Herbs That Drain Dampness (Edema, Lin Syndrome, Jaundice)

Question 1

Herbs that Drain Dampness

Answer 1

Herbs that Drain Dampness promote water metabolism and urination to leach dampness out of the body. From a biomedical perspective, many of these herbs are diuretics.

The term “dampness” can refer to two different situations:

1. fluid accumulation (edema, thin phlegm)
2. dampness combined with heat (damp-heat)

Damp-Heat: includes conditions such as Lin Syndrome (painful urination), damp sores, and jaundice. These herbs are combined with herbs that clear heat and dry dampness.

Question 2

Properties of Herbs that Drain Dampness

Answer 2

Taste: bland • bitter
Temperature: neutral to cold
Channels: KI, UB, SP

Cautions & 
 Contraindications:
• Use caution with yin deficiency and depleted fluids

Main Action:
• Promote urination (edema, lin syndrome, jaundice

Question 3

List some herbs that Drain Dampness?

Answer 3

Edema
• fú líng
• chì fú líng
• fú líng pí
• fú shén
• zhū líng
• zé xiè
• dōng guā zǐ
• hàn fáng jǐ
• yì yǐ rén
• shēng jiāng pí


Lin Syndrome 
• chē qián zǐ
• huá shí
• mù tōng
• dēng xīn cǎo • qú mài
• biǎn xù
• dì fū zǐ
• bì xiè
• shí wéi
• dōng kuí zǐ

Jaundice
• yīn chén

Question 4

Fú Líng ***

Answer 4

Tuckahoe

Taste: sweet, bland
Temp: neutral
Channels: HT, SP, KI, LU
Dosage: 9-15 grams

1. promotes urination to leach out dampness • for edema, diarrhea, difficult urination
2. tonifies Spleen qi
   • for Spleen deficiency with dampness; 

   e.g. loss of appetite, diarrhea, distention
3. calms shen

Question 5

Yì Yǐ Rén ***

Answer 5

Job’s Tears Seed

Temp: slightly cold
Taste: sweet, bland
Channels: LU, SP, ST, KI
Dosage: 9-30 grams (or use in food therapy)

1. promotes urination and leaches out dampness • for edema, diarrhea, difficult urination
2. tonifies Spleen qi
3. treats bi syndrome
   • esp. for joint mobility and spasms
4. clears heat and discharges pus
   • for Lung abscess and Large Intestine abscess

Question 6

Zhū Líng **

Answer 6

Polyporus

Temp: slightly cool
Taste: sweet, bland
Channels: SP, KI, UB
Dosage: 6-12 grams

1. promotes urination to leach out dampness
   • for edema, diarrhea, vaginal discharge, difficult urination

Zhu Ling differs from Fu Ling in three ways:

1. Zhu Ling does not tonify middle-jiao qi
2. Zhu Ling is colder than Fu Ling
3. Zhu Ling is better at promoting urination

Question 7

Zé Xiè **

Answer 7

Alisma Root

Temp: cold
Taste: sweet, bland
Channels: KI, UB
Dosage: 4.5-9 grams

1. promotes urination to leach out dampness • esp. for dampness in the lower jiao
2. drains damp-heat from lower jiao
   • for lin syndrome, damp-heat diarrhea, 
 spermatorrhea

Question 8

Chē Qián Zǐ ***

Answer 8

Plantago Seeds

Temp: cold
Taste: sweet
Channels: UB, KI, LV, LU
Dosage: 9-15 grams (put in bag)

1. promotes urination and clears damp-heat
   • for lin syndrome or edema due to damp-heat
   • promotes urination to solidify stool; for diarrhea due to damp-
   heat or damp-summer heat
2. clears Liver heat to brighten eyes
3. clears Lung heat
   • for cough with yellow, copious phlegm

Question 9

Huá Shí **

Answer 9

Talcum

Temp: cold
Taste: sweet, bland
Channels: ST, UB
Dosage: 9-15 grams (put in bag)

1. promotes urination to treat lin syndrome
   • important herb for hot lin syndrome • also for diarrhea due to damp-heat
2. clears summer heat
3. used topically to treat skin problems
   • absorbs dampness; for eczema, damp sores, summer rash

Question 10

Mù Tōng **

Answer 10

Akebia Root

Temp: slightly cold
Taste: bitter
Channels: UB, HT, SI
Dosage: 3-6 grams

1. promotes urination to treat lin syndrome
   • for difficult urination due to damp-heat in the lower jiao
2. clears Heart heat
   • for Heart heat pouring into Small Intestine ‣ irritability, mouth sores, difficult urination
3. promotes lactation
4. unblocks the channels to treat re bi 
 (hot bi syndrome)

Question 11

Dì Fū Zǐ *

Answer 11

Kochia Fruit

Temp: cold
Taste: sweet, bitter
Channels: UB, KI
Dosage: 9-15 grams

1. promotes urination to treat lin syndrome
   • for lin syndrome due to damp-heat
2. clears damp-heat
   • used internally and externally for skin problems due to damp-heat with itching; e.g. eczema, scabies, fungal infections, genital itching

Question 12

Yīn Chén (yīn chén hāo) ***

Answer 12

Virgate Wormwood

Temp: slightly cold
Taste: bitter
Channels: LV, SP, GB, ST
Dosage: 9-30 grams

1. resolves dampness to treat jaundice
   • for jaundice due to damp-heat or damp-cold • best herb for treating jaundice
2. used externally to treat damp-related 
 skin problems