Commonly Used Heat-Clearing
Detoxifying Medicines
Heat Excess
During the hot summer days, many individuals are prone to experiencing heat excess, which is often related to factors such as diet, fluid loss, and Yin deficiency leading to excessive Yang heat.
1. Diet: In summer, a decrease in appetite may occur. If dietary habits are not reasonable, it can easily lead to heat excess in the body. For instance, frequently consuming greasy, spicy, or stimulating foods, or warming foods like lamb and dog meat can lead to the invasion of heat pathogens, resulting in heat excess during summer.
2. Fluid Loss: Due to the hot weather in summer, increased sweating can lead to dehydration. If fluids are not replenished in time, it can result in severe loss of body fluids, causing excessive heat.
3. Yin Deficiency with Excessive Yang Heat: Overexertion or chronic illness can lead to insufficient Yin fluids, reducing the body’s ability to control Yang heat, making it easier to experience heat excess in summer.
In addition to the above reasons, other factors such as prolonged exposure to air conditioning may also contribute.
Heat excess can lead to symptoms such as swollen and painful gums, sore throat, and constipation. Besides consuming foods like watermelon or pears for relief and ensuring adequate hydration, we can also select some heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese patent medicines. Although these medicines all have heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, their formulations differ, leading to variations in efficacy. Below, let us learn about several commonly used heat-clearing and detoxifying medicines.
Niuhuang Jiedu Pian (Bovine Bile Detoxifying Tablets)
【Ingredients】
Niuhuang (Bovine Bile), Xionghuang (Realgar), Shigao (Gypsum), Bingpian (Borneol), Dahuang (Rhubarb), Huangqin (Scutellaria), Jiegeng (Platycodon), Gancao (Licorice)
【Indications】
Clears heat and detoxifies, used for treating internal heat excess, sore throat, swollen gums, mouth ulcers, and red, swollen eyes.
【Adverse Reactions】
Post-marketing surveillance data and literature reports indicate the following adverse reactions:
1. Digestive System: Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and gastric discomfort; reports of abnormal liver biochemical indicators and gastrointestinal bleeding.
2. Skin and Appendages: Rash, itching, facial edema, etc.; reports of severe drug rashes (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis). Overdose or prolonged use may lead to skin roughness, thickening, and pigmentation indicative of arsenic poisoning.
3. Nervous System: Dizziness, headache, drowsiness, insomnia, etc.
4. Immune System: Allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock, etc.
5. Cardiovascular System: Palpitations, etc.
6. Respiratory System: Difficulty breathing, chest tightness, etc.
7. Urinary System: Reports of hematuria, acute kidney injury, etc.
Additionally, there are reports of arsenic poisoning due to long-term use.
【Contraindications】
1. Contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor and consult for the best treatment options.
2. Contraindicated for infants and young children; no safety studies for pediatric use.
3. Contraindicated for those allergic to any ingredients in this product.
【Precautions】
1. Use with caution in individuals with weak spleen and stomach, loose stools, and those with oral ulcers, tooth pain, or throat obstruction due to deficiency heat.
2. This product contains Xionghuang; do not exceed the recommended dosage or use it for extended periods. There are reports of arsenic poisoning after continuous use for more than six months.
3. This product should not be taken concurrently with other medicines containing Xionghuang.
4. Use with caution in patients with severe liver damage; use with caution in patients with acute or chronic kidney disease; use with caution in individuals with allergic constitutions.
5. If adverse reactions occur after taking the medicine, discontinue use and seek medical attention.
Banlangen Keli (Isatis Root Granules)
【Ingredients】
Banlangen (Isatis Root)
【Indications】
Clears heat and detoxifies, cools the blood and benefits the throat. Used for sore throat, dry throat, swelling of the parotid gland due to excess heat in the lung and stomach; acute tonsillitis, mumps with the above symptoms.
【Adverse Reactions】
Not clearly defined.
【Contraindications】
Not clearly defined.
【Precautions】
1. Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, and fishy foods.
2. Do not take concurrently with nourishing Chinese medicines during treatment.
3. Diabetic patients and those with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease should take under the guidance of a physician.
4. Children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, the elderly, and those with weak spleens and loose stools should take under the guidance of a physician.
6. Patients with purulent tonsillitis or fever with a temperature exceeding 38.5°C should seek medical attention; if symptoms do not improve after three days of medication, they should seek medical attention.
7. Contraindicated for those allergic to this product; use with caution in individuals with allergic constitutions.
8. Do not use if the product’s properties change.
9. Children must use under adult supervision.
10. Keep this product out of reach of children.
11. If using other medications, consult a physician or pharmacist before using this product.
[Drug Interactions]
Drug interactions may occur if used with other medications; for details, please consult a physician or pharmacist.
Qingkailing Soft Capsules
【Ingredients】
Cholic Acid, Mother of Pearl, Deoxycholic Acid, Fructus Gardeniae, Water Buffalo Horn, Banlangen (Isatis Root), Baicalin, Honeysuckle.
【Indications】
Clears heat and detoxifies, calms the mind. Used for high fever, restlessness, sore throat, red tongue, yellow coating, and rapid pulse due to external wind-heat or internal heat excess; upper respiratory infections, viral colds, acute purulent tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis, acute bronchitis, high fever, etc. that fit the above symptoms.
【Adverse Reactions】
Monitoring data indicate the following adverse reactions: nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, rash, itching, dizziness, headache, chest tightness, fatigue, flushing, allergic or allergic-like reactions, etc.
【Contraindications】
Contraindicated for those allergic to this product and its ingredients.
【Precautions】
1. Use with caution in patients with chronic illness and diarrhea.
2. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, cold, and greasy foods.
3. Do not take concurrently with nourishing Chinese medicines during treatment.
4. Not suitable for patients with wind-cold colds, characterized by severe chills, mild fever, no sweating, headache, nasal congestion, and clear nasal discharge.
5. Use with caution in patients with weak spleen and stomach and chronic illness if diarrhea occurs.
6. Patients with severe chronic diseases such as liver disease, kidney disease, and diabetes should take under the guidance of a physician.
7. Pregnant women and patients with hypertension and heart disease should use with caution.
8. If symptoms do not improve after three days of medication, or if symptoms worsen, or if new severe symptoms such as chest tightness or palpitations occur, discontinue use immediately and seek medical attention.
9. Children and the elderly should take under the guidance of a physician.
10. Use with caution in individuals with allergic constitutions.
Lanqin Oral Liquid (Honeysuckle Oral Liquid)
【Ingredients】
Banlangen (Isatis Root), Huangqin (Scutellaria), Fructus Gardeniae, Huangbai (Phellodendron), Pangdahai (Sterculia). Excipients include sucrose, sodium benzoate, and polysorbate 80.
【Indications】
Clears heat and detoxifies, benefits the throat and reduces swelling. Used for acute pharyngitis, sore throat, dry throat, and burning sensation in the throat due to excess heat in the lung and stomach.
【Adverse Reactions】
Some patients may experience mild diarrhea after taking the medicine, which generally resolves on its own.
【Contraindications】
Not clearly defined.
【Precautions】
1. Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy, and fishy foods.
2. Do not take concurrently with warming and nourishing Chinese medicines during treatment.
3. Pregnant women, diabetic patients, and children should take under the guidance of a physician.
4. Use with caution in individuals with weak spleens and loose stools.
5. Use with caution in patients with wind-cold colds characterized by chills and fever, no sweating, and clear nasal discharge.
6. If symptoms do not improve after three days of medication, seek medical attention.
7. Contraindicated for those allergic to this product; use with caution in individuals with allergic constitutions.
8. Do not use if the product’s properties change.
9. Children must use under adult supervision.
10. Keep this product out of reach of children.
11. If using other medications, consult a physician or pharmacist before using this product.
【Drug Interactions】
Drug interactions may occur if used with other medications; for details, please consult a physician or pharmacist.
Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid
【Ingredients】
Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle), Huangqin (Scutellaria), Lianqiao (Forsythia), excipients include sucrose and flavoring.
【Indications】
Disperses wind and releases the exterior, clears heat and detoxifies, used for colds caused by wind-heat, with symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat.
【Adverse Reactions】
Monitoring data indicate adverse reactions such as rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, chest tightness, flushing, allergic or allergic-like reactions, dizziness, difficulty breathing, palpitations, etc.; reports of abnormal liver function biochemical indicators and cases of anaphylactic shock.
【Contraindications】
Contraindicated for those allergic to this product and its ingredients.
Wind-cold cold patients should avoid this product.
【Precautions】
1. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, cold, and greasy foods.
2. Do not take concurrently with nourishing Chinese medicines during treatment.
3. Patients with hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under the guidance of a physician.
4. Follow the prescribed dosage; children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, the elderly, and those with weak spleens and loose stools should take under the guidance of a physician.
5. Patients with fever exceeding 38.5°C should seek medical attention.
6. If symptoms do not improve after three days of medication, seek medical attention.
7. Contraindicated for those allergic to this product; use with caution in individuals with allergic constitutions.
8. Do not use if the product’s properties change.
9. Children must use under adult supervision.
10. Keep this product out of reach of children.
11. If using other medications, consult a physician or pharmacist before using this product.
【Drug Interactions】
Drug interactions may occur if used with other medications; for details, please consult a physician or pharmacist.
Jian’er Qingjie Liquid (Children’s Heat-Clearing Liquid)
【Ingredients】
Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle), Chrysanthemum, Lianqiao (Forsythia), Shan Zha (Hawthorn), Bitter Apricot, Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel).
【Indications】
Clears heat and detoxifies, relieves cough, and harmonizes the stomach. Used for oral ulcers, cough, sore throat, loss of appetite, and abdominal distension.
【Adverse Reactions】
Current literature search did not reveal any reports of adverse reactions.
【Contraindications】
1. Avoid raw, cold, and spicy foods.
2. Do not take concurrently with nourishing Chinese patent medicines.
3. Use with caution in individuals with weak spleens and frequent bowel movements.
【Precautions】
1. Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
2. Children over 6 years old may take under the guidance of a physician.
3. If there is a small amount of sediment, shake well before use.
Pudilan Oral Liquid
【Ingredients】
Pugongying (Dandelion), Kudi Ding (Bitter Herb), Banlangen (Isatis Root), Huangqin (Scutellaria).
【Indications】
Clears heat and detoxifies, anti-inflammatory and reduces swelling. Used for boils, mumps, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, etc.
【Adverse Reactions】
Nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, etc.; allergic reactions such as rash and itching.
【Contraindications】
Contraindicated for those allergic to this product and its ingredients.
【Precautions】
1. Use with caution in pregnant women.
2. Use with caution in individuals with allergic constitutions.
3. Use with caution in those with abdominal pain, preference for warmth, and diarrhea due to spleen and stomach deficiency.
【Pharmacology and Toxicology】
This product has certain inhibitory effects on abscess formation caused by Escherichia coli and weak bacteria in mice, provides some protection against infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and weak bacteria, and has certain inhibitory effects on swelling caused by xylene in mice and swelling caused by carrageenan in rats, as well as certain inhibitory effects on temperature elevation caused by typhoid bacteria in rabbits.
[References]
2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Volume 1, Drug Instructions.
Images sourced from the internet.
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