INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Herba Artemisiae Scopariae
Common English: Virgate Wormwood
Yinchenhao Shoots and Leaves
Oriental Wormwood
Downey Wormwood
Capillary Wormwood
Capillaris
Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
(Acrid)
Slightly Cold
(Cool)
(Neutral)
Liver
Gallbladder
Spleen
Stomach
(Bladder)
9-30g
Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and relieves jaundice

Jaundice due to Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat

Clears Heat and facilitates the resolution of Dampness

Damp sores, wind rashes, other skin diseases, in the Lower parts of the body (can be used alone as a wash)

Clears and releases Dampness in the the Exterior

Damp-Warm Febrile disease

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Deficiency jaundice with pale yellow skin, normal urination and a soft pulse (Middle Jiao Qi Deficiency).
  • Contraindicated for those with jaundice due to Blood accumulation.
  • Contraindicated for those without Damp-Heat.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi
Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang

Poria
Fu Ling
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Alismatis
Ze Xie

Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang
Rx. Lateralis Aconiti Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi
Poria
Fu Ling

Damp-Heat jaundice with abdominal distention, fever, constipation, and urinary dysfunction.

Gallstones.

Damp predominant jaundice with marked urinary dysfunction.

Damp-Cold jaundice.

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

 

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Hb. Lysimachiae/Desmodii
Jin Qian Cao
Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin
(Rx. et Rz. Rhei)
(Da Huang)

Talcum
Hua Shi
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
(Fr. Amomi Rotundus)
(Bai Dou Kou)

Summer-Heat with Damp turbidity Obstructing the Middle Jiao or jaundice.

Cholecystitis or cholelithiasis.

Summerheat or Warm febrile disease causing urinary dysfunction and jaundice.

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Cx. Dictamni
Bai Xian Pi
Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis
Ku Shen
Fr. Kochiae
Di Fu Zi

Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi

Damp-Heat skin rashes.

Externally or Internally for Damp-Heat rashes and sores.

Strongly relieves Damp-Heat jaundice.

Rx. Lateralis Aconiti Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi

Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang

Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria
Wu Ling San

Yin jaundice.

Spleen Yang Deficiency leading to Dampness.

Early-Stage Damp-Heat jaundice when Heat is stronger than Dampness.

Jaundice caused more by Dampness with dysuria.

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Hb. Lysimachiae/Desmodii
Jin Qian Cao

Hb. Hedyotis Diffusae
Bai Hua She She Cao
Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu

Hb. Hedyotis Diffusae
Bai Hua She She Cao
Rz. Polygoni Cuspidati
Hu Zhang

 

Hepatitis.

Liver cirrhosis.

 

  1. This herb survives the winter and the sprout grows from the old dry stem.
  2. This is the primary herb for treating jaundice, either due to Cold-Dampness or Damp-Heat. It is called “the sacred herb for jaundice”.
  3. This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  4. It is said that this herb cures jaundice, dysuria, headache and mania due to pathogenic Heat, pestilence, dizziness, pain caused by Wind, miasma, extreme renal deficiency and abdominal masses.
  5. One source says that this herb diminishes Stasis, stops pain activates the diaphragm and expels Phlegm.
  6. This herb and Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu both enter the Liver/Gallbladder channels and drain Liver/Gallbladder Fire. This herb is less drying and is very useful for Yin Deficient or Excess Fire patients who cannot tolerate the Dryness of Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu.
  7. Both Yin Chen and Hb. Lysimachiae Jin Qian Cao cool heat, remove Dampness, clear Liver Heat, benefit the Gallbladder and are often combined to treat Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder. Yin Chen is bitter, cold descending and draining and much more fragrant than Jin Qian Cao, which makes it better able to break up turbid Dampness, reduce jaundice and promote urination. It assists the Liver more that the Gallbladder. Jin Qian Cao is sweet, salty, slightly cold, softens hardness, expels stones and assists the Gallbladder.
  8. Both Yin Chen and Hb. Artemisiae Qing Hao are aromatic, resolve Damp-Heat and are often used together to treat Damp-Heat jaundice, Warm-Damp disorders and Summerheat-warmth. Yin Chen enters the Spleen and Stomach and is specific for jaundice. Qing Hao primarily enters the Liver/Gallbladder and is better able to resolve steaming bones due to consumption. It is particularly good for draining pathogenic Fire in Summerheat-warmth and for malarial disorders.