What are the traditional Chinese medicines for clearing heat and detoxifying?
Sep 13, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
In general, when clearing heat and detoxifying is required, traditional Chinese herbs such as honeysuckle, forsythia, scutellaria, isatis root, and dandelion may be used under the guidance of a physician. These herbs are commonly employed in traditional practice to alleviate discomfort associated with heat toxicity. Additionally, a light diet should be maintained during treatment, with avoidance of spicy and irritating foods. Regular作息 (作息 should be translated as "作息" here, but since it's likely a placeholder for "作息习惯" or similar, the appropriate translation would be "作息 habits" or "daily routine") daily routines should be maintained to support the body's recovery.
(Note: The term "作息" appears to be incomplete or used as a placeholder in the original text. If the intended meaning is "daily routine" or "sleep patterns," please clarify. As such, the translation remains provisional on this point.)
Generally, when it is necessary to clear heat and detoxify, traditional Chinese herbs such as Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Isatidis Radix (Banlangen), and Taraxaci Herba (Pugongying) can be used under the guidance of a physician. These Chinese herbs are traditionally used to alleviate discomfort associated with heat toxicity. The specific details are as follows:
1. Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua)
Lonicerae Japonicae Flos mainly contains chlorogenic acid, luteoloside, and other components. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, dispersing wind-heat. It can help alleviate symptoms such as fever, sore throat caused by wind-heat感冒, and abscesses or sores.
2. Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao)
Forsythiae Fructus contains forsythoside, phillyrin, and other components. It can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and dissipate nodules, and disperse wind-heat. It can relieve symptoms such as fever and headache caused by wind-heat感冒, as well as carbuncles, swellings, scrofula, and phlegm nodules. It is commonly used in heat-clearing and detoxifying treatments.
3. Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin)
Scutellariae Radix's main components are baicalin, baicalein, and others. It has the effects of clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire and detoxifying, stopping bleeding, and stabilizing pregnancy. It is suitable for conditions such as lung heat cough, high fever with thirst, damp-heat jaundice, abscesses and sores. It can help regulate various discomforts caused by excessive heat toxicity.
4. Isatidis Radix (Banlangen)
Isatidis Radix contains indigo, indirubin, and other components. It can clear heat and detoxify, cool the blood, and benefit the throat. It is commonly used for epidemic toxins, fever with sore throat, warm toxin-related skin eruptions, mumps, and scarlet fever with sore throat. It is especially suitable for individuals experiencing throat discomfort due to heat toxicity.
5. Taraxaci Herba (Pugongying)
Taraxaci Herba contains taraxasterol, inulin, and other components. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and dissipating nodules, promoting urination and relieving dysuria. It can help alleviate symptoms such as abscesses, breast abscesses, scrofula, red eyes, sore throat, lung abscesses, intestinal abscesses, damp-heat jaundice, and dysuric pain due to heat. It is a commonly used herb for clearing heat and detoxifying.
In addition, individuals needing heat-clearing and detoxifying treatments can also combine other suitable Chinese herbs under the guidance of a physician. During medication, it is important to maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and maintain regular作息 to aid in body recovery.
