well as damp heat jaundice)

Question 20

Chi Xiao Dou

Answer 20

sweet, sour, neutral
HT, SI
9-30
1. Promotes urination and reduces edema (abdominal swelling and fullness dt edema, urinary difficulty and leg qi edema. The nature of his herb is to direct downward and relieve edema by causing the water or dampness to be drained out of the body. Can be eaten as a food.
2. Facilitates the resolution of dampness and heat (mild cases of damp heat jaundice)
3. Disperses blood stasis, reduces swelling, and reduces fire toxicity (sores, carbuncles, and furuncles)

Question 21

Yin Chen

Answer 21

bitter, sl cold
LV, SP, GB, ST
9-30
1. Clears heat, resolves dampness, and reduces jaundice (principal herb for treating jaundice dt either damp heat or cold damp)
2. Clears heat and facilitates the resolution of dampness (damp sores, wind rashes and other skin diseases. Particularly those affecting the lower parts of the body. Can be used alone as an external wash)

Question 22

Han Fang Ji

Answer 22

bitter, acrid, cold
BL, SP, KD
4.5-9
1. Promotes urination and reduces edema (especially in the lower burner from dampness accumulating)
2. Expels wind dampness and alleviates pain (for wind damp heat collecting in channels)

Question 23

Ban Bian Lian

Answer 23

sweet, bland, sl cold
Ht, LU, SI
3-15
1. Promotes urination and reduces edema (primarily for edema- often floating edema and ascidies)
2. Cools the blood and resolves toxicity (herb of choice for tx poisonous snakebites and bee stings. Internally or applied topically)

Question 24

Yu Mi Xu

Answer 24

sweet, bland, neutral
BL, GB, LV
15-30
1. Promotes urination, reduces edema and unblocks lin (hot or stony lin and edema)
2. Clears damp heat from LV and GB