Table 2.

Top 20 TCMs used in dampness management.

Serial number	Drug names	Frequency of use	Medicinal properties	Effectiveness
1	Ephedrae Herba	52	Pungent, warm and lightly bitter; act on the lung and bladder meridians	Induce sweating to release the exterior; diffuse the lung and relieve panting; promote urination and relieve swelling.
2	Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium	49	Bitter, pungent and warm; act on the spleen and lung meridians	Rectify qi and fortify the spleen, dry dampness and dissolve phlegm.
3	Pogostemonis Herba	48	Pungent and slightly warm; act on the spleen, stomach and lung meridians	Resolving dampness, clear summer-heat, arrest vomiting.
4	Pinelliae Rhizoma	48	Pungent and warm; toxic; act on the spleen, stomach and lung meridians	Dry dampness and dissolve phlegm, direct counterflow downward and arrest vomiting, disperse spleen and dissipate masses. For exterior use, diminish swelling and relieve pain.
5	Poria	46	Sweet, bland and neutral; act on the heart, lung, spleen and kidney meridians	Promote diuresis to drain dampness; invigorate the spleen; and sedate the mind.
6	Scutellariae Radix	42	Bitter and cold, act on the lung, gallbladder, spleen, large intestine and small intestine meridians	Clear heat and dry damp, reduce fire to remove toxin, stop bleeding, clam the fetus.
7	Atractylodis Rhizoma	40	Pungent, bitter and warm; act on the spleen, stomach and liver meridians	Dry dampness, dispell wind-damp, release exterior
8	Tsaoko Fructus	32	Pungent and warm; act on spleen and stomach meridians	Dry dampness and dissipate cold, dispel phlegm and prevent attack of malaria
9	Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen	29	Bitter, pungent and extremely cold; act on the lung and bladder meridians	Drain the lung and relieve panting, move water and diminish swelling.
10	Coicis Semen	28	Sweet, bland and cool; act on spleen, stomach and lung meridians	Promote urination and drain dampness, invigorate spleen to relieve diarrhea; clear heat and expel pus, eliminate impediment
11	Puerariae Lobatae Radix	27	Sweet and cold; act on lung and stomach meridians	Clear heat and generate fluid, eliminate vexation and arrest vomiting, promote diuresis
12	Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizome	26	Bitter, sweet and warm; act on the spleen and stomach meridians	Supplement qi and invigorate spleen, dry dampness and promote urination, consolidate the exterior and arrest sweating, calm fetus
13	Astragali Radix	25	Sweet and slightly warm; act on the lung and spleen meridians	Supplement qi ang raise yang, strengthen defensive and consolidate the exterior, promote urination to relieve edema, promote granulation
14	Areca Semen	24	Bitter, pungent and warm; act on large intestine and stomach meridians	Kill worms and disperse accumulation, move qi and promote urination
15	Platycodonis Radix	24	Bitter, pungent and neutral; act on the lung meridian	Diffuse the lung, dispel phlegm, evacuate pus and relieve sore throat
16	Trichosanthis Fructus	22	Sweet, slightly bitter, and cold; act on the lung stomach and large intestine meridians	Clear heat and dissolve phlegm, reinforce qi and relieve chest stiffess, dissipate mass and eliminate abscesses, moisten dryness to lossen bowel
17	Rhei Radix et Rhizoma	18	Bitter and cold; act on spleen, stomach large intestine, liver and heart meridians	Attack accumulation by purgation; clear heat and drain fire; cool blood and resolve toxins; expel stasis and promote menstruation flow; drain dampness and relieve jaundice
18	Amomum kravanh Pierre	15	Pungent and warm; act on the lung, spleen and stomach meridians	Resolve dampness and move qi, warm the spleen and stomach to arrest vomiting
19	Notopterygii Rhizomeet Radix	15	Pungent, bitter, warm; act on bladder and kidney meridians	Disperse wind-cold, overcome damp to relieve pain
20	Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus	15	Bitter and cold; act on the lung and heart meridians	Clear heat and dissipate masses; dissolve phlegm and relieve cough