Downward Draining Herbs

These herbs will stimulate the expulsion of stool or lubricate the intestines to facilitate the movement of feces to be expelled.  There are 3 different groups of downward draining herbs;  Purgatives, moist laxatives and harsh expellants.  Purgatives are usually bitter and cold having a strong heat clearing property and being used for constipation due to heat.  Moist laxatives usually have a neutral property, are mild in nature and are often used for geriatric situation. Harsh expellants are only used in severe cases and will cause explosive diarrhea. These herbs are also used as diuretics as they will expel large amounts of water.  Many herbs in this category are contraindicated during pregnancy or when accompanied by spleen and stomach deficiency.

Da Huang

Properties: BITTER  – COLD

Dosage: 3 – 12g.

Rhubarb Meridian:HEART, LARGE INTESTINE, LIVER, STOMACH RAW = PURGING

Root -purge accumulations, clear heat from blood, invigorates blood

-drain heat/damp – Yang jaundice

-topically for burns, hot skin, skin lesions (combine with Shi Gao)

Mang Xiao

Properties:PUNGENT, BITTER, SALTY – COLD

Dosage:  3 – 9g.

Na2SO4 10H2O

Meridian STOMACH, LARGE INTESTINE

– purge accumulations, guides out stagnation, soften hardness

-clears heat, reduces swelling.

Lu Hi

Properties: BITTER  – COLD

Dosage: 0.3 – 1.5 g.

Chrystaline

Meridian LARGE INTESTINE, LIVER, STOMACH

Solid

-purge accumulations, drains fire, cools liver

-kills parasites,  strengthen stomach.

Fan Xie Ye

Properties: SWEET, BITTER  – COLD

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Senna

Meridian:LARGE INTESTINE

COOK 15 MIN

Leaf

-drains down, guides out constipation due to heat

*contraindicated during pregnancy, menstruation or during nursing

Moist Laxatives

Must Read: Herbs That Extinguish Wind, Stop Tremors And Calm The Spirit

Huo Ma Ren

Properties: SWEET  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 9 – 15g.

Hemp Meridian LARGE INTESTINE, SPLEEN, STOMACH

Seeds

-moisten and nourish  intestines – elderly and postpartum constipation

-mildly tonify spleen Qi & Yin

-clear heat – promote healing of sores

Yu Li Ren

Properties: PUNGENT, BVITTER, SWEET  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Bush Cherry

Meridian: LARGE INTESTINE, SMALL INTESTINE, SPLEEN

Pit -Qi stagnation, moisten Intestines – constipation

-promote urination – edema in legs

Ba Dou

Properties: PUNGENT  – HOT/TOXIC

Dosage:  0.1 – 0.3g

Bean Seed Meridian LUNG, STOMACH, LARGE INTESTINE

– vigorously purges, warmly un-blocks,  drives out water

-edema

TOXIC- CAUSES SEVERE EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA

Da Ji

Properties: BITTER, PUNGENT  – COLD/TOXIC

Dosage: 1.5 – 3g.

Peking spurge Root Meridian: KIDNEY, LARGE INTESTINE, LUNG

(Euphorbia)

-drain downward, drive out congested fluids – fluid in chest, thick sputum

-reduce swelling, dissipate nodules – topically for red-swollen-painful toxic sores or scrofula

Yuan Hua

Properties:BITTER, PUNGENT  – WARM/TOXIC

Dosage:1.5 – 3g.

Genkwa Flower Meridian: KIDNEY, LARGE INTESTINE, LUNG

-drain downward, drives out congested fluid – cathartic and diuretic – fluids in chest and abdomen

-kills parasites – topically for ringworm

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Gan Sui

Properties: BITTER, SWEET  – COLD/TOXIC

Dosage:1.5 – 3g.

Kan-sui Root Meridian KIDNEY, LUNG, LARGE INTESTINE

POWDER  0.3-1g.

-drain downward, drives out congested fluid – fluid in chest and abdomen -general edema – causes water to be passed anally

-clear heat, reduce swellings – swollen-painful skin lesions