Clear Heat — herbs and formulas (清热剂)

Formulas that Clear Heat treat the second stage of disease — once a pathogen has penetrated the Exterior and produced internal Heat. The category is large because the Heat can be at different levels (Qi, Blood, organ) and combined with different additional factors (Damp, Toxin, Deficiency).

Sub-categories

1. Clear Qi-level Heat — Bai Hu Tang
2. Clear Heat from Ying and Blood — Qing Ying Tang, Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (modified)
3. Clear Heat and Toxin — Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
4. Clear Heat from organs — Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Liver), Dao Chi San (Heart)
5. Clear Deficiency Heat — Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, Qing Gu San

Herbs in this category

The following individual herbs belong to this category in the Chinese Materia Medica:

Herbs that drain Fire

• Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum)
• Jue Ming Zi (Cassia seed / Sicklepod)
• Lu Gen (Reed rhizome / Common reed root)
• Shi Gao (Gypsum)
• Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root)
• Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome)
• Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit)

Herbs that clear Heat and resolve Toxicity

• Bai Hua She She Cao (Hedyotis)
• Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia herb / Dahurian patrinia)
• Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Root)
• Bai Xian Pi (Dictamnus Root Bark)
• Ban Lan Gen (Isatis root / Woad root)
• Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower)
• Lian Qiao (Forsythia fruit)
• Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion)
• Yu Xing Cao (Houttuynia)
• Zao Jiao Ci (Chinese honeylocust spine / Gleditsia thorn)

Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness

• Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark)
• Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome (Goldthread))
• Huang Qin (Baicalin / Skullcap root)
• Long Dan Cao (Gentian Root)
• Turkey Tail Mushroom

Herbs that cool the Blood

• Chi Shao (Red Peony root)
• Mu Dan Pi (Tree Peony Root Bark (Moutan))
• Sheng Di Huang (Raw Rehmannia root)

Herbs that clear deficiency Heat

• Bai Wei (Cynanchum Root)
• Qing Hao (Sweet Wormwood)
• Yin Chai Hu (Stellaria Root)

Herbs that clear Liver Heat

• Xia Ku Cao (Prunella / Self-Heal Spike)

Formulas in this category

The following classical and modern formulas in this category are detailed individually in the formula directory:

1. Bai Hu Tang — Yang Ming Qi-level Heat
2. Huang Lian Jie Du Tang — three-burner Fire-Heat
3. Long Dan Xie Gan Tang — Liver-Gallbladder Fire and Damp-Heat
4. Yin Chen Hao Tang — Damp-Heat jaundice
5. Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang — gastric Damp-Heat with intestinal disharmony
6. Qing Ying Tang — Heat invading the Ying (Pericardium) level
7. Dao Chi San — Heart Fire descending to the Small Intestine
8. Xie Bai San — Lung Heat with cough
9. Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin — Wind-Heat-toxin in the head

Browse the full formula directory for over 260 individual formula pages.

When this category is used

Formulas that Clear Heat are typically prescribed for: fever, infection, sore throat, inflammation, skin conditions with Heat, urinary tract infections, hot menopausal flushes. The choice of specific formula within the category is determined by precise Eight Principles pattern differentiation in clinical consultation.

About prescribing

Chinese herbal formulas are dispensed by qualified practitioners following individual TCM diagnosis. The herbs I prescribe are pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan, tested to the highest international quality and safety standards. Online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

Return to the Chinese herbal medicine main page or browse individual herbs.