Fu Ping (浮萍) is duckweed, recorded as Herba Spirodelae. It is acrid in flavour and cool in temperature, entering the Lung and Bladder channels. The catalogue files it among the cool, acrid herbs that release the Exterior.

Pinyin

fu ping

Chinese

浮萍

Latin Name

Herba Spirodelae

English Name

common ducksmeat·duckweed·duckweed; spirodela; common ducksmeat·Spirodela

Japanese

fuhei

Korean

bupyeong

Actions and indications

Induces sweating and releases the Exterior

Wind-Heat with body aches, headache and no sweating; it may be given alone, and sweats strongly for a cool, acrid herb

Vents rashes and relieves itching

Measles and other rashes, bringing them out fully so the illness resolves sooner
Itchy Wind rash

Promotes urination and reduces swelling

Superficial edema of a Hot type, mainly in the upper body, with difficult urination, by opening the upper source of water

Combinations

jing jie + bo he + lian qiao

Wind-Heat causing fever without sweating

bai ji li + niu bang zi + bo he

Headache and fever from Wind-Heat

bo he + chan tui + sheng ma + niu bang zi

Measles and Wind rash in which the eruption does not fully express

bo he + niu bang zi

Wind rash and measles that have not fully erupted, with itching

ma huang

Wind-Edema with facial swelling, anhidrosis and difficult urination

tian hua fen

Wind-Heat with thirst.

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 3-10g; Severe cases: 9-20g Tincture: 2-4ml

3-10 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Any heavy or spontaneous sweating, including sweating from Wei Qi, Qi or Blood deficiency, or from Exterior deficiency, since it opens the pores forcefully

contraindication Night sweats, thirst or a dry mouth from Yin deficiency

caution Edema from Yang deficiency

caution Mild cases

caution Debilitated or elderly patients: use under a qualified practitioner, as strong sweating depletes fluids

pregnancy Pregnancy: use under a qualified practitioner

caution For the acute stage only, then stop; not for long-term use

caution Choose a supplier that tests for contaminants, since trace element levels in duckweed depend on how it is grown

fu ping

About fu ping

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Induces sweating and releases the Exterior

Vents rashes and relieves itching

Promotes urination and reduces swelling

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions