What medication should be taken for damp-heat syndrome?
Aug 27, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, patients with severe damp-heat syndrome can use medication under a doctor's guidance. Commonly used medicines include Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui, Gegen Qinlian Pian, Er Miao Wan, Si Miao Wan, and Longdan Xiegan Wan. During medication, it is important to maintain a light diet, avoid spicy, greasy, and sweet foods, and maintain regular作息 (作息 should be translated as "rest and work patterns" or "daily routine"). Additionally, one should avoid staying in damp environments for prolonged periods to prevent exacerbation of damp-heat symptoms.
Generally, patients with severe damp-heat may use medication under a doctor's guidance. Commonly used medications include Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, Gegen Qinlian Tablets, Er Miao Wan, Si Miao Wan, and Longdan Xiegan Wan. Detailed information is as follows:
1. Huoxiang Zhengqi Water
Huoxiang Zhengqi Water is composed of ingredients such as Atractylodes Lancea, Tangerine Peel, and Magnolia Bark. It functions to relieve surface symptoms, resolve dampness, regulate qi, and harmonize the middle jiao. It improves damp-heat-related symptoms such as headache with a heavy feeling, chest oppression, abdominal distension and pain, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by external contraction of cold and internal injury from dampness retention. It is suitable for patients with severe damp-heat accompanied by exterior syndrome manifestations.
2. Gegen Qinlian Tablets
Gegen Qinlian Tablets contain traditional Chinese herbs like Kudzu Root, Scutellaria, and Coptis. They can relieve muscle fever and clear heat, as well as stop diarrhea. These tablets help alleviate diarrhea caused by accumulated damp-heat, relieve discomfort such as body heat with irritability, anal burning, urgent diarrhea, or unsatisfactory bowel movements, and are effective in managing intestinal problems caused by severe damp-heat. They should be taken under a doctor's guidance.
3. Er Miao Wan
Er Miao Wan is made from Phellodendron Bark and Atractylodes. It has the effect of clearing heat and drying dampness. It is suitable for symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pain in the feet or knees, short and dark urine, and dampness-induced itching in the scrotal area caused by downward pouring of damp-heat. It is particularly appropriate for patients whose damp-heat is concentrated in the lower limbs or lower jiao region.
4. Si Miao Wan
Si Miao Wan is based on Er Miao Wan with the addition of Coix Seed and Achyranthes Root. It can clear heat and promote diuresis to remove dampness. It is used for bi syndrome caused by downward pouring of damp-heat, relieving redness and swelling of the feet and knees, and pain in the muscles and bones. It also treats lower limb weakness and urinary dysfunction caused by damp-heat. It is especially beneficial for patients with severe damp-heat accompanied by limb discomfort.
5. Longdan Xiegan Wan
Longdan Xiegan Wan consists of ingredients such as Gentiana, Bupleurum, and Scutellaria. It functions to clear heat and remove dampness from the liver and gallbladder. It is specifically used for symptoms such as dizziness, red eyes, tinnitus, deafness, flank pain, bitter taste in the mouth, dark urine, and leukorrhea caused by damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder. It is one of the commonly used medications when damp-heat affects the liver and gallbladder.
In addition, patients with severe damp-heat can also use other suitable medications under a doctor's guidance. During medication, it is important to maintain a light diet, avoid spicy, greasy, and sweet foods, keep a regular lifestyle, and avoid prolonged exposure to damp environments to prevent exacerbation of damp-heat symptoms.
