CLEAR HEAT
Qing Re Ling

 

 ‘Marvellous Heat Clearing Herbs’
Source: Experiential formula 

Keywords
sore throat, inflammatory disorders of the upper body, general antibiotic action.

Ingredients
Forsythia suspensa (Lian Qiao, forsythia)
Scutellaria baicalensis (Huang Qin, Baical skullcap root)
Isatis indigotica (Ban Lan Gen, isatis)
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gan Cao, liquorice)

Major therapeutic action
Clears the Lungs, clears infections.

 Biomedical action
antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic.

Indications
*  Sore, red, swollen throat with additional symptoms of thirst, yellow mucus, and fever (viral or bacterial tonsillitis, pharyngitis).
*  acute cough.
*  acne or other suppurative or inflammatory disorders of the upper body.

Key symptoms for use
*  heat and inflammation in the upper body, redness, swelling and pain
*  acute cough
*  fever, thirst, dryness
*  red tongue tip, yellow tongue coat
*  rapid pulse
Combinations
*  Can be used alone or combined with any other appropriate formula when a specific antibiotic (bacterial
and viral) action is desired. Typical examples include:
*  Long Dan Xie Gan Tang for genital herpes, acute otitis, conjunctivitis.
*  Combine with Qing Fei Tang for severe heat in the lungs, perhaps with haemoptysis.
*  With Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin for suppurative skin disorders.		 Dosage
The typical dose when used alone is three grams 3-4 times daily, before meals. In severe cases, increase the dose 50-100%. The dose should be spread out evenly, and in very acute cases may be taken every two hours. Generally not recommended for use longer than a few weeks.

Cautions and contraindications
Caution in patients with digestive problems.
Not suitable for prolonged use.

Differentiation
This formula has a broad antibiotic action, and is a mild diaphoretic. It is especially suited to acute upper respiratory tract infections that begin as a common cold or flu and then progress into the throat and lungs. Because it both clears heat and treats colds, it is best in the transitional phase when the pathogen is moving internally, but is still relatively superficial. This usually occurs on day three or four of a cold. Patients may have tried a standard diaphoretic formula (such as Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang) and found it ineffective.
Qing Fei Tang: For phlegm in the lungs, with a productive cough or wheezing with copious sticky yellow sputum.
Kang Du San: a general antibiotic formula with a strong anti-viral action. This formula can be added as a guiding prescription when viral infection is involved, for example shingles and other herpes infections and viral upper respiratory tract infections.
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin: a detoxicant formula for superficial pyogenic infections anywhere in the body.