State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Scutellariae Radix

Common Name

Chinese Skullcap Root

Category

Clear Heat and Dry Dampness

Ingredients

Taste

Bitter

Pao Zhi

Temperature

Cold

Action / Indication

1. Clears heat and dries dampness: a major herb for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines, which manifests as diarrhea or dysenteric disorder; damp-warmth, which presents with fever, stifling sensation in the chest, and thirst but with an inability to drink; or for damp-heat in the lower burner with painful urinary dribbling. An auxiliary herb for damp- heat jaundice. 
2. Clears heat and resolves toxicity, especially in the upper burner: for heat patterns with high fever, irritability, thirst, cough, and expectoration of thick, yellow sputum, or hot sores and swellings. For the latter, it can be applied topically or taken internally. 
3. Clears heat and stops bleeding: for internal heat from excess causing the blood to move chaotically. Symptoms include vomiting or coughing of blood, nosebleed, and blood in the stool.
4. Clears heat and calms the fetus: pacifies the Womb when the fetus is restless or kicking excessively due to heat. 
5. Sedates ascendant Liver yang: for such symptoms as head ache, irritability, red eyes, flushed face, and bitter taste. 

Treatment Principles

Clears Lung Heat and Drains Fire
Clears Qi Level Heat
Clears Damp-Heat
Clears Blood Heat Stops Bleeding
Clears Heat Toxin
Clears Liver Yang Rising Heat
Clears Heat and Calms the Fetus

Contraindication

Use extreme caution in cases of edema due to Spleen deficiency, cold diarrhea or any other condition with cold in the middle burner, blood deficiency causing amenorrhea or abdominal pain, and restless fetus due to cold blood.

Dosages

3-12g. Use charred to stop bleeding. Use dry-fried to calm the fetus.

Meridians

GB, LI, LU, ST

Tom's Comment

1. Huang Qin is bitter and very effective in clearing heat in the upper jiao.
2. Huang Qin is very commonly used for Qi level heat.

Source

Formula Type