Herbs That Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity

Introduction

• Specific category within herbs that clear heat.
• Focus on heat toxicity.
• Heat toxicity is an extreme accumulation of heat, often associated with infections (bacterial or viral).
• Hard to describe and differentiate herbs in this category due to similarities.

What is Heat Toxicity?

• Extreme accumulation of heat causing issues like skin infections.
• Symptoms include:
  • Hot, swollen, painful sores (boils, carbuncles, furuncles) often with pus.
  • Throat infections like strep throat and tonsillitis.
  • Abscesses: breast abscess, lung abscess, large intestine abscess (internal and external).
  • Diarrhea or dysentery: inflammation of the intestines with abdominal pain, blood, and pus in stool.
  • Epidemic febrile outbreaks: severe, contagious diseases (e.g., mumps, encephalitis).
  • Real toxins: snake/insect bites causing severe reactions.
  • Certain cancers: not treated directly with herbs, but symptoms related to heat toxicity may be addressed.

General Properties of Herbs in This Category

• Bitter in flavor.
• Cold in temperature.
• Channels vary (skin, lungs, intestines, etc.).
• Caution: cold and bitter can damage the spleen.

Key Herbs and Their Specialties

Jin Yin Hua (Lonicerae Flos) and Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus)

• Clear heat toxicity.
• Treat wind-heat invasions. Commonly used in the formula Yin Qiao San.

Da Qing Ye (Indigo Leaf) and Ban Lan Gen (Indigo Root)

• Clear heat toxicity.
• Good for epidemic febrile diseases and throat problems. Anti-viral properties.

Qing Dai (Indigo Powder)

• Best for skin problems and bleeding due to heat.

Pu Gong Ying (Taraxaci Herba)

• Dandelion flower.
• Best for breast abscess and mastitis.

Zi Hua Di Ding (Violae Herba)

• Violet flower.
• Good for snake/insect bites.

Bai Jiang Cao (Patriniae Herba)

• Good for large intestine abscess and pus with blood stagnation.

Chuan Xin Lian (Andrographitis Herba)

• Clears heat from lungs and upper body.

Bai Hua She She Cao (Hedyotis Diffusae Herba)

• Named after white flower snake, good for snake bites.
• Potential anti-cancer properties.

He Ye (Nelumbinis Folium) and Lu Dou (Phaseoli Radiati Semen)

• Lotus leaf and mung bean.
• Clear summer heat.

Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatillae Radix)

• Specializes in treating dysentery.

Ma Chi Xian (Portulacae Herba)

• Good for dysentery with cramps (tenesmus) and induces astringency for bleeding.

Bai Xian Pi (Dictamni Cortex)

• Treats heat toxicity with damp heat.

Tu Fu Ling (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma)

• Known as the syphilis herb.
• Treats heat toxicity with dampness and joints pain.
• Treats mercury poisoning.

She Gan (Belamcandae Rhizoma)

• Good for throat problems.

Others

• Ma Bo (Puffball): Especially good for throat problems.
• Ya Dan Zi (Bruceae Fructus): Treats corns and warts externally.

Summary and Conclusion

• Knowing the herb and what heat toxicity is essential as there are a lot of herbs with overlapping properties.
• Main focus on skin infections, abscesses, throat issues, and epidemic febrile diseases.
• Application: Topical for many herbs, some can be decocted and consumed.
• Caution with herbs as they are cold and bitter; possible spleen damage.

Formula Examples

Yin Qiao San

• Treats wind-heat invasion with key herbs Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao.

Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin

• Treats epidemic febrile diseases affecting head/face with numerous throat-benefiting herbs (e.g., Ban Lan Gen, Ma Bo).

Qing Dai San

• Treats skin disorders with Qing Dai, an indigo powder dyed from leaves.

• Practice and further reference available on TCMStudy.net.