Fu Ping

Cool, Pungent Herbs that Release the Exterior

Channels: BL, LU

Properties: Spicy, Cold

Common: Duckweed or Spirodela

Latin: Herba Lemnae Seu Spirodelae

Actions:

• Releases the exterior and causes sweating: for wind heat invasion with body and headache. Sometimes prescribed alone, this herb is one of the few cool, spicy herbs that are a strong diaphoretic.
• Vents rashes: allows rashes to resolve more quickly. Used for measles and wind rash.
• Promotes urination, removes water, and reduces swelling: for superficial edema, especially in the upper body accompanied by difficult urination.

Contraindications:

• Contraindicated in exterior deficiency and any type of profuse or spontaneous sweating.

Dosage:

• 3-6g, up to 9g in severe cases. May be used topically as a wash for rashes.