Drain downward herbs

5 herbs in the Shen Study library belong to the Drain downward category: Dà Huáng, Máng Xiāo, Fān Xiè Yè, Huǒ Má Rén and Lú Huì.

Drain downward herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Large Intestine and Stomach channels.

Herb	Nature	Flavour	Channels	Main action
Dà Huáng Rhubarb root	Cold	Bitter	Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, Liver, Heart	Drains Heat, purges accumulation
Máng Xiāo Mirabilite/Glauber salt	Cold	Salty, Bitter	Stomach, Large Intestine	Purges accumulation, softens hardness
Fān Xiè Yè Senna leaf	Cold	Sweet, Bitter	Large Intestine	Purges accumulation, clears Heat
Huǒ Má Rén Hemp seed	Neutral	Sweet	Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine	Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels (moist-laxative)
Lú Huì Aloe	Cold	Bitter	Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine	Purges downward, unblocks bowels

Other herb categories

• Release exterior (Cold)
• Release exterior (Heat)
• Clear heat
• Warm interior
• Regulate qi
• Invigorate blood
• Resolve phlegm
• Tonify qi
• Tonify blood
• Tonify yin
• Tonify yang
• Calm shen
• Stabilise & bind
• Expel wind-damp
• Aromatic, transform damp
• Drain damp
• Stop bleeding
• Relieve food stagnation
• Expel parasites
• Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind
• Open orifices
• Topical use