Herbs that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity

Overview of Herbs that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity

• Heat Toxicity Definition ($rè\,dú$): This refers to an extreme accumulation of heat, which is typically associated with infectious diseases.
• Nature of Condition: Heat toxicity is almost always acute in nature.
• Symptomatic Presentations: Herbs in this category are primarily used to treat:
  • Hot, swollen, painful, deep-set sores including boils, carbuncles, and furuncles.
  • Abscesses (localized collections of pus), specifically including breast abscess and intestinal abscess.
  • Diarrhea and dysentery characterized by inflammation of the colon, severe diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
  • Epidemic febrile outbreaks, such as mumps and encephalitis.
  • Environmental toxins like snake bites or insect bites.
  • Specific types of cancer.
• General Properties of the Category:
  • Taste: Bitter.
  • Temperature: Cold.
  • Main Action: Clear heat toxicity, addressing skin infections with pus, dysentery, and viral infections.
  • Other Properties: Several herbs within this group possess anti-cancer properties.
• General Cautions and Contraindications:
  • Because these herbs are generally cold and bitter, they have the potential to damage the Spleen.
• Primary Sources for Material:
  • Bensky, D. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press. pp. 148-219.
  • Chen, J. and Chen, T. (2004). Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Art of Medicine Press. pp. 171-243.

Clinical Terminology and Definitions

• Abscess: An area within body tissue that is swollen and contains an accumulation of pus.
• Boil: A skin infection starting in a hair follicle or oil gland, typically caused by staphylococcal bacteria.
• Furuncle: A term synonymous with a boil.
• Carbuncle: A painful, red, and swollen cluster of boils that are connected to one another under the surface of the skin.
• Sty: A boil that specifically forms in the eyelid.

Individual Herb Profiles

⾦金金 银 花 Jīn Yín Huā (Lonicerae Flos)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Sweet
• Channels: Large Intestine (LI), Lung (LU), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $6-20\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Targeted at hot, painful sores and swellings located on the throat, breast, or eyes. It treats intestinal abscesses and diarrhea characterized by blood or pus. It can be applied both internally and externally for skin infections.
  2. Expels Wind-Heat Invasion: Used for exterior wind-heat patterns.
  3. Clears Damp-Heat from Lower-Jiao: Addresses Lin syndrome and diarrhea.
  4. Stops Bleeding (Charred): When charred, it is used for bloody dysentery.

连 翘 Lián Qiào (Forsythiae Fructus)

• Temperature: Slightly Cold
• Taste: Bitter, Slightly Acrid
• Channels: Heart (HT), Lung (LU), Gallbladder (GB)
• Dosage: $6-15\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Especially effective for Heart heat and heat located in the Upper Jiao. It also promotes urination to treat Lin syndrome.
  2. Expels Wind-Heat Invasion: Used for exterior syndromes.
  3. Discharges Pus: Indicated for sores, abscesses, scrofula, and throat obstruction.

⼤大 ⻘青 叶 Dà Qīng Yè (Isatidis Folium) / 板 蓝 根 Bǎn Lán Gēn (Isatidis Radix)

• Temperature: Very Cold
• Taste: Bitter
• Channels: Heart (HT), Lung (LU), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $9-15\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Primarily for epidemic febrile diseases, Lung heat, and throat problems.
  2. Cools the Blood: Used for macular rashes or skin eruptions resulting from blood heat. It also stops bleeding due to blood heat, such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood.

⻘青 黛 Qīng Dǎi (Indigo Naturalis)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Salty
• Channels: Liver (LV), Lung (LU), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $1.5-3\,\text{grams}$ (Instruction: stir the powder into a strained decoction; do not decoct directly).
• Notes: This is a powder derived from the indigo plant processed with lime (calcium-oxide), not the fruit.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Cools the Blood: For mumps, swelling, macular rashes, and skin eruptions. It treats mouth sores, painful swollen throats, and bleeding due to heat (especially nosebleeds). Can be used externally for skin issues and nosebleeds.
  2. Drains Liver Fire, Extinguishes Wind, and Stops Tremor: Indicated for febrile convulsions and coughs caused by Liver fire invading the Lungs.

蒲 公 英 Pú Gōng Yīng (Taraxaci Herba)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter, Sweet
• Channels: Liver (LV), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $9-30\,\text{grams}$
• Notes: Common dandelion. Can be used as an internal decoction or an external fresh poultice.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Reduces swelling and pain; discharges pus. It is a key herb for breast abscess and mastitis.
  2. Clears Liver Heat: Used to brighten the eyes.
  3. Promotes Urination: Drains dampness to treat jaundice and Lin syndrome.

紫 花 地 丁 Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng (Violae Herba)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter, Acrid
• Channels: Heart (HT), Liver (LV)
• Dosage: $15-30\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Specifically for skin infections, deep-set hot sores, insect bites, and snake bites. Frequently used fresh and can be applied internally or externally.

败 酱 草 Bài Jiàng Cǎo (Patrinae Herba)

• Temperature: Slightly Cold
• Taste: Acrid, Bitter
• Channels: Stomach (ST), Large Intestine (LI), Liver (LV)
• Dosage: $6-15\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Discharges Pus: For hot sores and Large Intestine abscesses.
  2. Invigorates Blood: Relieves pain due to blood stagnation caused by heat. Specifically used for abdominal pain, chest pain, postpartum pain, and various OB/GYN conditions.

穿 ⼼心 莲 Chuān Xīn Lián (Andrographitis Herba)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter
• Channels: Lung (LU), Stomach (ST), Large Intestine (LI), Small Intestine (SI)
• Dosage: $6-15\,\text{grams}$
• Pharmacological Notes: Some sources identify antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, with the ability to inhibit staphylococcus and streptococcus organisms. It may possess anti-cancer properties.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Targets Lung heat and upper-body conditions (throat, ears, eyes). Applied externally for burns, scalds, snakebites, and nosebleeds.
  2. Dispels Dampness: Treats diarrhea from damp-heat and promotes urination for Lin syndrome. It is used externally for eczema.

⽩白 花 蛇 ⾆舌 草 Bài Huā Shé Shé Cǎo (Hedyotis Diffusae Herba)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter, Sweet
• Channels: Stomach (ST), Large Intestine (LI), Small Intestine (SI)
• Dosage: $15-30\,\text{grams}$
• Etymology Notes: "Bai Hua She" refers to the "white flower snake." The herb is named because it resembles the snake's tongue.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Used internally/externally for skin infections. It is noted for treating cancer, especially within the digestive system. Used externally for snakebite.
  2. Promotes Urination: For jaundice and Lin syndrome caused by damp-heat.

荷 叶 Hé Yè (Nelumbinis Folium)

• Temperature: Neutral
• Taste: Bitter, Slightly Sweet
• Channels: Heart (HT), Liver (LV), Spleen (SP)
• Dosage: $3-9\,\text{grams}$
• Note: Used in food therapy.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat: Specifically for summer heat.
  2. Transforms Middle-Jiao Dampness: Effective for diarrhea.
  3. Stops Bleeding: Has a mild effect on lower jiao bleeding or vomiting of blood caused by heat or stagnation.

绿 ⾖豆 Lù Dòu (Phaseoli Radiati Semen)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Sweet
• Channels: Heart (HT), Spleen (SP), Stomach (ST), Urinary Bladder (UB)
• Dosage: $15-30\,\text{grams}$ (Used in food therapy).
• Food Therapy Applications: Can be cooked with congee or ground into tea. It can also be used in a sleeping pillow to benefit the ears/eyes, treat headaches, and correct irregular (upside-down) sleeping patterns.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Internally/externally for skin, eye, or throat issues and bites.
  2. Clears Summer Heat: Especially when thirst is the primary symptom.
  3. Promotes Urination: For edema, particularly in diabetic patients.
  4. Detoxification: Specifically detoxifies Fu Zi poisoning.

⽩白 头 翁 Bài Tóu Wēng (Pulsatillae Radix)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter
• Channels: Large Intestine (LI), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $6-15\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity: Considered one of the most effective herbs for treating dysentery.

⽩白 鲜 ⽪皮 Bái Xiān Pí (Dictomni Cortex)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter
• Channels: Spleen (SP), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $4.5-9\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Damp-Heat: Internally/externally for damp-heat skin issues (moist with pus). Treats leukorrhea and vaginal discharge, specifically stopping itching.
  2. Dispels Wind and Dampness: Mild effect for Bi syndrome and jaundice.

⻢马 ⻮齿 苋 Mǎ Chǐ Xiàn (Portulacae Herba)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Sour (Slippery)
• Channels: Large Intestine (LI), Liver (LV)
• Dosage: $9-15\,\text{grams}$
• Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy. The Grand Materia Medica states it ‘terminates pregnancy.’
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Damp-Heat: For skin infections (boils, abscesses, carbuncles), snake bites, wasp stings, dysentery, diarrhea, leukorrhea, and heat-type Lin syndrome.
  2. Induces Astringency: Used for OB/GYN conditions like profuse menstruation, leukorrhea, and lingering lochia (postpartum bleeding).

⼟土 茯 苓 Tǔ Fú Líng (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma)

• Temperature: Neutral
• Taste: Sweet, Bland
• Channels: Liver (LV), Stomach (ST)
• Dosage: $15-60\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Resolves Dampness: Treats damp skin infections. Historically used to detoxify mercury poisoning (mercury was used to treat syphilis).
  2. Benefits Joints: For Bi syndrome and painful joints due to damp-heat; treats muscle spasms associated with syphilis.
  3. Promotes Urination: For jaundice and Lin syndrome.

⼭山 ⾖豆 根 Shān Dóu Gēn (Sophorae Tokinensis Radix)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter
• Channels: Lung (LU), Large Intestine (LI)
• Dosage: $3-9\,\text{grams}$
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Benefits Throat: For swollen, painful throats. Used internally or as an external gargle.
  2. Clears Heat Toxicity: Treats sores and abscesses. Noted for anti-cancer effects, specifically for Lung and throat cancer.

射 ⼲干 Shè Gān (Belamcandae Rhizoma)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter
• Channels: Lung (LU)
• Dosage: $3-9\,\text{grams}$
• Contraindications: Relatively contraindicated during pregnancy due to its downward-directing nature.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Benefits Throat: For swollen, painful throat.
  2. Transforms Phlegm: For wheezing and cough due to phlegm obstruction.

⻢马 勃 Ma Bo (Lasiosphaera)

• Temperature: Neutral
• Taste: Acrid
• Channels: Lung (LU)
• Dosage: $1.5-6\,\text{grams}$
• Notes: Described as a puffball (likely a type of fungus).
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Benefits Lung/Throat: For loss of voice, cough due to Lung heat, and swollen, painful throat.
  2. Stops Bleeding: Internal or external use for bleeding in the mouth or lips.

鸭 蛋 ⼦子 Ya Dan Zi (Bruceae Fructus)

• Temperature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter, Toxic
• Channels: Large Intestine (LI), Liver (LV)
• Dosage: $0.5-2\,\text{grams}$
• Warnings: It is toxic to the Liver and Kidneys. It must not be taken in large dosages or over a long term.
• Actions and Indications:
  1. Clears Heat Toxicity and Kills Parasites: Used for chronic or recurring dysentery, specifically amebic dysentery. Indicated for malarial disorders.
  2. External Use: For warts and corns.
  3. Anti-cancer: Specifically for breast or colon cancer.