Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry Dampness
Ku Shen 苦参
Radix Sophorae Flavescentis Sophora Root
✓ CALE Exam ✓ National Exam
Materia Medica Data
- Temperature
- Cold
- Nature & Flavour
- Bitter, Cold
- Channels Entered
- BL, HT, LIV, LI, SI
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Radix Sophorae Flavescentis
- Chinese
- 苦参
- Tone Marks
- kŭ shēn
- Translation
- Bitter Root
Chinese Herb Actions
- Eliminates Heat and Dries Dampness Used for jaundice, acute dysentery, leukorrhea, and sores.
- Stops Wind, Itching, and Kills Parasites Used for damp skin toxins with chronic itching, genital itching and bacterial infections, trichomonas, ringworm, eczema, pus, and bleeding anywhere on the skin. Can be used both internally and topically.
- Promotes Urination For acute urinary tract infections due to heat, for patterns such as Damp-Heat in the small intestine, and heat induced edema.
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 3-15 grams, up to 30g when used as an external wash.
- Part used: root.
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Do not use in cases of cold from deficiency of the spleen and stomach. Traditionally this herb is noted to be incompatible with Semen Cuscutae Chinensis (tu si zi), Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (li lu), and Bulbus Fritillariae (bei mu).
This herb is incompatible with:
- Li Lu (Radix Et Rhizoma Veratri)
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
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