Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

(Gentiana Longdancao Decoction to Drain the Liver)

Sub-Category:

• Formulas that Clear Heat from the Qi Level

Pattern:

• Excess Heat in the Liver and/or Gallbladder Channels
• Liver Damp Heat in the Lower Jiao.

Actions:

• Drains excess heat/fire from the Liver and Gallbladder
• Drains Damp and clears Heat from the lower burner.

Indications:

• Liver and Gallbladder Fire: Headache, tinnitus, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability and short temper, hypochondriac pain, red painful eyes, dizziness, deafness, and swelling of the ears
• Damp Heat in the Lower Jiao: Difficult urination with pain and heat sensation in the Urethra, turbid urine, foul smelling thick yellow leukorrhea, swollen and pruritus of the external genitalia, impotence, short menstrual cycle with dark flow.

Possible Tongue Appearance:

• Red tongue with a greasy yellow coat

Possible Pulse Patterns:

• Wiry, rapid, and forceful pulse

Western Uses:

• Migraine Headaches
• Intercostal Neuralgia
• Gallstones
• Acute Conjunctivitis
• Acute Otitis Media
• Boils and Carbuncles of the Vestibular and External Auditory Canal
• Hypertension
• Acute Icteric Hepatitis
• Acute Cholecystitis
• Herpes Zoster
• Herpes Simplex
• Acute Pyelitis
• Acute Cystitis
• Urethritis
• Acute Pelvic Inflammation
• Acute Prostatitis
• Scrotal Eczema
• Swollen Testes
• Hyperthyroidism

Cautions, Contraindications, Herb Drug Interactions:

• Do not use in cases of Stomach or Spleen Qi deficiency
• Do not use in cases with fluid deficiency.
• Do not use long term.

Preparation Notes:

• Decoction. Long Dan Cao, Zhi Zi, and Sheng Di Huang are usually wine fried to aid in dispersing as well as draining.

Originally Appeared In:

• Analytic Collection of Medicinal Formulas (Yi Fang Ji Jie)

Combined Channels of all herbs in this formula:

• Stomach, Gall Bladder, Liver, Lungs, Large Intestine, Heart, Small Intestine, Kidneys, Pericardium, Spleen

Substances in this Formula (10 Total):

	Long Dan Cao (Chinese Gentian Root) 龙胆草 Qty: 3-9 grams Chan: GB, LIV, ST Prop: Bitter, Cold Latin: Radix Gentianae Longdancao Cat: Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry Dampness
	Huang Qin (Baical Skullcap Root) 黄芩 Qty: 6-12 grams Chan: GB, LI, LU, ST Prop: Bitter, Cold Latin: Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis Cat: Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry Dampness
	Zhi Zi (Gardenia, Cape Jasmine Fruit) 栀子 Qty: 6-12 grams Chan: HT, LIV, LU, ST, TB Prop: Bitter, Cold Latin: Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis Cat: Herbs that Drain Fire
	Chuan Mu Tong (Clematis) 川木通 Qty: 3-6 grams Chan: BL, HT, SI Prop: Bitter, Cold, Bland Latin: Caulis Clematidis Armandii Cat: Herbs that Regulate Water and Drain Dampness
	Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed, Plantain Seed) 车前子 Qty: 9-15 grams Chan: KI, BL, LIV, LU Prop: Sweet, Cold Latin: Semen Plantaginis Cat: Herbs that Regulate Water and Drain Dampness
	Ze Xie (Water Plantain Rhizome, Alisma) 泽泻 Qty: 6-12 grams Chan: KI, BL Prop: Sweet, Bland, Cold Latin: Rhizoma Alismatis Cat: Herbs that Regulate Water and Drain Dampness
	Chai Hu (Thorowax Root , Bupleurum) 柴胡 Qty: 3-9 grams Chan: GB, LIV, PER, TB Prop: Bitter, Spicy, Cool Latin: Radix Bupleuri Cat: Cool, Spicy Herbs that Release the Exterior
	Sheng Di Huang (Chinese Foxglove Root, Rehmannia) 地黄 Qty: 9-15 grams Chan: HT, KI, LIV Prop: Sweet, Bitter, Cold Latin: Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Cat: Herbs that Cool the Blood
	Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica Root) 当归 Qty: 6-12 grams Chan: HT, LIV, SP Prop: Sweet, Spicy, Bitter, Warm Latin: Radix Angelicae Sinensis Cat: Herbs that Tonify Blood
	Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 甘草 Qty: 3-6 grams Chan: All 12 (Primarily the LU, HT, SP, ST) Prop: Sweet, Neutral Latin: Radix Glycyrrhizae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi

References

Formulas

• 15. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies (First Edition) - Dan Bensky
• 18. Handbook of Chinese Herbal Formulas (First Edition) - Him Che. Yeung
• 16. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Study Guide (First Edition) - Qiao Yi

Herbs

• 13. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Revised Edition) - Dan Bensky
• 25. Lancet 2000 January 8;355(9198):134-138 (Article) - Fugh-Berman A.
• 17. Handbook of Chinese Herbs (Second Edition) - Him Che. Yeung
• 12. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (First Edition) - John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen
• 26. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals (Third Edition) - Max Wichtl

Only use Chinese herbs or formulas under the direct care and supervision of a licensed Acupuncturist/Herbalist. Some of the substances included on this website are no longer used, and are included for historical reference only.