Clear Heat: Clear Heat from Organs

Question 1

Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction)

Answer 1

Facilitates the flow of Lung Qi, clears heat, and calms wheezing by directing rebellious qi downward

Heat lodged in the LU: fever with or without sweating, thirst, coughing and wheezing, labored breathing, difficult to expectorate sputum, nasal flaring and pain

T: Yellow Coat

P: Slippery, rapid

NOTE: For use with or without Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold

• ​Ma Huang
• Shi Gao
• Xing Ren
• Zhi Gan Cao

Question 2

Xie Bai San (Drain the White Powder)

Answer 2

Drains heat from thr Lungs and calms wheezing

Constrained LU Heat causing wheezing: Skin that feels hot to the touch, coughing and wheezing, sore throat, a dry mouth, little or difficult to expectorate sputum, symptoms worsens in late afternoon

T: red with yellow coat

P: thin, rapid

NOTE: Derived from a pediatric text, this formula clears Heat, without damaging yin, which reflects the belief that a child’s Yin Qi is not fully developed.

• Sang Bai PI
• Di Gu Pi
• Zhi Gan Cao
• Geng Mi

Question 3

Xie Huang San (Drain the Yellow Powder)

Answer 3

Clears lurking fire from the Spleen and Stomach

Smouldering Fire in the SP/ST: Mouth ulcers, bad breath, dry mouth, thirst, irritability, frequent hunger, tongue thrusting, in infants and children.

T: red and dry

P: rapid

NOTE: Also for tongue thrusting and yellowing of the sclera

• Shi Gao
• Zhi Zi
• Fang Feng
• Huo Xiang
• Gan Cao

Question 4

Qing Wei San (Clear the Stomach Powder)

Answer 4

Drains Stomach fire, cools the blood, and nourishes the yin

ST Heat Accumulation: Toothache that extends to the head, facial swelling, bleeding and sores of the gums, swollen and painful mouth, fever, bad breath

T: red

P: slippery, rapid, large

• Huang Lian
• Sheng Ma
• Mu Dan Pi
• Sheng Di Huang
• Dang Gui

Question 5

Yu Nu Jian (Jade Woman Decoction)

Answer 5

Drains heat from the Stomach and nourishes the Yin

ST Heat with Yin Deficiency: Toothache, loose teeth, bleeding gums, frontal headache, irritability, fever, thirst

T: red with yellow coat

P: floating, slippery, empty and large

NOTE: Also for Wasting and Thirsting syndrome

• Shi Gao
• Shu Di Huang
• Zhi Mu
• Mai Men Dong
• Niu Xi

Question 6

Dao Chi San (Guide Out the Red Powder)

Answer 6

Clears the Heart and promotes urination

Heat in the HT channel: irritability with a sensation of heat in the chest, thirst with a desire to drink cold beverages, red face, possibly sores around the mouth

T: red

P: rapid, dark, scanty, rough and painful urination, or even blood in the urine

HT Fire transferring to the SI: Also for HT Fire transferring to the SI with symptoms of dark, scanty, rough and painful urination, or even blood in the urine

Question 7

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver)

Answer 7

Drains fire excess from the Liver and allbladder, and clears and drains damp-heat from the lower burner

LV Fire blazing up: Headache, dizziness, red and sore eyes, short temper, dark urine, hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth

T: red with yellow coat

P: wiry, rapid

LV/GB Damp-Heat invading downward: Difficult and painful urination with a sensation of heat in the urethra, swollen and pruritic external genitalia, or foul smelling leukorrhea

T: red with greasy yellow coat

P: slippery, wiry, rapid, full

• Long Dan Cao
• Huang Qin
• Zhi Zi
• Chai Hu
• Mu Tong
• Che Qian Zi
• Ze Xie
• Sheng Di Huang
• Dang Gui
• Gan Cao

Question 8

Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill)

Answer 8

Clears Liver Heat, directs rebellious qi downward, and stops vomiting

LV Fire burning ST causing LV and ST disharmony: acid regurgitation, belching, vomiting, indeterminate gnawing hunger, epigastric focal distention, dry mouth

T: red with yellow coat

P: wiry, rapid

NOTE: Also for hernial disorders

Question 9

Shao Yao Tang (Peony Decoction)

Answer 9

Regulates and harmonizes the qi and blood, clears heat, dries dampness, and resolves toxicity

LI Damp-Heat with Qi and BLood stagnation causing dysentery: abdominal pain, difficult defecation, diarrhea with equal amounts of pus and blood, tenesmus, burning sensation around the anus, scanty and dark urine, heavy sensation in the body, fever, no thirst

T: greasy, slightly yellow coat

P: slippery, rapid

NOTE: this is early-stage dysenteric disorder

• Bai Shao
• Dang Gui
• Gan Cao
• Mu Xiang
• Bing Lang
• Huang LIan
• Huang Qin
• Da Huang
• Rou Gui

Question 10

Bai Tou Weng Tang (Pulsatilla Decoction)

Answer 10

Clears heat, resolves toxicity, cools the blood, and alleviates dysenteric disorders

Dysentery due to Toxic-Heat in the ST and intestine: abdominal pain, tenesmus, burning sensation around the anus, diarrhea containing more blood than pus, thirst

T: red with yellow coat

P: wiry, rapid

NOTE: Also for acute Damp-Heat eye disorders