INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Herba Spirodelae
Common English: Spirodela
Duckweed
Herbs that Release the Exterior: Cool Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Heat Diaphoretics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Cool
(Cold)
Bladder
Lung
3-10g
Severe cases: 9-20g Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Induces sweating and releases the exterior (unblocks the muscle layer)

Wind-Heat with body aches and anhidrosis

Vents rashes and relieves itching

Hastens the full expression of measles or other rashes to hasten the resolution of the disease

Wind rash

Promotes urination and reduces swelling

Hot superficial edema (primarily in the upper body with urinary difficulty)

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with any condition with profuse sweating, including Wei Qi Deficiency or Blood Deficiency or Qi Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with night sweats, and/or thirst and dry mouth from Yin Deficiency.
  • Use with caution for those with edema due to Yang Deficiency.
  • Use caution in mild cases.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He
(Fr. Forsythiae)
(Lian Qiao)

Fr. Tribuli
Bai Ji Li
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He

Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He
Periostracum Cicadae
Chan Tui
Rz. Cimicifugae
Sheng Ma
(Fr. Arctii)
(Niu Bang Zi)

Wind-Heat with fever and lack of sweat.

Wind-Heat fever and headache.

Measles and Wind rash without full expression of the rash.

Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi

Hb. Ephedrae
Ma Huang

Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen

Measles and Wind rash without full expression of the rash.

Itching.

Wind-Edema patterns with swollen face, urinary difficulty and anhidrosis.

Wind-Heat with thirst.

  1. This is one of the few cold herbs that is a strong diaphoretic.
  2. It is sometimes used by itself.
  3. It disseminates Lung Qi .
  4. It vents pores to bring out sweat.
  5. Some sources say that this herb dispels Wind-Damp, clears Heat and removes toxins.
  6. Its ability to induce sweating is superior to that of Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang and its ability to drain water downward is better than that of Medulla Tetrapanacis Tong Cao.
  7. There must be severe Excess and great Heat before it can be used.
  8. This herb is appropriate for itching due to Damp-Heat and absence of sweat as opposed to Wind-Cold with absence of sweat.
  9. Both Fu Ping and Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang open the pores and unblock fluid passageways to induce sweat and promote urination and can be used to treat fever with absence of sweat, urinary difficulty and edema. Fu Ping is acrid and cold and is best used for Wind-Heat in the exterior with absence of sweating. It also promotes urination where there is edema or Damp-Heat and expels Wind to clear rashes and stop itching. It does not relieve cough or wheezing. Ma Huang is warm, acrid and warm and is best for Wind-Cold exterior patterns with absence of sweat. It also controls wheezing and stops cough.