4. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying

4. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying

“The Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Various Diseases” states: “The formation of edema is always due to wind-cold-pathogenic factors invading the meridians, causing blood stagnation and obstruction, leading to swelling.” This shows that external wind-cold-pathogenic factors play a major role in the onset of chronic nephritis. Clinically, patients with chronic nephritis often experience worsening of their condition after exposure to external pathogens, especially when exterior pathogens penetrate inward and transform into internal heat, leading to critical conditions and numerous complications. In my clinical practice, I have observed that every exacerbation of chronic nephritis is often associated with internal heat toxicity. Therefore, when formulating prescriptions, it is crucial to focus on clearing heat and detoxifying, so that the treatment can be targeted and effective. Commonly used herbs include honeysuckle, forsythia, dandelion, houttuynia, prunella, stonecrop, and white snake tongue herb. The Yishen Tang formula developed by the Shanxi Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in addition to incorporating Taohong Siwu Tang, also contains a large number of heat-clearing and detoxifying ingredients, which aligns perfectly with this principle.