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

Generally speaking, there is no such thing as "the best Chinese patent medicine for removing dampness and heat." Damp-heat is a condition caused by the intermingling of dampness and heat pathogens invading the body's internal organs and tissues, with common symptoms including heavy limbs, bitter taste and stickiness in the mouth, abdominal distension, short and dark urine, sticky and difficult bowel movements, etc. Patients can take medications such as Qingre Qu Shi Granules, Simiao Pills, Shenling Baizhu Powder, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, and Ermiao Pills under the guidance of a doctor. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Qingre Qu Shi Granules

Qingre Qu Shi Granules contain ingredients like Codonopsis Root (Dang Shen), Capillary Wormwood Herb (Yin Chen), Root of Chinese Elaeocarpus (Gang Mei Gen), and Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), which can clear heat, remove dampness, invigorate qi, and promote body fluid production. Yin Chen clears damp-heat, Gang Mei Gen clears heat and detoxifies while promoting fluid production to relieve thirstiness, and Dang Shen and Huang Qi strengthen the spleen and replenish qi. These granules are suitable for symptoms such as fatigue in the limbs, poor appetite, fever, and dry mouth caused by the combination of damp-heat and qi deficiency, helping to supplement the body's healthy qi while removing dampness.

2. Simiao Pills

Simiao Pills consist of Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bai), Atractylodes Rhizome (Cang Zhu), Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren), and Achyranthes Root (Niu Xi), which have the effect of clearing heat and removing dampness. Huang Bai clears heat, dries dampness, reduces fire, and detoxifies; Cang Zhu dries dampness and strengthens the spleen; Yi Yi Ren strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, clears heat, and expels pus; Niu Xi promotes joint circulation. These pills are suitable for symptoms such as red and swollen feet and knees, pain in the bones and joints, and dark urine caused by downward invasion of damp-heat, especially effective for damp-heat conditions in the lower limbs.

3. Shenling Baizhu Powder

Shenling Baizhu Powder contains ingredients like Ginseng (Ren Shen), Indian Bread (Fu Ling), Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu), and Dioscorea Rhizome (Shan Yao), which can strengthen the spleen and stomach, benefit the lungs, and eliminate dampness. Fu Ling and Bai Zhu strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, while Ren Shen and Shan Yao replenish qi and strengthen the spleen. This powder is suitable for symptoms such as loose stools due to poor appetite, shortness of breath and coughing, and limb fatigue caused by spleen deficiency with excessive dampness. It helps eliminate dampness by enhancing the function of the spleen and stomach.

4. Huoxiang Zhengqi Water

Huoxiang Zhengqi Water mainly contains Agastache (Huo Xiang), Perilla Leaf (Zi Su Ye), Angelica Root (Bai Zhi), and Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu), which has the function of resolving exterior syndromes, transforming dampness, regulating qi, and harmonizing the middle jiao. Huo Xiang aromatically transforms dampness and harmonizes the middle jiao to stop vomiting, Zi Su Ye resolves exterior syndromes and dispels cold, and Bai Zhu strengthens the spleen and removes dampness. It is suitable for colds caused by external contraction of wind-cold, internal injury from dampness stagnation, or summerheat-dampness, relieving symptoms such as heavy and painful headache, chest and diaphragm stuffiness, abdominal distension and pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

5. Ermiao Pills

Ermiao Pills are composed of Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bai) and Atractylodes Rhizome (Cang Zhu), which can clear heat and dry dampness. Huang Bai strongly clears heat and dries dampness, while Cang Zhu dries dampness and strengthens the spleen. The combination of these two ingredients enhances the effect of clearing heat and removing dampness. These pills are suitable for symptoms such as swelling, pain in the feet and knees, short and dark urine, and dampness-induced itching in the scrotal area caused by downward invasion of damp-heat. They are a basic Chinese patent medicine for treating damp-heat disorders.

In daily life, it is important to develop good living habits, avoid long-term exposure to damp environments, and reduce the consumption of sweet, spicy, and greasy foods such as cakes, chili peppers, and fried chicken, to prevent exacerbating internal damp-heat and hindering recovery from illness.