Downward Draining Herbs

Front 1

Channels:
Ht, LI, Liv, St

Properties:
bitter, cold

Mnemonic:
Bold LaCk LiT

Actions & Indications
-Drains heat and purges excess: for yang ming organ stage or intestinal heat exces with very high fever, consipation and abdominal fullness.
-Reduces damp-heat: drains damp-heat thru the stool in cases of damp-heat jaundice or acute dysentery.
-Reduces blood level heat: for bloody stool from hemorrhoids or heat in the intestines. Also for epistaxis or hematemesis from reckless movement of hot blood.
-Invigorates the blood and removes stagnation: for dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses, tumors, or pain from blood stagnation. Also for blood stagnation in the intestines and intestinal abscesses.
- Clears heat & reduces fire toxicity

C&C:
patient should not be weak (deficient)

Dosage:
12g

Purgative

Back 1

Da Huang

Front 2

Channels:
LI

Properties:
Sweet, Bitter, Cold

Actions:
-Drains downward & guides out stagnation: for constipation from heat accumulating in the intestines. Especially useful in treating habitual constipation.

Contraindications:
* Do not use during menstruation, pregnancy, or lactation. Also contraindicated in patients with a weak constitution. Use with extreme caution and in very small dosages for patients with chronic constipation. Large dosages may result in nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Dosage:
3-9g

Purgative

Back 2

Fan Xie Ye

Front 3

Channels:
LI, LIV, ST

Properties:
Bitter, Cold

Actions:
- Drains fire and guides out accumulation: for constipation, headache, dizziness, red eyes, insomnia, and irritability due to heat in the large intestine and liver. This herb can also be used to treat chronic constipation.
- Kills parasites and strengthens digestion: for childhood malnutrtion especially as a result of roundworm. Also effective in treating ringworm.
-Clears Heat and cools the Liver: epigastric discomfort, dizziness, headache, tinnitus, irritability (Heat in Liver Channel)

Contraindications:
-Contraindicated during pregnancy, menstruation, and cold from deficiency of the spleen and stomach.

Dosage:
0.3-1.5g
Purgative

Back 3

Lu Hui

Front 4

Channels:
ST, LI

Properties:
Spicy, Bitter, Salty, Very Cold

Actions:
-Purges accumulation and guides out stagnation: for constipation from stagnant heat and dryness. This herb both moistens and softens.
-Clears heat and reduces swelling: for swollen and red eyes, conjunctivits, mouth or throat ulcers, mastitis, appendicits, and swollen skin lesions (topically).

Contraindications:
* Do not use in cases of excess heat, spleen deficiency, edema, or in the elderly population. Also contraindicated during menstruation, pregnancy, and for post-partum patients.

Dosage:
3-9g.

Purgative

Back 4

Mang Xiao

Front 5

Channels:
LI, SP, ST

Properties:
Sweet, Neutral


Common:
Hemp Seeds or Cannabis Seeds

Actions:
- Nourishes & Moistens the intestines: for constipation from blood deficiency, fever, or post-partum. Especially useful in treating constipation in the elderly or debilitated.
- Nourishes the yin: for constipation from a mild case of yin deficiency.
- Clears heat & promotes healing of sores: used with other herbs to reduce ulcerations and sores, for this purpose it is either used topically or taken internally.

Contraindications:
-Large dosages may result in leukorrhea or spermatorrhea.

Dosage:
9-15g

Moist Laxative

Back 5

Huo Ma Ren

Front 6

Channels:
LI, SI, SP

Properties:
Spicy, Bitter, Sweet, Neutral


Common:
Bush Cherry Pit

Actions:
-Moistens the intestines & unblocks the bowels: for constipation from qi stagnation in the intestines.
- Promotes urination & reduces oedema: used in treating edema, leg qi, or difficulty with urination.

Contraindications:
Contraindicated during pregnancy, yin deficiency, or depletion of fluids.

Dosage:
3-9g
Moist Laxative

Back 6

Yu Li Ren

Front 7

Channels:
KI, LI, LU, SI

Properties:
Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Slightly Toxic


Common:
Morning Glory Seeds

Actions:
-Expel water: accumulation of excess in stomach or intestines. Expels water both through bladder and intestines
-Expel Phlegm & congested fluid:
cough, wheezing, & fulness in chest
-Expel intestinal parasites & reduce stagnation: roundwork, tapeworm infestations & food stagnation
-Unblocks the bowels & remove accumulations:
for constipation du to accumulation and stagnation of damp-heat.

Contraindications:
-Deficient Qi or weak stomachs

Dosage:
9g
Cathartic

Back 7

Qian Niu Zi

Front 8

Channels:
KI, LI, LU

Properties:
Bitter, Sweet, Cold, Toxic

Actions:
- Drains water downward & drives out congested fluids:
severe accumulations of fluid in the chest and abdomen.
- Clears heat & reduces swelling:
topically for skin lesions due to damp-heat

Contraindications:
use of this herb is limited to severe patterns of excess in robust patients

Dosage:
3g
Cathartic

Back 8

Gan Sui

Front 9

Channels:
KI, LI, LU

Properties:
Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Toxic

Actions:
-Drain water downward & drive out congested fluids:
for moderate fluid accumulations in the chest & flanks (labored breathing, thick sputum, thick greasy tongue coat)
- Reduce swelling & disapate nodules:

Contraindications:
Oedema from cold deficiency & weak patients
incompatible with Gan Cao

Dosage:
3g
Cathartic

Back 9

Da Ji

Front 10

Channels:
KI, LI, LU

Properties:
Bitter, Spicy, Warm, Toxic

Actions:
- Drains water downwards & drives out congested fluids:
for accumulation of fluid in chest and abdomen. Also for congested fluids in flanks

Contraindications:
Pregnancy and weak patients

Dosage:
3g
Cathartic

Back 10

Yuan Hua

Front 11

Channels:
ST, LI, LU

Properties:
Spicy, Hot, Toxic

Mnemonic:
HIT metal stomach

Actions:
- Warmly unblocks & vigorously purges:
sever interior cold accumulations & abdominal fullness, distention, & pain
- Drives out water and reduces oedema: ascites
- Bursts clogged phlegm & benefits the throat:
phlegm clogging lungs & lung system
- Promotes healing of ulcers and abcesses:
for abcesses that have supporated but not yet ulcerated to accelerate te ulceration process

Contraindications:
Weak & debilitated patients
Pregnancy
Antagonizes Qian Niu Zi

Dosage:
3g
Cathartic

Back 11

Ba Dou

Front 12

Channels:
BL, KI, LI, SP

Properties:
Bitter, Cold, Toxic

Actions:
- Drives out water through the bladder and Intestines:
for oedema associated with excess (severe constipation & urinary difficulty)
-Reduces sores & carbuncles:
topical use for hot type sores.

Contraindications:
Use for Sever Excess Only
Weak
Pregnancy

Dosage:
9g
Cathartic

Back 12

Shang Lu