Clearance of pathogenic heat (Qing Re)

Clearance of pathogenic heat (Qing Re) is a fundamental therapeutic principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rather than a specific molecular target or receptor (NIH NCCIH). It refers to the use of medicinal substances to neutralize "Heat" syndromes, which in modern biomedical terms often correlate with systemic inflammation, febrile diseases, and infectious processes (PMID: 28214331). While not a single molecule, the pharmacological action of "heat-clearing" agents typically involves the modulation of multiple molecular pathways, including the inhibition of NF-κB signaling and the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and TNF-α (PMID: 30553153). Many phytochemicals categorized under this principle, such as berberine and baicalin, interact with specific enzymes and receptors to exert antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects (PubChem). Consequently, this term represents a multi-target pharmacological strategy rather than a discrete biological entity (Journal of Ethnopharmacology). Therapeutic agents in this category are often used to treat conditions like sepsis, pneumonia, and acute viral infections by dampening the "cytokine storm" (PMID: 32278687). The clinical efficacy of these agents is often monitored through systemic inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and various interleukins.

Other names

Qing ReHeat-clearingClearing heat and detoxifyingQingre Jiedu

Modulation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways (NF-κB, MAPK) and inhibition of pyrogenic cytokine production.