Herbs That Drain Dampness - Herbal Functional Grouping (23 herbs)
Herbs That Drain Dampness General Introduction
- There are two main types of dampness:
- Accumulation of fluids in the body - edema, congested fluids (respiratory and digestive system).
- These herbs are good for edema below the waist in the lower extremities.
- Acute edema should be combined with herbs that release the exterior.
- Chronic edema should be combined with herbs that tonify qi and yang of spleen and kidneys.
- Dampness complicated with heat - combine with clearing damp-heat herbs.
- Heat signs of fever, burning sensation, yellow discharges with stagnation symptoms of distention and fullness.
- Lin syndrome (painful urination), Shi Wen (warm febrile disease), damp sores and jaundice all fit under this category.
- The main method of treatment is to increase the production of urine.
- Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency and/or depleted fluids.
Herbs That Drain Dampness Section Summary / Study Notes
- Fu Ling and Zhu Ling - promote urination.
- Fu Ling - strengthens the spleen, calms the heart.
- Zhu Ling - not tonifying, slightly cold, used exclusively to promote urination and expel dampness.
- Fu Ling and Yi Yi Ren - similar but Yi Yi Ren has a much weaker tonifying function.
- Yi Yi Ren also clears heat and treats wind-dampness.
- Mu Tong and Tong Cao - promote urination and clear heat.
- Mu Tong - better for draining heat.
- Tong Cao - better for draining dampness.
- Ze Xie, Che Qian Zi, Hua Shi - promotes urination and clears damp-heat.
- Guang Fang Ji and Han Fang Ji - similar.
- Qu Mai, Bian Xie, Shi Wei, Jin Qian Cao, Dong Kui Zi, Yu Mi Xu - for damp heat induced lin.