Herb Review: Herbs that Drain Dampness

Overview

• Category Focus: Herbs that promote urination to eliminate dampness from the body
• Contrast to Previous Category: Unlike herbs that clear heat and dry dampness (which use bitter flavor), these herbs use bland flavor to promote urination

Important Concepts

• Dampness Conditions: Edema, thin phlegm, damp heat
• Promoting Water Metabolism: Urination eliminates dampness
• Biomedical Perspective: These herbs act as diuretics

Types of Dampness Conditions

1. Fluid Accumulation: Edema, thin phlegm (edema: puffy/swollen condition, water retention; thin phlegm: watery form of phlegm)
2. Damp Heat Conditions: Heat combined with dampness (Lynn syndrome, jaundice)

Key Herbs and Properties

Herbs that Promote Urination to Treat Edema

1. Fu Ling (Poria)
   • Promotes urination, leeches out dampness
   • Tonifies Spleen Qi
   • Calms the Shen (spirit)
   • Forms: Fu Ling, Chi Fu Ling (red, for heat signs), Fu Ling Pi (skin, for edema under skin), Fu Shen (calms Shen, includes root)
2. Zhu Ling (Polyporus)
   • Similar to Fu Ling, but colder and stronger diuretic
   • Does not tonify Spleen
3. Ze Xie (Alisma)
   • Promotes urination, dampness in lower jiao
   • Good for damping heat conditions
4. Dong Gua Zi (Winter Melon Seed)
   • Clears heat, drains dampness
   • Discharges pus (lung/intestine abscess, vaginal discharge)
5. Han Fang Ji (Stephania Root)
   • Promotes urination, treats hot Bi syndrome (expels wind-damp)
6. Yi Yi Ren (Job's Tears)
   • Promotes urination, treats edema and diarrhea
   • Tonifies Spleen Qi
   • Treats Bi syndrome, clears pus
7. Sheng Jiang Pi (Fresh Ginger Peel)
   • Promotes urination, edema under the skin

Herbs that Promote Urination to Treat Lynn Syndrome

1. Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seed)
   • Promotes urination, drains damp heat
   • Treats lynn syndrome, edema, damp heat diarrhea
   • Clears liver heat to brighten eyes
2. Hua Shi (Talcum)
   • Promotes urination, treats hot lynn syndrome
   • Clears summer heat, used topically for damp skin problems
3. Mu Tong (Akebia Caulis)
   • Promotes urination, heart heat pouring into small intestine
   • Promotes lactation, unblocks channels (B Syndrome)
4. Deng Xin Cao (Lampwick Herb)
   • Promotes urination, heart heat pouring into small intestine
   • Treats childhood sleep disorders, heart-kidney miscommunication
5. Qu Mai (Dianthus)
   • Promotes urination, treats bloody lynn syndrome
6. Bian Xu (Knotweed)
   • Promotes urination, treats lynn syndrome
   • Expels parasites
7. Di Fu Zi (Kochia Fruit)
   • Promotes urination, treats lynn syndrome
   • External wash for damp heat skin problems
8. Bi Xie (Fish Poison Yam)
   • Promotes urination, treats cloudy lynn syndrome
9. Dong Kui Zi (Mallow Fruit)
   • Promotes urination, treats lynn syndrome
   • Benefits breasts, promotes lactation
10. Shi Wei (Pyrrosia Leaf)
    • Treats lynn syndrome, especially stoneline

Herb for Jaundice

1. Yin Chen Hao (Artemisia)
   • Number one herb for jaundice (both yin and yang types)

Key Formulas

1. Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria)
   • Treats edema due to spleen qi deficiency
   • Includes Fu Ling and Zhu Ling
2. Ba Zheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification)
   • Treats damp heat lynn syndrome
   • Includes Mu Tong, Hua Shi, Che Qian Zi, Deng Xin Cao
3. Yin Chen Hao Tang (Artemisia Decoction)
   • Treats damp heat jaundice
   • Chief herb: Yin Chen Hao

Conclusion

• Categories within Herbs that Drain Dampness: Herbs for edema, lynn syndrome, and jaundice
• Functions: Promoting urination to manage dampness, supporting spleen, clearing heat
• Considerations: Combine with tonifying herbs, herbs to treat root deficiencies