Antibiotic Actions of Herbs

John K. Chen Ph.D., Pharm.D., O.M.D., L.Ac.

AntibioticAntibacterialAntiviralAntifungalAntiparasiticAntineoplastic

Clinical Presentation of HeatHeat/fireDamp heatHeat in the bloodToxic heatDeficient heat

Heat and FireHigh fever, aversion to heat, thirst, restlessness, irritability, delirium

Damp HeatBurning and pain during urinationFatigue, yellow skin and sclera

Heat in the BloodRestlessness, irritability, delirium, semi-consciousness, purpura and bleeding

Toxic HeatFebrile diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, abscesses of internal organs, surface pus, burns, wounds, soreness and swelling of the throat

Deficient HeatSensations of ‘steaming bones’, warmth in the palms and soles, night sweats, dry throat and mouth, irritability, insomnia

Clinical Presentation of HeatHeat/Fire: high fever, aversion to heat, thirst, restlessness, irritability, deliriumDamp heat: burning and pain during urinationHeat in the blood: restlessness, irritability, delirium, semi-consciousness, purpura and bleeding Toxic heat: febrile diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, abscesses of internal organs, surface pus, burns, wounds, soreness and swelling of the throatDeficient heat: sensations of ‘steaming bones’, warmth in the palms and soles, night sweats, dry throat and mouth, irritability, insomnia

Herbs that Clear Heat

Heat-clearing herbs address imbalances caused by excessive heat, whether mild or extreme, at various levels of pathological penetration of the body, by clearing heat, purging fire, or cooling organs or substances injured by heat.

Anti-Bacterial EffectDa Qing Ye (Folium Isatis seu Baphicacanthus) Ban Lan Gen (Radix Isatidis seu Baphicacanthi)Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis)Huang Bai (Cortex Phellodendri)

Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis) *

Da Qing Ye & Ban Lan GenDa Qing Ye (Folium Isatis seu Baphicacanthus) - leavesBan Lan Gen (Radix Isatidis seu Baphicacanthi) - root

Da Qing Ye & Ban Lan GenAntibiotic: broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects. Antineoplastic: inhibiting effect against cancer cells in treating leukemia, sarcoma, and lung cancer Anti-inflammatory:

Da Qing Ye & Ban Lan GenUpper respiratory infectionMeasles and pneumoniaEncephalitis B

Da Qing Ye & Ban Lan GenSulfonylurea antidiabetics Sulfonamide antibiotics

Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) Antibiotic: broad spectrum of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral effectsAnti-inflammatory: Antipyretic:

Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) Bacterial dysenteryAcute gastroenteritis or enteritisPulmonary tuberculosisSuppurative otitis media

Berberine

Huang Lian & BerberineHuang LianSingle herbMore effectiveLess resistanceSystemic absorptionSystemic infectionLong half-life

BerberineSingle compoundLess effectiveMore resistancePoorly absorbedG.I. Infection onlyShort half-life

Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) Prevents and treats cyclophosphamide urotoxicity (edema and bleeding)Allergenic (skin and anaphylactic reactions)

Huang Qin(Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis)

Antibiotic: Baicalin has a wide-spectrum of inhibitory effect Anti-inflammatory: Antipyretic: Antihypertensive:

Baicalin

BaicalinHerb-Drug Interaction (Synergy)Beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Baicalin restored effectiveness of ampicillin, amoxicillin, methicillin and cefotaxime

Huang Qin(Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis)

HepatitisEpidemic encephalitisScarlet fever

Huang Bai (Cortex Phellodendri)Antibiotic: Huang Bai has demonstrated moderate antibiotic and antiviral effect Antihypertensive:

Huang Bai (Cortex Phellodendri)Chronic bacterial dysenteryChronic bronchitis

Zhi Zi(Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis)

Antibiotic: bactericidal and bacteriostaticAntihypertensive: Hepatoprotective:

Zhi Zi(Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis)

Musculoskeletal sprain and strainCoronary artery disorders

Anti-Viral EffectJin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae)Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae)Chuan Xin Lian (Herba Andrographitis Paniculatae) *

Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae)

Antibiotic: broad spectrum antibacterial and antiviralAnti-inflammatory and antipyretic

Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae)

Common colds and influenzaPrevention of upper respiratory tract infections

Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae)

Antibiotic: antibacterial and antiviralAnti-inflammatory:

Chuan Xin Lian (Herba Andrographitis Paniculatae)

Antibiotic: antibacterial and antiviralAntipyretic: Anti-inflammatory: Immunostimulant:

Chuan Xin Lian (Herba Andrographitis Paniculatae)

Nasosinusitis and rhinitisUpper respiratory tract infection

Anti-Neoplastic EffectKu Shen Zi (Semen Sophorae Flavescentis)Ban Zhi Lian (Herba Scutellaria Barbatae)Bai Hua She She Cao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) *

Anti-Pyretic EffectShi Gao (Gypsum) Zhi Mu (Rhizoma

Anemarrhenae Asphodeloidis)

Synergistic Anti-Pyretic EffectShi Gao: quick onset but short duration of action.Zhi Mu: slower onset but much longer duration of action.

C

Time

Anti-Hypertensive EffectZhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis)Long Dan Cao (Radix Gentianae Scabra)Ye Ju Hua (Flos Chrysanthemi Indici) Xia Ku Cao (Spica Prunellae Vulgaris) *

Hepatoprotective EffectHuang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis)Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis)Long Dan Cao (Radix Gentianae Scabra)Yin Chen Hao (Herba Artemisiae Capillaris) *

Antibiotic Formulas (Localized)Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)Qing Fei Tang (Clear the Lung Decoction)Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan (Clear the Qi and Transform Phlegm Pill)Yu Nü Jian (Jade Woman Decoction)Bai Tou Weng Tang (Pulsatilla Decoction)Ba Zheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification)

Antibiotic Formulas (Systemic)Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Longdancao Decoction to Drain the Liver)Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity)Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin (Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxin)

Antipyretic FormulasBai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction)Ma Xing Gan Shi Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Licorice, and Gypsum Decoction)Sang Ju Yin (Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction)

Herbal ABXBaphicacanthus Leave (Da Qing Ye)Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying)Bidens (Xian Feng Cao)Pteris (Feng Wei Cao) Physalis Angulata (Pao Zai Cao)

Coptis (Huang Lian)Justicia (Shu Wei Huang) Lippia (Ya She Huang)Solidago (Liu Zhi Huang)Leucas (Hu Yao Huang)Stellaria (Cha Chi Huang)