What is the primary action of the Bitter flavor?

• A. Relaxes bowels
• B. Drains, dries, clears heat, descends Qi
• C. Descends Qi
• D. Clears heat

Answer: (B)

Bitter flavor primarily drains, dries, clears heat, and descends Qi. In traditional Chinese medicine, bitter herbs are known for their drying quality and their ability to push Qi downward, which makes them especially useful for heat with dampness and for conditions where Qi is rising or stuck and needs to descend. This combination—draining excess heat and dampness, drying dampness, clearing interior heat, and guiding rebellious Qi downward—captures the full action of bitter-tasting herbs. The other options describe only a part of bitter’s effects or a different action altogether, whereas this fourfold effect best represents what the bitter flavor accomplishes.