Laxatives

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 INTETINE, 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

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

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