Article 18: An Overview of Diuretics (Plantago asiatica, Talcum, Kochia scoparia) and Expectorants, Antitussives, and Antiasthmatics

II. Diuretic and urinary tract clearing drugs

Most diuretics are cold in nature and their main function is to promote urination and relieve strangury. They are suitable for symptoms such as frequent and difficult urination, burning, painful and difficult urination, hematuria, cloudy urine, or the presence of stones. Most diuretics have diuretic and antibacterial effects, and some also have effects such as stone expulsion, anti-inflammation, antifungal, and antitumor.

Plantain

This product contains the seeds of Plantago asiatica, Plantago asiatica var. chinensis, or Plantago asiatica var. chinensis, all belonging to the Plantaginaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, bland, slightly cold.

[Functions] ① Promotes urination and relieves strangury, used to treat dysuria, gonorrhea, and edema; ② Promotes urination and stops diarrhea, used to treat summer-heat diarrhea; ③ Clears liver heat and improves eyesight, used to treat liver fire rising, causing red, swollen, and painful eyes; ④ Clears lung heat and resolves phlegm, used to treat cough with phlegm and heat.

[Pharmacological effects] Diuretic, increases joint capsule tension, lowers intraocular pressure, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and laxative.

[Modern Applications] Pulmonary heart disease, heart failure, gastric ulcer, gastritis, hypertension, infantile diarrhea, indigestion, malposition of the fetus, cheek joint disorder, habitual temporomandibular joint dislocation, acute conjunctivitis, pertussis, urinary tract infection, nephritis, and prevention of kidney stones.

[Usage]Decoction, 10-15 grams, wrapped and decocted.

[Caution]Use with caution in cases of qi deficiency and prolapse, kidney deficiency and seminal emission, or those without internal damp-heat.

talc

This product is a massive form of talc, a silicate mineral.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, bland, cold.

[Functions] ① It promotes urination and relieves strangury, and is used to treat urinary tract infections caused by heat and urinary stones; ② It clears heat and relieves summer heat, and is used to treat summer dampness and damp-heat syndrome; ③ It clears heat and removes dampness, and is used externally to treat eczema and prickly heat.

[Pharmacological Action] Antibacterial, protects skin, mucous membranes and wounds.

[Modern Applications] Bacterial dysentery, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, acute enteritis, chronic superficial gastritis, urinary tract stones, malaria, allergic purpura, cervicitis, chickenpox, pertussis, infantile indigestion, diaper rash and dermatitis, impetigo, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, burns, neurodermatitis, periodontitis.

[Usage] For oral administration, take 9-24 grams, wrapped and decocted. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with weak spleen and stomach, those suffering from heat-related illnesses that deplete body fluids, or those with kidney deficiency and spermatorrhea. Pregnant women should use with caution.

Kochia scoparia

This product is the mature fruit of Kochia scoparia, a plant belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Bitter, cold.

[Functions] ① It promotes urination and relieves strangury, and is used to treat strangury caused by heat and difficulty in urination; ② It removes dampness and relieves itching, and is used externally to treat eczema, damp sores, and vulvar itching.

[Pharmacological effects] Diuretic, antifungal, insecticidal, immunosuppressive.

[Modern Applications] Urinary tract infections, acute mastitis, oral ulcers, flat warts, measles, eczema, circular erythema.

[Usage] Decocted for oral administration, 6-15 grams. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those without internal damp-heat.

Drugs that can expel or eliminate phlegm are called expectorants; drugs that can relieve or stop coughing or wheezing are called antitussives and bronchodilators. Because coughing and wheezing often involve phlegm, and excessive phlegm inevitably leads to coughing and wheezing; and expectorants often have the combined effects of relieving cough and wheezing, while antitussives and bronchodilators often also have expectorant effects. Therefore, expectorants and antitussives and bronchodilators are often collectively referred to as expectorant, antitussive, and bronchodilator drugs.

Expectorants are mainly used for phlegm-related conditions, such as cough, wheezing, excessive phlegm, or difficulty expectorating phlegm; they are also suitable for phlegm-related conditions such as goiter, scrofula, carbuncles, epilepsy, and convulsions. Antitussives and antiasthmatics are mainly used for cough and wheezing caused by internal injuries or external pathogens.

The above-mentioned diseases are equivalent to acute and chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, chronic lymphadenitis, simple goiter, epilepsy, and certain coronary heart diseases, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accidents in modern medicine.

According to modern research, expectorants, antitussives, and bronchodilators mainly have the following pharmacological effects: ① Expectorants all have obvious expectorant effects. Animal experiments have shown that these drugs can stimulate the mucous membrane and reflexively promote the increase of respiratory secretions, thereby diluting the sputum and making it easier to cough up; some expectorants can also reduce the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of respiratory mucous glands, gradually restore the hyperactive secretory function to normal, reduce the amount of sputum, and thus achieve the expectorant effect.

② Many expectorants, antitussives, and bronchodilators have an inhibitory effect on experimentally induced cough in animals. Their antitussive mechanism mainly involves acting on the cough center to inhibit the cough reflex; a few drugs are peripheral antitussives. ③ Most antitussives and bronchodilators have a bronchodilatory effect on experimental asthma induced by histamine or other aerosol inhalation. Their bronchodilatory effect is mostly achieved by inhibiting allergic reactions or relaxing bronchial smooth muscle; therefore, many antitussives and bronchodilators can relieve bronchospasm.

In addition, expectorants, cough suppressants, and asthma relievers also have pharmacological effects such as anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and anticonvulsant effects.

When using expectorants, cough suppressants, and bronchodilators, it is important to note that strong and irritating expectorants should not be used for coughs accompanied by hemoptysis, as they may promote bleeding. Coughs in the early stages of measles should not be suppressed, especially mild or astringent expectorants and cough suppressants, as these may exacerbate fever or affect the eruption of measles.