Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm Heat(14)

1. Qián Hú

Peucedani Radix

“Before Barbarians”

moiliiligirly flickr.com

Doesn’t this picture look like Du Huo? It’s from the same family (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae), which has 300 genera and 3,000 species! This family includes carrot, parsley, etc.


Taste: Bitter, pungent

Temp: Sl. cold

Channels: Lung

Actions:

• Descends qi and expels phlegm; for heat in lungs

• Releases wind heat with cough and copious sputum (CAN be used for wind cold common-cold but most often for wind heat)

• A good all-purpose herb for phlegm from a common cold


Dose: 4.5 – 9 g

Modern: Increases blood flow of coronary artery; stimulates secretion of respiratory tract and acts as expectorant; antihistamine (reduces allergic reactions)

Identification: Looks like Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) but smells much more pungent

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2. Chuān Bèi Mǔ

Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus

“Sichuan Shell Mother”

www.werynice.com/.../uploads/chuanbei.jpg

Beautiful fritillaria flowers

Taste: Bitter, sweet

Temp: Sl cold

Channels: Heart, lung

Actions:

• Clears heat and transforms phlegm; chiefly for chronic cough and heat due to yin deficiency; tuberculosis, hemoptysis

• Clears heat and softens nodules; phlegm-fire swellings, lung or breast abscess (mastitis)

• Not for phlegm due to damp-cold (use Ban Xia, Chen Pi instead)


Dose: 3-12 g (if powdered, take 1-1.5 g – it is often powdered because of expense)

Cooking: Must be cooked; raw is toxic

Modern: Relax the bronchial smooth muscle; overdose can cause CNS paralysis, respiratory distress, dilation of blood vessels, lowered blood pressure

Identification: White, powdery; looks like little pumpkins; very expensive (over $50/lb)


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3. Zhè Bèi Mǔ

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus

“Zhejiang Shell Mother”

seven types of fritillaria

Taste: Bitter (some sources say pungent)

Temp: Cold

Channels: Heart, lung

Actions:


• Clears heat and transforms phlegm; for acute lung heat patterns (contrast to prior herb); cough due to external attack; scrofula; toxic swelling

• Dissipates phlegm-fire nodules

• About $16.00/pound


Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Not for cough due to phlegm with damp cold

Cooking: Must be cooked; raw is toxic; can paralyze CNS, depress breathing, etc.

Identification: Creamy- white powdery slices (similar texture to Shan Yao but yellower)



Note: Compared to the prior herb, this is more dissipating, while the other is more tonifying


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4. Guā Lóu

Trichosanthis Fructus

Chinese Cucumber/ the entire fruit

denverchinesemedicine.com

Taste: Sweet

Temp: Cold

Channels: Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine

Actions:

• Clears heat and transforms phlegm; thick sputum, difficult to expectorate

• Expands chest and dissipates nodules; qi stagnation in chest, stifling sensation

• Moistens intestines



Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing and Shang Han Lun (two early classic texts of Chinese Herbology) do not differentiate between the fruit, seed or husk of this plant


Dose: 9-30 g

Identification: The entire fruit contains the peel and seed as well

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5. Guā Lóu Pí

Trichosanthis Pericarpium

The husk

risingsunomp.com/BulkHerbs.html

Taste: Sweet
Temp: Cold
Channels: Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine


Actions:

• Clears lungs, transforms hot phlegm

• Regulates Qi, expands chest

• Treats dry cough, dry throat due to wind heat

• Does not have the intestine-moistening action

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6. Guā Lóu Rén

Trichosanthis Semen

The Seed

cookingstudio1.blogspot.com

Stir-fried


Taste: Sweet

Temp: Cold

Channels: Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine



Actions:

• Clears heat and transforms hot phlegm; thick sputum, difficult to expectorate

• Cools and moistens lung

• Expands chest

• Moistens intestines; dry constipation especially with lung heat and dry mouth

• Promotes healing of sores; breast abscess and swellings; sores that have not yet suppurated


Dose: 9-12 g

Identification: Resembles a watermelon or a pumpkin seed

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7. Zhú Lì

Bambusae Succus

Dried bamboo sap

camelliasinensisblog.blogspot.com

Taste: Sweet

Temp: Very Cold

Channels: Heart, Lung, Stomach



Actions:

• Clears heat, transforms phlegm, penetrates to channels; phlegm obstructing heart orifices (fainting, paralysis)

• Transforms phlegm-heat and stops cough

• Not available at either of my suppliers; however I have a huge stand of bamboo at home that is growing out of control, if anyone wants to cut some and try to get the sap out.


Dose: 30-60 grams, up to 90 g if needed for coma from wind-stroke

Cooking: Take directly, without cooking, or mix with ginger juice to reduce its coldness

Identification: Clear, pale yellow liquid
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8. Zhú Rú

Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam

tcm.health-info.org

Bamboo shavings



Taste: Sweet

Temp: Sl. Cold

Channels: Gallbladder, Stomach, Lung



Actions:

• Clears and transforms phlegm-heat: heat in lungs, thick phlegm, tight chest, coughing up blood

• Clears heat and stop vomiting: bitter or sour vomit due to heat in stomach – bad breath, yellow greasy tongue

• Cools blood to stop bleeding: nosebleed (epistaxis), vomiting of blood


Dose: 4.5 – 9 g

Contra: Nausea/vomiting due to cold stomach

Cooking: Fry in ginger juice (or just add ginger to the formula) if you wish to lessen the cold property

Identification: Can vary – a round ball of hairy fibers, or flat shavings, tied in bundles, or as above, like a ball of ribbon

Formula: This herb is crucial in the formula Wen Dan Tang (Warm the Gallbladder Decoction), which in spite of its name is actually indicated for phlegm-heat in the gallbladder and stomach.

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9. Fú Shí

Pumex

“Floating Stone”

tcm.health-info.org

Was originally called Shui Hua (“water flower”)


Taste: Salty

Temp: Cold

Channels: Lung



Actions:

• Clears heat from lungs, expels phlegm-heat (especially old phlegm)

• Softens hardness, dissipates nodules (like the seaweeds); for scrofula, goiter (the salty flavor is important for this)

• Promotes urination: hot or stone Lin Syndrome (combine with other cooling diuretics like Mu Tong, Hua Shi, Jin Qian Cao)

Dose: 6-10 g

Cooking: Decoct in cheesecloth (to protect against swallowing little bits of stone, I presume); can be ground into a powder and taken directly



Identification: Lightweight porous stone that floats in water

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10. Qīng Méng Shí

Chloriti Lapis

herbmart.or.kr

“Cloudy Stone”


Taste: Sweet, salty (as minerals often are)

Temp: Neutral

Channels: Liver, Lung, Stomach



Actions:

• Directs qi down, reduces phlegm; expectorant; “strong and heavy”, says Chen. Sends phlegm downward and out of the body, says Bensky.

• Stops cough and wheeze with old, stubborn, viscous, ropey phlegm

• Treats severe food stagnation – but I wouldn’t use this, it’s too hard to digest

• Calms the liver, controls seizures, convulsions, severe palpitations, when phlegm-heat is the cause

• Available for $2.59/pound from Golden Flower Chinese Herbs, New Mexico; I’ve seen it on the internet for 21.00/pound





Dose: 9-15 g in decoction (place in cheesecloth); 1.5 – 3 g in powder

Bensky suggests this must be calcined (heated very high till powdered and charred to grey)

Preparation: There are various heating and powdering preparation methods; please see your text for details.

Contra: Pregnancy or debilitated patient; caution in spleen/stomach weakness; not for phlegm from blood deficiency or qi deficiency

Cooking: With peppermint juice and honey for childhood convulsions

Identification: Best quality is blue-green and has sparkle




“Only Meng Shi, with its harsh ferocity can seek out and sweep clear the root of phlegm from the areas hidden deep in the twists and turns of the bowels.” “For turbid, filthy, grease” in the area below the stomach. These quotes are from 1761’s Materia Medica of Combinations.


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11. Gé Qiào (Gé Ké)

Meretricis/Cyclinae Concha

Clam Shell

acupuncturetoday.org

Taste: Bitter, Salty

Temp: Cold

Channels: Lung, stomach


Actions:

• Clears heat, redirects lung qi down, transforms phlegm

• Softens hardness, dissipates nodules (like phlegm-fire goiter)

• Promotes urination, expels dampness (mild effect)

• Treats acid regurgitation (calcined) – like Hai Piao Xiao (cuttlefish bone)


Dose: 6- 15 g (or 1-3 grams as a powder)

Cooking: Calcined for stomach acid; powdered and decocted for other use

Identification: Lustrous

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12. Kūn Bù

Eckloniae Thallus

Laminaria

tcm.health-info.org

Ecklonia 5 meters deep, Shimoda Bay, Japan

Taste: Salty

Temp: Cold

Channels: Kidney, liver, stomach

Actions:

• Reduces phlegm, softens hardnesses; neck nodules, chest fullness due to phlegm

• Promotes urination and reduces swelling; edema and “leg qi” (weak action – not strong enough to be a Chief herb, but can assist)

• Used with Hai Zao for goiter and scrofula (it has very similar properties to Hai Zao, so they are commonly used together)

Dose: 6 – 15 g

Modern: Hypo and hyperthyroid conditions (high iodine content)

Identification: Green, “crunchy” and salty (taste it!)
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13. Hǎi Zǎo

Sargassum

thechinesesouplady.com

Taste: Bitter, salty

Temp: Cold

Channels: Kidney, Liver, Stomach, Lung



Actions:

• Clears heat and reduces phlegm nodules(use with Xia Ku Cao)

• Promotes urination, reduces edema (assists stronger herbs in this action)

• Pain from hernia (traditional), and “bulging disorders” of the scrotum or testicle


Dose: 4.5 – 15 g

Contra: Some say incompatible with Gan Cao, but probably not a problem

Modern: Same use as Kun Bu in thyroid

Identification: Very wiry, blackish, salty

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14. Pàng Dà Hǎi

Sterculiae Lychnophorae Semen

“Fat Big Sea”

big5.wiki8.com

Taste: Sweet

Temp: Cold

Channels: Large Intestine, Lung

Actions:

• Clears lung qi and benefits throat: sore throat, hoarse throat, good for singers and speakers, and can be used as a single tea

• Clears intestines, unblocks bowels (not my first choice for this condition)

• Encourages rash expression: external wash for rashes (a minor use)

Dose: 4.5 – 9 g

Cooking: Pour boiling water over 1-2 seeds, drink right away, for throat problems, speakers’ symptoms, actors, etc.


Modern: Use for tonsillitis, as a tea, administered every four hours

Identification: Brown large seeds, wrinkled; puff up enormously in decoction
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Wen Dan Tang



“Warm the Gallbladder Decoction”


a Terrible Name, since it actually Clears Heat from the Gallbladder


Formula Analysis

Zhu Ru
Bamboo shavings
Clear hot phlegm
King herb; clears heat and phlegm from GB and Stomach (Cold)


Zhi Shi
Bitter orange
Regulate Qi Reverses rebellious qi(Cool)


Ban Xia
Pinellia
Clear cold phlegm Dry dampness and expel phlegm; regulate qi and descend rebellious qi (Warm)


Chen Pi
Mandarin orange peel
Regulate Qi


Fu Ling
Poria root fungus
Drain Dampness Strengthen spleen, leach dampness, harmonize middle jiao (Neutral)


Gan Cao
Licorice root
Tonify Qi


Sheng Jiang
Fresh ginger root
Warming diaphoretic Regulate gallbladder and stomach and assist in stopping vomiting (Warm)


Da Zao
Black date
Tonify Qi
Harmonize stomach, protect middle jiao qi
(Neutral)