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Fu Ping浮萍

Spirodelae Herba · Duckweed · Spirodela

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药《神农本草经》

Overview

The whole plant of a tiny floating water weed, dried into papery flakes. Acrid and cold, it is the lightest of the exterior-releasing herbs: it opens the pores to move a wind-heat pathogen out, pushes an unfinished rash to the surface, and drains water from a puffy face and upper body. It works quickly and is not meant for long courses.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Cold

Channels

Lung · Bladder

Typical Dosage

3–9 g in decoction
浮萍Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Releases the exterior, promotes sweatingWind-heat at the surface with fever, no sweating and a sore throat; light enough that it disperses without draining deeply.
  • Vents rashes, relieves itchingMeasles rash that has not fully come out, wind rash and hives with intense itching; also decocted as a wash for the affected skin.
  • Promotes urination, reduces swellingAcute puffiness of the face and eyelids or superficial edema, especially when exterior signs are still present.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Fu Ping

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Wind-heat exterior patterns with fever and no sweating
    - Incompletely expressed measles rash
    - Urticaria and wind rash with itching
    - Acute facial puffiness and superficial edema

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

UrticariaMeasles rashAllergic skin rashEdema

Contraindications

Cautions

Strongly sweat-promoting: not for exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating, and not for depleted or frail patients whose fluids are already thin. Stop once the rash is fully expressed or the sweat has come — continued use wastes fluids to no purpose.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Not a classical prohibition, but a herb that both promotes sweating and drains water should be used in pregnancy only under practitioner supervision.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.