Name

Function

Taste

Channels

Contraindications

Da Huang
(Rhubarb)
“Purgative”

Promote Bowel Movement, ↓ Fire & release toxins
Invigorates blood
Skin lesions, xs heat poisons, bl stag, ab masses.
Good for damp-heat         Yang Ming

Bitter
Cold

SP
ST
HT
LI
LVR

Nursing mothers
Menses
Pregnancy

Mang Xiao
(Glauber’s Salt)
“Purgative”

Purge faeces ↓, Softens hard masses, moisten dryness.
Clear heat. Red swollen eyes, hot red swollen things. Nodules

Acrid
Salty
Bitter
Very Cold

ST
LI

Pregnancy
Children
Sp xu