When using ophthalmic medicine, it is important to select the medicine based on the target area and characteristics of each drug. Clearing heat medicine has a cold nature and has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling blood, improving vision, and clearing virtual heat. It is mainly used for various internal heat syndromes. Most drugs in this category have a cold nature and can easily damage the spleen and stomach. For those with weak spleen and stomach, it is advisable to use spleen-strengthening and stomach-nourishing medicine appropriately.
1. Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome)
Effects: Clear heat, relieve fire, nourish yin, and moisten dryness.
Applications:
(1) Used for eye abscess or eye sty accompanied by high fever, restlessness, thirst, and large pulse. It is often used in combination with Gypsum Fibrosum, such as Bai Hu Tang.
(2) Used for various internal and external eye diseases caused by yin deficiency and excessive fire, such as sudden blindness, glaucoma, and blurred vision. This herb can nourish yin, relieve dryness, and clear away virtual fire. It is often used in combination with Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), such as Zhibai Dihuang Wan.
(3) Used for polydipsia and retinal lesions and lens opacity caused by polydipsia. It is often used in combination with Tianhua Pollen, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Corn Silk.
2. Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum)
Effects: Clear heat, relieve fire, and eliminate restlessness.
Applications: Used for conjunctivitis, eye abscess, eye pain, and upward surging of yellow fluid caused by excessive stomach fire or accumulation of heat in the spleen and stomach. It is often used in combination with Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), such as Bai Hu Tang.
3. Dahuang (Rhubarb)
Effects: Clear heat, relieve fire, purge, cool blood, detoxify, promote blood circulation, and resolve stasis.
Applications:
(1) Used for red and swollen eyelids and conjunctiva, upward surging of yellow fluid, and purulent discharge in the eyeball or orbit caused by heat and toxic pathogens. This herb has the function of clearing heat, detoxifying, purging heat, and promoting bowel movement. It is often used in combination with Zhizi, Huangqin, and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), such as Neishu Huang Tang.
(2) Used for bleeding in the iris and fundus caused by heat pathogen invasion, blood heat running wild, or trauma. This herb can both clear heat and cool blood, and promote blood circulation and resolve stasis. If used for hemostasis, it is often combined with Baimao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), and Qiancao (Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma); if used for resolving stasis, it is often combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), such as Dahuang Danggui San.
4. Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus)
Effects: Relieve fire, eliminate restlessness, clear heat, promote diuresis, and cool blood.
Applications:
(1) Used for various hot eye diseases. This herb can clear heat and relieve the three burners' fire. It is often used in combination with other heat-clearing herbs.
(2) Used for iris constriction and star aggregation caused by liver and gallbladder damp-heat. It is often used in combination with Longdancao (Gentianae Radix), such as Longdan Xiaogan Tang.
(3) Used for subconjunctival hemorrhage, anterior chamber hematoma, and vitreous hemorrhage caused by blood heat running wild. This herb has the effect of cooling blood and stopping bleeding. It is often used in combination with Maogen (Imperatae Rhizoma) and Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix).
5. Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes Pollen)
Effects: Clear heat, generate body fluids, reduce swelling, and promote pus discharge.
Applications:
(1) Used for eyelid ulcers, redness, swelling, and pain caused by severe heat and toxic pathogens. This herb can clear heat, relieve fire, promote pus discharge, and reduce swelling, both when taken internally and applied externally. When taken internally, it is often used in combination with Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Pugongying (Taraxaci Herba), and Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus).
(2) Used for pupil diseases caused by yin deficiency and heat pathogen invasion, such as cataract caused by polydipsia. It is often used in combination with Zhimu, Wuzi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), etc.
