Herbs for promoting diuresis& damp draining Dongfei LI Weiming Lin Jenny Zhang

Dong Gua Pi 冬瓜皮

Dong Gua Pi  Name  Dong Gua Pi (Exocarpium Benincasae)  Property  Sweet and cool; spleen and small intestine meridians entered.  Actions  Induce diuresis and alleviate edema, clear summer-heat.  Indications  Edema, summer-heat syndrome.  Dosage and administration  Decoct 15~30 g.

Yu Mi Xu 玉米須

 Name  Yu Mi Xu (Corn Stigma) The Effect of Yu Mi Xu  Property  Sweet, bland, neutral; stomach, kidney, liver and gallbladder meridians entered.  Actions  Promote diuresis, purge heat, calm the liver and promote biliation.  Indications  Renal edema, hypertension, cholecystitis, gall stone, hepatitis with jaundice, diabetes, dermatophytosis, nasosinusitis, acute mastitis, hematemesis, epistaxis

Yu Mi Xu 玉米須  Dosage and Administrations  Decoct 14~30 g, large dosage can be 60~90 g, or stir-bake it into charcoal and grind it into powder. Proper dosage is for external application, burnt into smoke for inhalation.  Cations  Don’t take it for healthy people.

Mu Tong 木通

 Aromatic to Aromatic to Dissolve Dampness Herbs Dissolve Dampness Herbs 芳香化湿 药 芳香化湿 药  English Name: Akebia Caulis  Flavours /Natures: Bitter, Slightly Cold  Channel Routes: Heart, Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder

Mu Tong  Actions:  1. Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dribbling;  2. Drains heat from the Heart via the Small Intestine;  3. Promotes lactation and unblocks the blood vessels;  Indications:  1. Urinary dribbling, rough, and painful urination; edema, ascites;  2. Irritability accompanied by sores of the mouth or tongue, and scanty urine;  3. Insufficient lactation; amenorrhea, pain and stiffness of the joints;  Contraindications:  1.Pregnancy;  2.Overdose lead renal failure;  Dosage: 3 – 6g Clinical use: ***  General Functions: Clear HT heat via SI, Promote Lactation  Notes:  Drains heart fire via the small intestines to treat mouth and tongue sores, and irritability.

Hai Jin Sha 海金砂

 Promoting Diuresis & Damp Draining Herbs 利水渗湿 药  English Name: Lygodium Spore  Flavours /Natures: Sweet, Bland; Cold  Channel Routes: Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder

Hai Jin Sha 海金砂  Actions:  1. Promotes urination, expels stones;  2. Promotes urination to reduces edema and damp-heat.  Indications:  1. Painful urinary dribbling of any type. Also useful for both urinary tract and biliary tract stones.  2. Swelling and fullness due to Spleen dampness, as well as damp-heat jaundice.;  Contraindications:  Contraindicated for those with urinary disturbance due to Yin Deficiency.  Overdose can cause numb tongue, nausea, dizziness, aversion to Cold and urinary frequency.  Dosage: 6 – 15g Clinical use: **

DENG XIN CHAO 灯心草 (Phaseolus)

DENG XIN CHAO  Flavours / Natures: Sweet, mild, slightly cold  Channel Routes: Heart, Lung, Small Intestine  Actions:  -Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dribbling;  -Clear heat from Heart channel, clear fire of Heart  -Moves Heat into the Small intestine channel where is expelled through urine  -Calms nerves  Indications:  -Dysuria: Heat disorders with dark scanty urine. Hot painful urinary dysfunction.  -Heart Fire: Children with Heart Fire-Crying at night, insomnia, less urine => use 1 bunch  -Oedema, damp-heat jaundice, pharyngitis  Dosages: 1.5 – 4.5g  Contraindications  Use with caution in cases of deficient cold

CHI XIAO DOU 赤小豆

CHI XIAO DOU  Flavours / Natures: Sweet, Sour, Neutral  Channel Routes: Heart, Small Intestine  Actions:  -Promotes urination and reduces oedema, expel dampness  -Clears Damp Heat  -Disperses Blood Stasis, reduces swelling and reduces Fire toxicity (dispels pus)  Indications:  -Abdominal swelling and fullness due to oedema, urinary difficulty and leg Qi  -Mild jaundice due to Damp-Heat  -Sores, carbuncles, furuncles  Dosages: g  Contraindication: Frequent ingestion may lead to Dryness. Do not use without signs of Dampness. Overdose can cause miscarriage. It may cause allergic reactions.