Have you ever experienced these troubles: waking up with a dry and bitter mouth, eye mucus at the corners making your vision slightly blurry, and often having red veins in your eyes? At the same time, you may easily suffer from abdominal bloating, pass excessive gas, and have particularly dark yellow urine? Some male friends might even notice dampness in the groin or scrotal area, possibly accompanied by itching discomfort. These seemingly unrelated minor symptoms, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, often point to the same underlying issue: dampness-heat in the liver and gallbladder.

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the liver and gallbladder are closely related. The liver is responsible for regulating qi movement, while the gallbladder stores and excretes bile. If the liver and gallbladder are obstructed by "damp-heat" pathogens (possibly caused by greasy diet, alcohol consumption, staying up late, or emotional distress), bile excretion becomes impaired. When bile refluxes upward, it may cause a bitter taste in the mouth; when damp-heat affects the eyes (as "the liver opens into the eyes"), symptoms like excessive eye discharge, red eyes, and blurred vision may occur. If damp-heat moves downward, it disrupts intestinal qi movement, leading to abdominal distension and excessive flatulence; when affecting the urinary system, it results in dark yellow urine. If damp-heat accumulates along liver meridian areas (such as the groin or scrotum), it may cause dampness and itching.

In such cases, clearing heat and draining dampness is key. There is one medicinal herb that is both food and medicine, affordable, and particularly helpful for clearing damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder—it's called *Artemisia capillaris* (also known as *Yin-Chen* in Chinese). Slightly cold in nature and slightly bitter in taste, it excels at "clearing heat, draining dampness, and promoting bile flow to relieve jaundice," making it a specialist in dealing with liver-gallbladder damp-heat.

Simple usage: Take 10-15 grams of *Artemisia capillaris*, rinse briefly, boil in water, then simmer for 15-20 minutes on low heat and drink as tea. If damp-heat symptoms are more pronounced (e.g., heavy body sensation, thick yellow greasy tongue coating), you can add 10 grams of *Smilax glabra* (tufuling) to boil together. *Smilax glabra* helps detoxify, remove dampness, and promote joint mobility. When paired with *Artemisia capillaris*, it enhances the damp-heat-clearing effect.

A real-life example: A long-haul truck driver I know, Mr. Zhang, had an irregular diet—constantly eating fast food and drinking beer to relieve fatigue. For months, he complained of bitterness in the mouth upon waking, excessive eye discharge, dry and irritated eyes after long drives, dark yellow urine like strong tea, constant bloating with excessive flatulence, and itchy red rashes in the groin area. Thinking it was "internal heat," he drank cooling herbal teas but saw little improvement. Observing his yellow greasy tongue coating and slippery-rapid pulse, I identified the classic signs of liver-gallbladder damp-heat. I advised him to boil 15 grams of *Artemisia capillaris* with 10 grams of *Smilax glabra* and drink it as tea, while also suggesting a lighter diet and reduced alcohol intake. After about ten days, he reported significant improvement: less mouth bitterness, reduced eye discharge, clearer urine, less bloating, and relieved itching. Mr. Zhang’s case shows that identifying the root problem ("liver-gallbladder damp-heat") and using the right method—even a simple herb—can yield good results.

Important reminder:

Effective for the right condition: This approach is mainly suitable for those diagnosed with liver-gallbladder damp-heat in TCM. If symptoms match the description (dry mouth with bitterness, excessive eye discharge, dark urine, bloating, yellow greasy tongue coating), it may work well. However, similar symptoms caused by other factors (e.g., simple stomach heat or kidney yin deficiency) may not respond as effectively.

The herb has cooling properties: Artemisia capillaries is slightly cold in nature, and long-term or excessive consumption alone may harm the spleen and stomach. Those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold (prone to diarrhea, cold intolerance, or discomfort after eating cold foods) are not advised to use it alone or for prolonged periods. Discontinue use after symptoms improve, or consult a TCM practitioner to determine if dosage adjustments are needed.

Caution for pregnant women: Pregnant women should use only under medical supervision.

If the effects are not noticeable or worsen, seek medical attention: If there is no improvement after drinking for a few days, or if you experience stomach discomfort or worsening diarrhea, discontinue use immediately and consult a professional TCM practitioner. For persistent or complex damp-heat symptoms, more comprehensive herbal formulations (such as the renowned "Yin Chen Hao Tang" Decoction) may be required for regulation.

Don't ignore the body's minor signals, but there's no need to overreact either. The common herb "Capillary Wormwood Herb" (Artemisia capillaris Thunb.), readily available in pharmacies at an affordable price, serves as a simple and practical solution for mild damp-heat conditions in the liver and gallbladder. Of course, combining it with lifestyle adjustments—eating less greasy and spicy food, reducing alcohol consumption, avoiding late nights, and maintaining a relaxed mood—will yield better results.