HERBS THAT DRAIN DAMPNESS
- used for treating syndromes of accumulation of dampness in the body
- usually due to disturbance of water metabolism
- dysfunction of lung, spleen, kidney, bladder or san jiao
- herbs facilitate water passage and eliminate water/dampness
- dampness = yin pathogenic factor; stagnating tendency
- for urination, edema, lin syndromes, diarrhea, phlegm, congested fluids, damp warm febrile disease, jaundice, eczema
- sweet, bland, neutral or slightly cold
- some are bitter and cold (cold clears heat! good for lin syndrome and jaundice!)
- bland leaches out damp
- stems carry out water
- can injure yin fluids or qi if overused
FU LING / HIDDEN EDGED MUSHROOM / PORIA COCOS
- SWEET & BLAND
- NEUTRAL
- SPLEEN/HEART/LUNG
- STRENGTHEN SPLEEN AND STOMACH (LIKE YI YI REN)
KEY:
- STRENGTHENS SPLEEN
- HARMONIZES MIDDLE JIAO
- TRANSFORMS PHLEGM
- CALMS SHEN
- #1 FOR PROMOTING URINATION AND LEACHING OUT DAMPNESS
9-15G
C/I: FREQUENT COPIOUS URINE DUE TO DEFICIENCY COLD
ZHU LING / PIG EDGED MUSHROOM / POLYPORUS
- SPLEEN, KIDNEY, BLADDER
- SWEET, BLAND, SLIGHTLY COOL
KEY:
- PROMOTES URINATION, LEACHES OUT DAMPNESS
- STRONGER THAN FU LING; NOT FOR LONG TERM USE (CAN DAMAGE QI OR YIN FLUIDS)
- DOES NOT TONIFY SPLEEN
- EDEMA OR LIN SYNDROME DURING PREGNANCY
- LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE
5-10G
ZE XIE / MARSH DRAIN / RHIZOMA ALISMATIS
- KIDNEY, URINARY BLADDER
- SWEET BLAND
- COLD
KEY:
- CLEARS BLAZING MINISTERIAL FIRE
- LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE
- PROMOTES URINATION; LEACHES OUT DAMPNESS
5-10G
C/I: SPERMATTOREA, VAGINAL DISCHARGE
YI YI REN / SEEDS OF YI / JOB’S TEARS / LACHRYMA JOBI
- SPLEEN, LUNG, KIDNEY
- SWEET, BLAND
- SLIGHTLY COLD
KEY:
- STRENGTHENS SPLEEN
- STOPS DIARRHEA
- ELIMINATES WIND/DAMP BI (PAINFUL OBSTRUCTION)
- EXPELS PUS, CLEARS HEAT (SKIN DISEASES DUE TO DAMP HEAT)
- CLEARS DAMP HEAT (DIGESTIVE ISSUES; GREASY TONGUE COAT)
9-30G (FOOD MEDICINE SO LARGE DOSE OK)
C/I: PREGNANCY!
DONG GUA ZI REN / WINTER MELON SEED / SM. BENACASAE HIPIDAE
- LUNG, LIVER, STOMACH, SMALL INTESTINE
- SWEET
- COLD
KEY:
- SLIPPERY!
- CLEARS HEAT, EXPELS PHLEGM
- PROMOTES DISCHARGE OF PUS
- CLEARS HEAT, DRAINS DAMP
- MILD EDEMA IN PREGNANCY (GOOD IN PREGNANCY EDEMA WITH HEAT)
10-15G
C/I: CAN CAUSE LOOSE STOOL
SHENG JIANG PI / GINGER PEEL / PERICARPIUM ZINGIBERIS
- LUNG, SPLEEN, STOMACH
- ACRID
- COOL
KEY:
- ELIMINATES WATER FROM THE SKIN (PI MAKES YOU PEE!) - FOR EDEMA JUST UNDER THE SKIN
- HARMONIZES SPLEEN STOMACH
- PROMOTES URINATION, REDUCING EDEMA
3-10G
CHE QIAN ZI / BEFORE THE CART SEEDS / SEMEN PLANTAGINIS
- LIVER, KIDNEY, LUNG, URINARY BLADDER
- SWEET, COLD, SLIPPERY
KEY:
- LIN SYNDROME WITH PAIN DUE TO DAMP HEAT
- PROMOTES URINATION TO SOLIDIFY STOOL (STOP DIARRHEA FROM DAMP HEAT)
- CLEARS EYES (EYE PROBLEMS, DRY/BLURRY/RED/PAINFUL EYES)
- EXPELS PHLEGM-LUNG HEAT
- LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE
5-10G (WRAP IN COFFEE FILTER BECAUSE FINE PARTICLES)
C/I: PREGNANCY BECAUSE SLIPPERY!
HUA SHI / SLIPPERY ROCK / TALCUM
- STOMACH, URINARY BLADDER
- SWEET, BLAND
- COLD
- SLIPPERY!
KEY:
- COOLS SUMMER HEAT AND ELIMINATES DAMP
- HOT PAINFUL BURNING LIN SYNDROME
- APPLIED TOPICALLY FOR DAMP HEAT RASHES/SORES (ECZEMA, PRICKLY HEAT)
10-15G (IN COFFEE FILTER!)
C/I: PREGNANCY BECAUSE SLIPPERY OR WITHOUT DAMP HEAT
CHI XIAO DOU / DARK RED LITTLE BEAN / SEMEN PHASEOLI CALCARATI
- STOMACH, SMALL INTESTINE
- SWEET, SOUR
- NEUTRAL
KEY:
- EDEMA (DRAINS DOWN)
- SUMMERHEAT - REDUCES FIRE TOXICITY, BLOOD STASIS (INSATIABLE THIRST) BECAUSE IT’S SLIGHTLY COLD (SO CLEARS STOMACH HEAT)
- ALLEVIATES THIRST BECAUSE MAKES MORE FLUID
- MILD JAUNDICE - RESOLUTION OF DAMP AND HEAT
10-30G (FOOD MEDICINE)
C/I: OVERDOSE CAN INDUCE MISCARRIAGE!
YU MI XU / JADE RICE WHISKERS / ZEA MAYS
- URINARY BLADDER, GALLBLADDER (ONLY ONE SO FAR!!), LIVER
- SWEET, BLAND
- NEUTRAL
KEY:
- PROMOTES URINATION (LIN SYNDROME! FOR HOT STONY PAINFUL URINATION/DRIBBLING/EDEMA)
- CLEARS DAMP HEAT FROM LIVER AND GALL BLADDER (JAUNDICE!)
- HYPERTENSION (BECAUSE IT’S A DIURETIC)
15-30G (FOOD MEDICINE!)
C/I: NONE
BAN BIAN LIAN / HALF SIDE LILY / LOBELIA CHINENSIS
- HEART, LUNG, SMALL INTESTINE
- SWEET, NOT BLAND
- NEUTRAL, COLD
KEY:
- EDEMA
- COOLS BLOOD AND RESOLVES TOXICITY (CLEAR HEAT GROUP!)
- SNAKEBITES, BEE STINGS, TONSILLITIS
- INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY
10-15G (DRIED); 30-60G(FRESH)
C/I: OVERDOSE MAY BE POISONOUS!
MU TONG / OPEN ENDED PIPE WOOD / AKEBIEA CAULIS
- URINARY BLADDER, HEART, SMALL INTESTINE
- BITTER
- SLIGHTLY COLD
- LIKE A TREE WITH LOTS OF OPENING; ALLOWS URINE TO POUR OUT
KEY:
- HEART VIA SI CHANNEL! (UB AND SI ARE SAME CHANNEL; HT AND SI ARE PARTNERED)
- UTI WITH HEART INVOLVED: URINATION AND DRAINS HEAT; IRRITABILITY WITH SORES IN MOUTH/TONGUE; SCANT URINE; HEAT IN BLADDER
- BI SYNDROME: PAIN/STIFFNESS IN JOINTS
- PROMOTES LACTATION (MU IS ANOTHER WORD FOR ‘MOTHER’)
- UNBLOCKS BLOOD VESSELS (AMENNORHEA)
3-6G
C/I: PREGNANCY; LARGE DOSE CAN LEAD TO KIDNEY FAILURE (CONTAINS ARISTOLOCHIC ACID!)
QU MAI / BIRD WHEAT / DIANTHUS SUPERBA
- URINARY BLADDER, HEART, SMALL INTESTINE
- BITTER
- COLD
- HOLLOW TUBE; FRINGE LIKE EDGE LIKE FALLOPIAN TUBE!
- RED => BLOODY LIN
KEY:
- MOVES BLOOD STASIS (AMENNORHEA)
- PROMOTES MENSES
- MOVES STOOL
- HEAT (DAMP HEAT)
10-15G
C/I: PREGNANCY!
BIAN XU / FLAT WATER CONTAINER / HB POLYGONI AVICULARIS
- URINARY BLADDER (ONLY 1 WHERE UB IS ONLY CHANNEL!)
- BITTER
- SLIGHTLY COLD
KEY:
- EXPELS PARASITES (INTESTINAL, SKIN)
- STOPS ITCHING
- PROMOTE URINATION, RELIEVES LIN SYNDROME
- DAMP HEAT
9-15G
DI FU ZI / EARTH SKIN SEEDS / KOCHIAE SCOPARIS
- URINARY BLADDER (KIDNEY)
- SWEET, BITTER (DRAINS/DRIES OUT)
- SLIGHTLY COLD
KEY:
- ITCHING SKIN (EXPELS DAMPNESS): INTERNALLY AND TOPICALLY
- DERMATOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
- LIGHTWEIGHT HERB (MOVES TO EXTERIOR)
- VAGINAL ITCHINESS
10-15G
SHI WEI / STONE REED / FOLIUM PYRROSIEA
- URINARY BLADDER, LUNG
- SWEET, BITTER
- SLIGHTLY COLD
- HAS A LOT OF RED => BLOOD LIN!
KEY:
- # 1 HERB FOR BLOODY LIN + STOP BLEEDING!
- CLEARS LUNG, EXPELS PHLEGM
- CLEAR HEAT
- BLOODY LIN (KIDNEY STONES)
9-15G
C/I: WITHOUT DAMP HEAT
BI XIE / LOWLY SEPARATING / DIOSCOREAE HYPOGLAUCAE
- URINARY BLADDER, LIVER, STOMACH
- BITTER
- NEUTRAL
KEY:
- SEPARATES CLEAR FROM TURBID (FOR TURBID LIN SYNDROME! (CLOUDY DAMPNESS IN LOWER BURNER; LIKE VAG DISCHARGE; HAPPENS BECAUSE OF DAMPNESS)
- EXPELS WIND DAMPNESS
- CLEARS DAMP HEAT FROM THE SKIN (SKIN LESIONS LIKE ECZEMA AND PUSTULAR SORES)
- SEVERE FUNGUS
10-15G
C/I: NONE
YIN CHEN HAO / OLD MOSS / HERBA ARTEMISIAE
- LIVER, GB, STOMACH, SPLEEN (STARTS IN SP/ST BUT GOES TO LV/GB)
- BITTER
- NEUTRAL (COOL)
KEY:
- # 1 FOR JAUNDICE + DAMPNESS
- CLEARS HEAT, RESOLVES DAMPNESS
- ANTIBACTERIAL QUALITIES FOR LIVER
- SKIN CONDITIONS (DAMP SORES, WIND RASHES, SKIN DISEASES ESP LOWER BODY)
- VERY LIGHTWEIGHT
- MAY BE USED VERY CAREFULLY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN/BABIES
10-30G
C/I: JAUNDICE DUE TO QI OR BLOOD STASIS
JIN QIAN CAO / GOLD MONEY HERB / LYSIMACHIAE HERBA
- LIVER, GALLBLADDER, KIDNEY, URINARY BLADDER
- SWEET, SALTY (SOFTENS!)
- SLIGHTLY COLD
KEY:
- STONE LIN!! GALLSTONE AND URINARY STONES.
- JAUNDICE (BUT WEAKER THAN YIN CHEN HAO)
- TOXICITY FOR SNAKEBITES (FRESH AND TOPICALLY)
ONE OF THE 3 JINS (WITH HAI JIN SHA, JI NEI JIN)
15-30G (OR 30-60G FRESH)
C/I: LARGE DOSE CAN CAUSE DIZZINESS/PALPITATIONS, CAN DECREASE WBC
DONG KUI ZI / WINTER COLD VEGETABLE SEEDS / SEMEN MALVAE
- URINARY BLADDER, LONG INTESTINE, SMALL INTESTINE
- SWEET
- COLD
KEY:
- PROMOTES LACTATION (BENEFITS BREAST)
- MOISTENS INTESTINES (FOR DRY STOOL CONSTIPATION)
- PROMOTES URINATION (RELIEVES LIN SYNDROME)
- EDEMA IN PREGNANCY
- OVERALL FOR MOVEMENT OF FLUIDS! URINATION, LACTATION, LIN SYNDROME, EDEMA
3-9G
C/I: PREGNANCY, DIARRHEA FROM SPLEEN QI XU
DENG XIN CAO / LAMP WICK HERB / JUNCI MEDULLA
- HEART, LUNG, SM INTESTINE (DOES NOT ENTER UB CHANNEL! THAT’S WHY IT’S MILD AND OK FOR BABIES!)
- SWEET, BLAND
- SLIGHTLY COOL
- IMPORTANT BIG HERB; VERY LIGHTWEIGHT
KEY:
- CLEARS THE HEART AND DIRECTS FIRE DOWNWARD
- CHILD SLEEP DISORDERS
- ADULT INSOMNIA
- IRRITABILITY
- PROMOTES URINATION; RELIEVES LIN
- MILD!
1.5-4G
C/I: DEF COLD PATTERNS
HAI JIN SHA / SEA GOLD SAND / LYGODIUM JAPONICUM
- URINARY BLADDER, SMALL INTESTINE
- SWEET, BLAND
- COLD
- ONE OF THE 3 JINS
KEY:
- STONES! ALL KINDS
- JAUNDICE (CLEARS DAMP HEAT)
- PROMOTES URINATION
- REDUCES SWELLING IN SPLEEN/STOMACH (EDEMA DUE TO SPLEEN DAMPNESS)
- CLEARS DAMP HEAT IN THE BLOOD LEVEL OF THE SI AND UB TO STOP PAINFUL URINATION
6-12G (WRAPPED IN CHEESECLOTH/FILTER)
C/I: OVERDOSE MAY CAUSE NUMB TONGUE, NAUSEA, DIZZINESS, AVERSION TO COLD, URINARY FREQUENCY
