Clear Heat, and remain descriptive, potentially covering cooling and detoxing
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbs that clear heat are a category of medicinal herbs used to remove excess heat or "fire" from the body. This excess heat can be caused by infections, inflammation, emotional stress, or environmental factors, and it often manifests with symptoms such as fever, irritability, sore throat, red eyes, and a sensation of heat in the body.
Key Characteristics:
Cooling Nature:
- These herbs have a cooling effect, which helps to lower body temperature and reduce inflammation.
Bitter Flavor:
- Many heat-clearing herbs have a bitter taste. In TCM, bitter flavors are thought to help purge heat and toxins from the body.
Targeted Actions:
- They work by clearing heat, reducing fire, and detoxifying the body. This process helps restore balance and improves overall health.
Common Examples of Heat-Clearing Herbs:
Huang Lian (Coptis):
Action: Strongly clears heat and dries dampness.
Usage: Often used for infections, gastrointestinal disturbances, and inflammatory conditions.
Long Dan Cao (Gentian Root):
Action: Drains fire from the liver and gallbladder, helping to clear heat and relieve symptoms of irritability and headache.
Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit):
Action: Cools the blood, reduces fever, and clears heat.
Usage: Commonly included in formulas for high fever and agitation.
Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit):
Action: Clears heat and relieves toxicity.
Usage: Often used in conditions with swelling, abscesses, and other infections.
How to Use Heat-Clearing Herbs:
Decoctions and Formulas:
- These herbs are typically prepared as decoctions (herbal teas) or as part of complex herbal formulas tailored to the individual’s specific condition.
Dosage and Combination:
- Because they are potent, heat-clearing herbs should be used under the guidance of a qualified TCM practitioner. The dosage and the combination with other herbs are carefully adjusted to balance the cooling effects without overcooling the body.
Treatment Goals:
- The main goal is to reduce the internal heat, detoxify the body, and restore the smooth flow of Qi and blood, which in turn helps alleviate the symptoms associated with heat-related disorders.
By understanding and applying these principles, practitioners of TCM use heat-clearing herbs to rebalance the body’s internal environment, ensuring that the heat is properly managed and the body is returned to a state of harmony.
Herbs that Clear Heat
| Herbs that Drain Fire | Herbs that Cool the Blood | Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry Dampness |
Herbs that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity |
Herbs that Clear Heat Deficiency |
| Shi Gao | Sheng Di Huang | Huang Qin | Jin Yin Hua | |
| Zhi Zi | Xuan Shen | Huang Lian | Ren Dong Teng | Di Gu Pi |
| Dan Zhu Ye | Mu Dan Pi | Huang Bai | Da Qing Ye | Bai Wei |
| Xia Ku Cao | Long Dan Cao | Qing Dai | Yin Chai Hu | |
| Jue Ming Zi | Ku Shen | Pu Gong Ying | ||
| Mi Meng Hua | Zi Hua Di Ding | |||
| Ye Ju Hua | ||||
| Bai Jiang Cao | ||||
| Chuan Xin Lian | ||||
| He Ye | ||||
| Tu Fu Ling | ||||
| She Gan |