Ch6 Herbs that cool and transform phlegm heat

Question 1

Qian Hu ***
“Before barbarians”
(Peucedanum root)

Answer 1

Bitter, acrid, slightly cold
LU
Directs Qi downward and dispels phlegm; Disperses and scatters wind heat
NOT for yin xu heat or with cold, thin mucus

Question 2

Chuan Bei Mu ***
“Sichuan province baby’s mother”
(Fritillaria bulb)

Answer 2

Bitter, sweet, slightly cold
LU, HT
Clears heat and transforms phlegm (primary herb for cough, all types); Clears heat and dissipates nodules
NOT for problems from cold- or damp-phelgm

Question 3

Chuan Bei Mu Vs Zhe Bei Mu

Answer 3

Chuan Bei stronger for clearing heat to stop cough

Zhe Bei stronger for dissipating nodules

Question 4

Zhe Bei Mu ***
“Zhejiang province, baby’s mother”
(Fritillaria bulb)

Answer 4

Bitter, cold
HT, LU
Clears and transforms phlegm heat; Clears heat and dissipates nodules

Question 5

Gua Lou ***
“Melon basket”
(Trichosanthes fruit, whole)

Answer 5

Sweet, cold
LI, LU, ST
Clears heat and transforms phlegm-heat; Unbinds the chest and dissipates nodules; Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules
NOT with Wu Tou

Question 6

Gua Lou Pi ***
“Melon Basket Skin”
(trichosanthes fruit skin)

Answer 6

Sweet, Cold
LU, ST, LI
Clears the LU and transforms phlegm (for unproductive cough with sticky phlegm); Regulates the Qi and expands the chest (early stages breast abscess)
NOT with Wu Tou

Question 7

Gua Lou Ren ***
“Melon Basket Kernal”
(Trichosanthes fruit seed)

Answer 7

Sweet, cold, slippery
LU, ST, LI
Clears and transforms phlegm heat; Moistens the intestines; Promotes healing of sores
NOT for weak patients, SP xu,nausea, or loose stools, or with Wu Tou

Question 8

Zhu Ru ***
“bamboo fiber”
(shavings)

Answer 8

Sweet, slightly cold
LU, ST, GB
Clears and transforms phlegm heat (good for lots of yellow phlegm in LU); Clears heat and stops vomiting (excess/xu ST heat, and morning sickness); for irritability from ST-GB heat

Question 9

Kun Bu ***
“(name of a mountain) cloth”
(Kelp)

Answer 9

Salty, cold
KD, LV, ST
Reduces phlegm and softens areas of hardness (various types of nodules in neck, thyroid); Promotes urination and reduces swelling

Question 10

Hai Zao ***
“Sea vegetable”
(Sargassum, seaweed)

Answer 10

Bitter, Salty, Cold
KD, LV, LU, ST
Reduces phlegm and softens areas of hardness (scrofula, goiter, nodules in neck); Promotes urination and reduces edema

Question 11

Tian Zhu Huang **
“Heavenly bamboo yellow”
(bamboo silica/sugar)

Answer 11

Sweet, cold
GB, HT, LV
Clears and transforms phlegm heat; Clears the HT and settles tremors and convulsions (especially for children)

Question 12

Zhu Li **

Bamboo sap

Answer 12

Sweet, cold, slippery
HT, LU, ST
Clears heat, transforms phlegm, and penetrates to the channels; Transforms phlegm heat and stops cough; Best for transforming phlegm-heat; for coma

Question 13

Ge Qiao (ke) **
(clam shell)

Answer 13

Bitter, salty, cold
LU, ST
Clears heat and transforms phlegm; softens hardness and dissipates nodules; Promotes urination and expels dampness (for UTI, superficial edema, mild); Controls acidity and stops pain
NOT for LU xu w/cold or yang xu

Question 14

Pang Da Hai**
“Big Fat Ocean/Sea”
(sterculia seed)

Answer 14

Sweet, cold
LI, LU
(mild) Clears and disseminates LU Qi (for hoarseness due to heat or yin xu or overuse); Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (from heat); encourages expression of rashes