What are the most effective traditional Chinese patent medicines for removing dampness and heat?

Generally speaking, there is no such thing as "which Chinese patent medicine clears damp-heat fastest." Damp-heat invading the body easily causes dysfunction of internal organs. Patients may follow medical advice to use medicines such as Longdan Xiegan Wan, Yin Zhi Huang Oral Liquid, Compound Ji Gucao Capsules, Huoxiang Qingwei Capsules, and Wu Ling San for treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Longdan Xiegan Wan

Longdan Xiegan Wan contains ingredients like Gentiana (Longdan), Bupleurum (Chaihu), Scutellaria (Huangqin), Gardenia (Zhizi), etc., and functions to clear heat and dampness from the liver and gallbladder. Gentiana clears excessive fire from the liver and gallbladder and eliminates damp-heat from the lower jiao; Scutellaria and Gardenia clear heat and purge fire. It is suitable for symptoms such as distending pain in the hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth, dark urine, and leukorrhea caused by damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder.

2. Yin Zhi Huang Oral Liquid

Yin Zhi Huang Oral Liquid is composed of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba (Yinchen), Gardenia (Zhizi), Scutellariae Radix extract (Huangqin), and Honeysuckle extract (Jinyinhua), which functions to clear heat, detoxify, promote dampness elimination, and reduce jaundice. Artemisiae Scopariae Herba clears damp-heat and promotes bile secretion to reduce jaundice; Gardenia clears heat and purges fire. It is suitable for jaundice caused by damp-heat steaming, relieving symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and sclera, and dark yellow urine.

3. Compound Ji Gucao Capsules

Compound Ji Gucao Capsules mainly consist of Abrus herbs (Ji Gucao), Artemisiae Scopariae Herba (Yinchen), Gardenia (Zhizi), Andrographis (Chuanxinlian), etc., which function to clear damp-heat, soothe the liver, and relieve pain. Abrus herbs clear heat, remove dampness, soothe the liver, and relieve pain; Andrographis clears heat and detoxifies. It is suitable for discomfort in the hypochondrium, abdominal distension, bitter taste, and yellow urine caused by damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder.

4. Huoxiang Qingwei Capsules

Huoxiang Qingwei Capsules contain Pogostemon (Huoxiang), Gardenia (Zhizi), Siler (Fangfeng), Hawthorn (Shanzha), etc., and function to clear heat, resolve dampness, invigorate the spleen, and relieve food stagnation. Pogostemon aromatically resolves dampness and harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting; Gardenia clears heat and purges fire. It is suitable for indigestion, abdominal distension, bitter taste, and bad breath caused by damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, improving the spleen and stomach's transformation and transportation functions to eliminate damp-heat from the body.

5. Wu Ling San

Wu Ling San consists of Alisma (Zexie), Poria (Fuling), Polyporus (Zuling), Atractylodes (Baizhu), and Cinnamon twigs (Guizhi), which functions to promote diuresis, resolve dampness, warm yang, and transform qi. Alisma promotes diuresis and removes dampness; Poria and Polyporus enhance diuretic effects; Atractylodes strengthens the spleen and removes dampness. It is suitable for symptoms such as difficult urination, edema, abdominal distension, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by impaired qi transformation of the bladder and internal retention of dampness and water, removing damp-heat from the body by promoting excretion of water and dampness.

Normally, attention should be paid to developing good living habits, avoiding long-term exposure to damp environments, and reducing consumption of sweet, greasy, spicy, and oily foods, such as milk tea, chili peppers, fatty meats, etc., to prevent aggravating internal damp-heat and hindering disease recovery.