What Chinese herbs can clear stomach fire?
Dec 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
In general, traditional Chinese medicines used to clear stomach fire are mostly bitter-cold or sweet-cool in nature. Commonly used herbs include Coptis (Huang Lian), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu), and Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), which are suitable for various discomforts caused by excessive stomach fire. When using these herbs, it is important to be aware of contraindications and precautions. Bitter-cold herbs should not be taken in excessive amounts or for prolonged periods, as they may impair the spleen and stomach yang qi.
Generally, traditional Chinese medicines used to clear stomach fire are mostly bitter-cold or sweet-cool in nature. Commonly used herbs include Coptis (Huang Lian), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu), and Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), which are suitable for various discomforts caused by excessive stomach fire. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Coptis (Huang Lian): Cold in nature and bitter in taste, Coptis has the effects of clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying. It is especially effective in clearing stomach fire and is suitable for symptoms such as burning pain in the epigastric region, dry mouth with bitterness, bad breath, and oral or tongue ulcers caused by excessive stomach fire. Its bitter-cold property helps eliminate excess heat from the stomach.
2. Gypsum (Shi Gao): Gypsum is strongly cold with a sweet-pungent taste and functions to clear heat, purge fire, relieve restlessness, and quench thirst. It primarily targets excess stomach fire and is effective for high fever, profuse sweating, intense thirst, and epigastric distension or pain due to excessive stomach heat. It is often combined with other herbs that clear stomach fire.
3. Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying): Cold in nature and bitter-sweet in taste, dandelion clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and dissipates nodules, and promotes urination to remove dampness. It assists in clearing stomach fire and alleviates stomach discomfort and poor appetite caused by stomach heat. It also improves sore throat and swollen gums resulting from upward flare-up of stomach fire.
4. Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu): Cold in nature and bitter-sweet in taste, Anemarrhena clears heat and fire while nourishing yin and moistening dryness. It not only eliminates excess heat from the stomach—relieving symptoms like dryness and bitterness in the mouth—but also nourishes yin fluids. It is particularly suitable for individuals with both excessive stomach fire and yin deficiency, helping to avoid damage to yin fluids from aggressive fire-purging treatments.
5. Ophiopogon (Mai Dong): Slightly cold in nature and sweet with a slight bitterness, Ophiopogon nourishes yin, generates body fluids, moistens the lungs, and clears the heart. Although primarily focused on nourishing yin, it indirectly clears deficient fire by enriching stomach yin. It is suitable for conditions such as dull epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat, and feeling hungry but having no desire to eat—symptoms caused by stomach yin deficiency and internal generation of deficient fire.
When using these herbal medicines, attention should be paid to contraindications and precautions. Bitter-cold herbs should not be taken excessively or over a long period, as they may impair the spleen and stomach yang qi. Individuals with weak spleen and stomach function should use them cautiously. Medication should strictly follow medical guidance to ensure safety and effectiveness of treatment.
