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As the weather gets hotter and summer approaches, the human body is most susceptible to attacks from heat toxins. Below, we have compiled 19 commonly found heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese patent medicines to help people prepare in advance for clearing heat and detoxifying to maintain health during the transition from spring to summer.
Category 1: Oral Liquids1Heat-Clearing and Detoxifying Oral Liquid (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Gypsum (Shi Gao), Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), Scrophularia (Xuan Shen), Rehmannia (Di Huang), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Sweet Herb (Tian Di Ding), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Gentian (Long Dan), Isatis (Ban Lan Gen), Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong). Excipients include sucrose, sodium saccharin, orange flavor, sodium glutamate, sodium benzoate.
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies. Used for fever, red eyes, irritability, thirst, and sore throat caused by excessive heat toxins; applicable for flu and upper respiratory infections presenting with the above symptoms.
Dosage: Oral, 10-20 ml per dose, 3 times a day.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women. Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, cold, and greasy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Not suitable for those with wind-cold colds. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
2Qing Kai Ling Oral Liquid (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Bile acid, Mother of Pearl (Zhen Zhu Mu), Deoxycholic acid, Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Water Buffalo Horn (Shui Niu Jiao), Isatis (Ban Lan Gen), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua). Excipients include sucrose, beta-cyclodextrin, menthol.
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, calms the mind. Used for fever, restlessness, sore throat, red tongue, yellow coating, and rapid pulse caused by external wind-heat and internal fire toxins; applicable for upper respiratory infections, viral flu, acute pharyngitis, acute bronchitis, etc. presenting with the above symptoms.
Dosage: Oral, 20-30 ml per dose, 2 times a day; reduce for children.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women. Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, cold, and greasy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Not suitable for those with wind-cold colds. Use with caution in patients with chronic diseases who experience diarrhea. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
3Shuang Huang Lian Oral Liquid (“Jie Biao Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Forsythia (Lian Qiao); excipients include sucrose.
Indications: Dispels wind and releases the exterior, clears heat and detoxifies. Used for colds caused by external wind-heat, presenting with fever, cough, and sore throat.
Dosage: Oral, 20 ml (2 vials) per dose, 3 times a day; reduce for children or follow medical advice.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, cold, and greasy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Not suitable for those with wind-cold colds. Diabetic patients and those with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, and those with spleen deficiency and diarrhea should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
4Antiviral Oral Liquid
Main Ingredients:Isatis (Ban Lan Gen), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Reed Root (Lu Gen), Raw Rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang), Curcuma (Yu Jin), Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu), Acorus (Shi Chang Pu), Guang Huo Xiang, Forsythia (Lian Qiao), etc.
Indications: Clears heat, dispels dampness, cools the blood, and detoxifies. Used for wind-heat colds, warm disease fever, upper respiratory infections, flu, mumps, and other viral infections.
Dosage: Oral, 10 ml per dose, 2-3 times a day (once before breakfast and after lunch and dinner), reduce for children.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Patients with severe clinical symptoms, prolonged illness, or concurrent bacterial infections should take additional treatment medications.
Category 2: Tablets5Niu Huang Jie Du Pian (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Cattle bile (Niu Huang), Realgar (Xiong Huang), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Platycodon (Jie Geng), Borneol (Bing Pian), Licorice (Gan Cao).
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies. Used for internal fire, sore throat, swollen gums, mouth ulcers, and red, swollen eyes. Clears heat and detoxifies.
Dosage: Oral, 3 tablets per dose, 2-3 times a day, taken with warm water.
Precautions: Reduce for children. Contraindicated for pregnant women. Use with caution in those with spleen and stomach weakness or diarrhea. Not suitable for use with tetracycline antibiotics or phosphate and sulfate medications.
6Chuan Xin Lian Pian (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Chuan Xin Lian. Excipients include starch, dextrin, magnesium stearate.
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, cools the blood, and reduces swelling. Used for internal evil toxins, colds with fever, sore throat, and mouth ulcers.
Dosage: Oral, 1-2 tablets (large tablets) per dose, 3 times a day.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, and fishy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Patients with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
7San Huang Pian (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Rhubarb (Da Huang), Berberine hydrochloride (Yao Huang), Scutellaria extract (Huang Qin), excipients include starch, magnesium stearate.
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, purges fire, and promotes bowel movements. Used for red, swollen eyes, mouth sores, sore throat, swollen gums, irritability, thirst, yellow urine, and constipation caused by excessive heat in the three burners.
Dosage: Oral, 4 tablets per dose, 2 times a day, reduce for children.
Adverse Reactions: Occasional nausea, vomiting, rash, and drug fever, which disappear after stopping the medication.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women. Not suitable for patients with hemolytic anemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy foods. Patients with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
8Qing Huo Zhi Mai Pian (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Chuan Xin Lian, Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong).
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, cools the blood, and reduces swelling. Used for sore throat, fever, toothache, and red eyes caused by excessive heat in the lungs and stomach.
Dosage: Oral, 2 tablets per dose, 2 times a day.
Precautions: Use with caution in pregnant women. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Patients with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
9Wei C Yin Qiao Pian (“Jie Biao Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Schizonepeta (Jing Jie), Fermented Soybean (Dan Dou Chi), Bamboo Leaf (Dan Zhu Ye), Burdock Seed (Niu Bang Zi), Reed Root (Lu Gen), Platycodon (Jie Geng), Licorice (Gan Cao), Chlorpheniramine maleate, Acetaminophen, Vitamin C, Peppermint oil. Excipients include starch, beta-cyclodextrin, magnesium stearate, sucrose, talcum powder, gelatin, lemon yellow, brilliant blue, and white wax.
Indications: Spicy and cool to release the exterior, clears heat and detoxifies. Used for fever, headache, cough, dry mouth, and sore throat caused by influenza.
Dosage: Oral, 2 tablets per dose, 3 times a day.
Precautions: May cause drowsiness, thirst, weakness; occasional rash, urticaria, drug fever, and granulocytopenia; long-term high-dose use may lead to liver and kidney dysfunction. Contraindicated for severe liver and kidney dysfunction. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, cold, and greasy foods. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
10Pu Di Lan Xiao Yan Pian (Yunnan Baiyao)
Main Ingredients:Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Bitter Herb (Ku Di Ding), Isatis (Ban Lan Gen). Excipients include starch, sodium carboxymethyl starch, magnesium stearate, and film coating.
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, anti-inflammatory, and reduces swelling. Used for boils, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis.
Dosage: Oral, 5-8 tablets per dose, 4 times a day, reduce for children.
Precautions: Avoid spicy and irritating foods. Do not take warming medications simultaneously during treatment. Use with caution in pregnant women and those with spleen and stomach deficiency presenting with abdominal pain, preference for warmth, and diarrhea. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
11Qing Huo Pian
Main Ingredients:Da Qing Ye, Rhubarb (Da Huang), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Menthol (Bo He).
Indications: Clears heat, purges fire, and promotes bowel movements. Used for sore throat, toothache, dizziness, mouth sores, wind-heat red eyes, and constipation.
Dosage: Oral, 6 tablets per dose, 2 times a day.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, greasy foods. Use with caution in those without excess heat and in pregnant women. Patients with chronic diseases such as heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
12Qing Re Xiao Yan Ning Pian
Main Ingredients:Jiu Jie Cha.
Indications:Clears heat and detoxifies, reduces inflammation and pain, relaxes muscles and activates collaterals. Used for influenza, pharyngitis, pneumonia, bacterial dysentery, acute gastroenteritis, appendicitis, burns, abscesses, and cellulitis.
Dosage: Oral, 2-4 granules per dose, 3 times a day.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, cold, and greasy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Patients with high fever exceeding 38.5°C should seek medical attention. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
Category 3: Pills13Niu Huang Xiao Yan Wan
Main Ingredients:Cattle bile (Niu Huang), Mother of Pearl (Zhen Zhu Mu), toad venom (Chan Su), Indigo (Qing Dai), Tian Hua Fen, Realgar (Xiong Huang), Rhubarb (Da Huang).
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and pain. Used for sore throat, carbuncles, and abscesses.
Dosage: Oral, 10 pills per dose, 3 times a day, reduce for children; can also be used externally as a powder for topical application.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women.
14Niu Huang Qing Wei Wan
Main Ingredients:Artificial cattle bile, Rhubarb (Da Huang), Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), Peppermint (Bo He), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Scrophularia (Xuan Shen), Senna (Fan Xie Ye), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Licorice (Gan Cao), Platycodon (Jie Geng), Phellodendron (Huang Bai), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Morning Glory Seed (Qian Niu Zi, roasted), Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi, sand-fried), Borneol (Bing Pian).
Indications: Clears the stomach, purges fire, moistens dryness, and promotes bowel movements. Used for excessive heart and stomach fire, dizziness, mouth ulcers, swollen gums, sore throat, constipation, and red urine.
Dosage: Oral, 2 pills per dose, 2 times a day.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women.
15Fang Feng Tong Sheng Wan
Main Ingredients:Fang Feng, Schizonepeta (Jing Jie), Peppermint (Bo He), Ephedra (Ma Huang), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Glauber’s salt (Mang Xiao), Platycodon (Jie Geng), Licorice (Gan Cao), and 17 other ingredients.
Indications: Releases the exterior and clears heat and detoxifies. Used for external cold and internal heat, with symptoms of chills, fever, headache, dry throat, short red urine, and constipation, as well as wind rash and damp sores.
Dosage: Oral, 1 bag per dose, 2 times a day.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, greasy, and seafood. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
16Shang Qing Wan
Main Ingredients:Coptis (Huang Lian), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Gardenia (Zhi Zi, ginger-roasted), Prepared Rhubarb (Shu Da Huang), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Tribulus (Zhi Zhi, salt-roasted), Peppermint (Bo He), Cicada Slough (Chan Tui), Red Peony (Chi Shao), and 21 other ingredients.
Indications: Clears heat, disperses wind, and alleviates pain. Used for excessive heat in the upper burner causing: sudden red, swollen, itchy eyes, hot tears, cloudy vision, headache, dizziness, irritability, thirst, and dry constipation.
Dosage: Oral, 6 grams per dose, 2 times a day.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, greasy foods. Patients with chronic diseases such as heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
17Liushen Wan
Main Ingredients:Toad venom (Chan Su), Musk (She Xiang), Cattle bile (Niu Huang), Realgar (Xiong Huang), Mother of Pearl (Zhen Zhu), Borneol (Bing Pian), etc.
Indications: Cools and detoxifies, reduces inflammation and pain. Used for throat ulcers, sore throat, throat wind, throat abscesses, single or double breast abscesses, children’s heat sores, carbuncles, and unknown swellings.
Dosage: Oral, 3 times a day, swallowed with warm water; for children, 1 pill at age 1, 2 pills at age 2, 3-4 pills at age 3, 5-6 pills at ages 4-8, 8-9 pills at ages 9-10, and 10 pills for adults. Can also be applied externally to red, swollen areas of skin, using 10 or more pills, mixed with a little cold water or rice vinegar, and applied several times a day until swelling subsides. If redness and swelling have begun to suppurate or rupture, do not apply further.
Precautions: Contraindicated for pregnant women, use with caution in athletes.
Category 4: Granules18Ban Lan Gen Granules
Main Ingredients:Isatis (Ban Lan Gen). Excipients include sucrose, dextrin.
Indications: Clears heat and detoxifies, cools the blood, and benefits the throat. Used for sore throat and dry mouth caused by excessive heat in the lungs and stomach; applicable for acute tonsillitis presenting with the above symptoms.
Dosage: Dissolve in hot water. Half to 1 bag (5-10g) per dose, 3-4 times a day.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, and fishy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Diabetic patients and those with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
Category 5: Capsules19Yi Qing Jiao Nang (“Qing Re Ji”)
Main Ingredients:Coptis (Huang Lian), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Coptis (Huang Lian), starch, talcum powder, magnesium stearate.
Indications: Clears heat, purges fire, detoxifies, transforms stasis, cools the blood, and stops bleeding. Used for heat toxins and blood heat causing body heat, irritability, red eyes, mouth ulcers, sore throat, swollen gums, constipation; applicable for pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and gingivitis presenting with the above symptoms.
Dosage: Oral, 2 capsules per dose, 3 times a day.
Adverse Reactions: Occasional rash, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Diabetic patients and those with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
20Lian Hua Qing Wen Jiao Nang (Yiling)
Main Ingredients:Da Qing Ye, Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Burdock Seed (Niu Bang Zi), Scrophularia (Xuan Shen), Tian Hua Fen, Bamboo Leaf (Dan Zhu Ye), Kudzu Root (Ge Gen), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Platycodon (Jie Geng), Bupleurum (Chai Hu), and 16 other ingredients.
Indications: Clears epidemic toxins and detoxifies, promotes lung function and dispels heat. Used for treating influenza with heat toxin attacking the lungs, presenting with fever or high fever, chills, muscle aches, nasal congestion, cough, headache, dry throat, red tongue, yellow coating, or greasy yellow coating.
Dosage: Oral, 4 capsules per dose, 3 times a day.
Precautions: Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, cold, and greasy foods. Do not take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during treatment. Not suitable for those with wind-cold colds. Use with caution in patients with hypertension and heart disease. Patients with severe chronic diseases such as liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance. Other precautions are detailed in the product instructions.
Warm Reminder
Heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese patent medicines are often bitter and cold in nature, and long-term use may damage the spleen and stomach’s Yang Qi, leading to loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Therefore, they should not be taken for extended periods, especially by those with spleen and stomach deficiency (who are prone to diarrhea). Niu Huang Xiao Yan Wan, Liushen Wan, and other prescription medications require a prescription for purchase. If you are currently using other medications, please consult a physician or pharmacist before using heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese patent medicines. Additionally, please note:
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Chinese patent medicines containing cattle bile and gypsum should not be used with tetracycline antibiotics or neomycin. For example: Niu Huang Jie Du Pian, Niu Huang Xiao Yan Wan, Fang Feng Tong Sheng Wan, etc.
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Chinese patent medicines containing toad venom should not be used with digoxin or related medications. For example: Liushen Wan, Niu Huang Xiao Yan Wan, etc.
Source: Pharmacy Staff
