Oyster and Motherwort Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Clears heat and dispels dampness. Suitable for benign prostatic hyperplasia caused by damp-heat in the bladder.
as the formula is predominantly cold-cool, use with caution in those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, loose stools, or aversion to cold with cold limbs; with herbs that quicken the blood, caution is warranted in those with a tendency to bleed or bruise easily; as astringent herbs are present, they should not be used early while external pathogens, damp-heat, or food stagnation remain
Commentary
Oyster occupies the sovereign position; cool in nature and salty in flavor, with Liver, Gallbladder, Kidney tropism, it nourishes yin, anchors yang, calms the spirit, and softens hardness and becomes the guiding principle of the whole formula. The ministerial support — motherwort (of slightly cold nature and bitter, pungent flavor, entering the Liver, Heart, Bladder, activates blood, regulates menstruation, promotes urination and removes toxins) — reinforces the sovereign’s main effect and coordinates the drug strength. The formula is rounded out by cooking wine, acting as the envoy to harmonize the various ingredients, keeping the combination balanced and well-tempered. Viewed as a whole, the formula addresses the damp-heat presentation, treating both root and branch.