Nature: bitter, slightly cold

Enters: Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder

Actions: Drains dampness and mildly clears heat to relieve jaundice; descends stomach and gallbladder Qi; frees the liver Qi; helps the liver Qi and spleen Qi lift; clears heat and releases the exterior.

Indications:
• Damp-heat or damp-cold in the liver and gallbladder: jaundice. Can be used alone for this. For damp-cold jaundice (greyer/duller color), add herbs such as Fu zi, Gan jiang.
• Heat patterns: intermittent fever and chills, bitter taste in the mouth, stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite.
• Also and important herb for hepatitis, especially icteric, including acute hepatitis B. In one study, subjects were effectively treated with administration of 30-45g of Yin chen hao 3 times a day.
• Liu: Vents heat from Ying/Xue to Qi level, good for lurking heat.
• Promotes bile secretion.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• This herb is picked in early spring and contains the energy of the wood element.
• Bensky/Gamble: Compared to Chai hu, Yin chen hao is less drying and is “softer.” It is especially useful when a patient with a Yin deficient or excessive fire constitution needs the heat-clearing action of Chai hu but is unable to tolerate its dry nature.
• In disorders of the anatomical liver, this herb may be more effective when combined with Da huang and Zhi zi.
Hsu: Antipyretic; lowers serum cholesterol and β-lipoprotein; antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal.

Dose: 9-15g (up to 30g in very severe cases)