Heart and Small Intestine, heat

Lian Qiao is bitter, cold and aromatic, and enters the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. Although it does not enter the Lung meridian, it is still often used in formulas to treat wind-heat syndrome as a chief herb. This is because its aromatic smell can disperse the Qi in the Upper-Jiao and gently release the exterior, and it leaches out heat from the Heart through the Small Intestine. It is especially effective in dispersing and clearing heat in the Heart and relieving restlessness and a warm sensation in the chest. 

Treatment principle Clear heat from the Heart and Small Intestine... 

This formula is able to drain the heat from the Heart and Small Intestine. It treats excess heat in these organs that is manifested as irritability with a sensation of heat in the chest, thirst and a preference for cold drinks, a red face, a bitter taste in the mouth, constipation and scanty and dark urine. Patients may have a red tongue with a thin, dry and yellow coating, and a rapid pulse. 

Mu Tong and Dan Zhu Ye, the deputies, enter the Heart and Small Intestine meridians and can drain the heat by promoting urination. 

When there is heat in the Zang organs, the corresponding Fu organ can be reduced. For example, by clearing and leaching out heat in the Small Intestine, Heart-fire can be reduced. 

These three herbs are bitter and cold, and all enter the Heart meridian. They can clear the heat from the Heart and treat restlessness, warmth in the chest and bitterness in the mouth. Moreover, they can lead the heat from the Heart downward and eliminate the heat by increasing urination. Furthermore, these herbs can clear heat in the Small Intestine directly, and treat dark and scanty urine and painful and urgent urination due to damp-heat. 

In this small formula, the strategies are shown by clearing Heart-fire in direct and indirect ways - clear heat from the Heart and from the Small Intestine. 

Ku Shen enters the Heart meridian and can treat heat in the Heart the heat is also transported to the Small Intestine. It has the strongest function of clearing damp-heat among these three herbs and it can effectively treat infectious skin diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, scabies and fungi. 

SAFETY PROFILE Poison by ingestion, intravenous, and intraperitoneal routes. Human systemic effects by intravenous route change in heart rate, sweating, ulceration or bleeding from duodeum, ulceration or bleeding from small intestine, unspecified vascular effects. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of NO, and HCl. 

Raw Rehmannia cools the blood and enriches yin, thus restraining heart fire. Akebia clears heat from the heart channel above, while below, it also clears heat from the small intestine. In addition, it disinhibits water and opens strangury. Raw Licorice clears heat and resolves toxins and regulates and harmonizes the other medicinals. In particular, it is believed that using Licorice s small root tips stops strangury and pain. Bamboo Leaves clear the heart and eliminate vexation. 

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