Which list of herbs are incompatible with Li Lu?

• A. Da Ji, Yuan Hua, Hai Zao
• B. Ma Huang, Gou Teng, Xuan Fu Hua
• C. Ren Shen, Sha Shen, Dan Shen, Ku Shen, Xi Xin, and Bai Shao
• D. Ban Xia, Bei Mu, Bai Ji, Gua Lou

Answer: (C)

Li Lu is a very strong purgative that can injure yin, deplete fluids, and disrupt the body’s balance. When a harsh purge is used, it’s generally avoided with herbs that nourish or stabilize the body's qi, blood, or fluids, because these tonifying or nourishing herbs tend to counteract or worsen the imbalance Li Lu creates.

In the listed herbs, you have tonics or yin-nourishing items such as Ren Shen (ginseng) and Bai Shao (white peony), as well as yin/nourishing or blood-modulating herbs like Sha Shen and Dan Shen, plus warming or draining-tonic herbs like Xi Xin and Ku Shen. Their overall effect is to reinforce nourishment, nourish fluids, or move blood, which clashes with Li Lu’s drastic purgative action. That mismatch is why this combination is considered incompatible with Li Lu.