Click on “Wenzhou Central Hospital” above to subscribe! In daily life, when symptoms such as gum swelling, sore throat, nasal congestion, and runny nose occur, many people immediately think of taking some qing re jie du yao (heat-clearing and detoxifying medicines). There are many types of heat-clearing and detoxifying medicines, some targeting the upper jiao (上焦) and others the lower jiao (下焦). Do you know how to use them? Today, let the experts tell you. Niu Huang Jie Du Wan (Cow Bile Detoxifying Pill) is used for those with excessive internal heat. Niu Huang Jie Du Wan is a traditional formula that is commonly used in clinical practice and favored by the public, especially for clearing heat and detoxifying, particularly for patients with upper jiao heat and acute pharyngitis. The traditional form of this medicine is a honey pill, but it is now available in various forms such as water honey pills, tablets, and capsules. The pharmacopoeia defines its efficacy as clearing heat and detoxifying, used for excessive internal heat, sore throat, gum swelling, mouth and tongue ulcers, and red, swollen eyes, with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antipyretic, and analgesic effects. Although this medicine is effective for treating oral and throat diseases, it contains xiong huang (realgar), which contains arsenic, and there have been cases of poisoning and adverse reactions in clinical use. Therefore, the following points must be noted during use: 1. Use strictly according to the dosage specified in the instructions, do not exceed the amount, and do not use it continuously for a long time. 2. It is best to use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist, and avoid misuse. 3. It is contraindicated for pregnant women and not suitable for children. 4. Use with caution in those with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold with loose stools. 5. It should not be used with tetracycline, realgar salt, and other Western medicines. Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan (Coptis Upper Clearing Pill) is commonly used for oral diseases. Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan, also known as Shang Qing Wan, is found in the Gu Jin Yi Fang Ji Cheng (Collection of Ancient and Modern Medical Formulas) written by Qing Dynasty physicians. The contemporary pharmacopoeia classifies it as a medicine for oral diseases, defining its efficacy as dispersing wind, clearing heat, and relieving fire and pain, used for wind-heat invading the body, along with excessive lung and stomach heat causing dizziness, red, swollen, hot, painful eyes, toothache, mouth and tongue ulcers, sore throat, ear pain, tinnitus, etc. It can be used for acute conjunctivitis, acute purulent otitis media, acute stomatitis, and recurrent canker sores. Although the medicine is good, there may be mild abdominal pain and diarrhea reactions after taking it, and there have been reports of acute liver damage. Therefore, the following points should be noted during use: 1. Do not exceed the dosage or use for a long time. 2. Do not take nourishing Chinese medicines simultaneously during the treatment. 3. The formula contains da huang (rhubarb) and other medicines, which are contraindicated for pregnant women. 4. Use with caution in those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, and avoid use in the elderly, weak, and those with spleen and stomach deficiency and loose stools. 5. Patients with hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should use with caution. 6. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, greasy foods during treatment. San Huang Pian (Three Yellow Pills) is used for purging fire and promoting bowel movements.
San Huang Pian originates from the Xie Xin Tang (Purge the Heart Decoction) created by the famous physician Zhang Zhongjing from the late Eastern Han Dynasty, using da huang (rhubarb), huang lian (coptis), and huang qin (scutellaria). The contemporary pharmacopoeia uses extracts of huang qin and huang lian, namely huang qin extract and berberine hydrochloride, defining its efficacy as clearing heat and detoxifying, purging fire, and promoting bowel movements, mainly used for symptoms caused by excessive damp-heat fire such as red, swollen, hot, painful eyes, mouth and nose ulcers, sore throat, gum swelling, irritability, thirst, yellow urine, and constipation. It can also be used for acute gastroenteritis and dysentery, with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and intestinal motility-promoting pharmacological effects. Currently, it is mostly used in tablet form.
Due to the strong purgative effect of da huang, it is contraindicated for pregnant women; since all three medicines in the formula are bitter and cold, it should be used with caution in cases of diarrhea due to cold damp accumulation, and also with caution in cases of mouth ulcers and pharyngitis caused by deficiency fire. Additionally, during treatment, avoid meat, greasy foods. Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan (Honeysuckle Detoxifying Pill) is used for wind-heat colds. Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan originates from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Differentiation of Warm Diseases) by the famous physician Wu Jutong from the Qing Dynasty. The traditional form is a large honey pill, now available as concentrated honey pills, with new forms such as granules, tablets, capsules, and soft capsules. The main ingredients are jin yin hua (honeysuckle) and lian qiao (forsythia), with dan zhu ye (lophatherum) and bo he (mint) as adjuncts, primarily functioning to disperse wind, relieve the exterior, clear heat, and detoxify, used for wind-heat colds, presenting with fever, slight aversion to wind and cold, nasal congestion, yellow nasal discharge, body heat, headache, cough, dry mouth, and sore throat. Although the drug is effective and has a long-standing reputation, the following points should be noted during use: 1. It is not suitable for patients with wind-cold colds. 2. Pregnant women and children should use with caution. 3. There have also been reports of adverse reactions, such as occasional palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, pale complexion, blackouts, nausea, vomiting, and decreased blood pressure, and it can even cause anaphylactic shock. 4. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, cold, greasy foods. Qing Re Jie Du Kou Fu Ye (Heat-Clearing and Detoxifying Oral Liquid) is used for those with excessive heat toxicity. Qing Re Jie Du Kou Fu Ye is a formula from the pharmacopoeia, functioning to clear heat and detoxify, mainly used for colds caused by heat toxicity, sudden chills, high fever, body aches, irritability, thirst, sore throat, etc., effective for upper respiratory infections and various diseases primarily characterized by fever, with a wide range of clinical applications. In addition to oral liquids, there are also granules, syrups, tablets, capsules, and soft capsules available. In clinical use, allergic reactions are occasionally observed, and due to the presence of many bitter and cold medicines in the formula, excessive or prolonged use can damage the spleen and stomach yang. Therefore, the following points should be noted during use: 1. Pregnant women and children should use with caution. 2. Patients with wind-heat colds should avoid use. 3. Those with spleen and stomach deficiency and loose stools should not use. 4. Those with yin deficiency and fever should avoid use. 5. During treatment, the diet should be light, avoiding smoking, alcohol, and spicy foods. It is important to note that the dosages mentioned above are for adults; if children need to use them, they should reduce the dosage according to the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.