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Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Longdancao Decoction to Drain the Liver)

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Longdancao Decoction to Drain the Liver)

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Formula 17 of 30 in Formulas that Clear Heat

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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

There are 10 Substances in this Chinese Medicne

Long Dan Cao (Chinese Gentian Root)
Quantity = 3-9 grams
Cold Long Dan Cao (Radix Gentianae Longdancao)
Channels:
GB, LIV, ST
Properties:
Bitter, Cold
Latin:
Radix Gentianae Longdancao
Chinese:
龙胆草
Tone Marks:
lóng dăn căo
Translation:
Dragon Gallbladder Herb
Huang Qin (Baical Skullcap Root)
Quantity = 6-12 grams
Cold Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis)
Channels:
GB, LI, LU, ST
Properties:
Bitter, Cold
Latin:
Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis
Chinese:
黄芩
Tone Marks:
huáng qín
Zhi Zi (Gardenia, Cape Jasmine Fruit)
Quantity = 6-12 grams
Cold Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis)
Channels:
HT, LIV, LU, ST, TB
Properties:
Bitter, Cold
Latin:
Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis
Chinese:
栀子
Tone Marks:
zhī zi
Chuan Mu Tong (Clematis)
Quantity = 3-6 grams
Cold Chuan Mu Tong (Caulis Clematidis Armandii)
Channels:
BL, HT, SI
Properties:
Bitter, Cold, Bland
Latin:
Caulis Clematidis Armandii
Chinese:
川木通
Tone Marks:
chuān mù tōng
Alt Names:
Mu Tong
Translation:
Open Ended/Pipe Wood from Sichuan
Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed, Plantain Seed)
Quantity = 9-15 grams
Cold Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis)
Channels:
KI, BL, LIV, LU
Properties:
Sweet, Cold
Latin:
Semen Plantaginis
Chinese:
车前子
Tone Marks:
chē qián zĭ
Alt Names:
Che Qian Ren
Translation:
Before the Cart Seeds, Seed in Front of the Cart
Ze Xie (Water Plantain Rhizome, Alisma)
Quantity = 6-12 grams
Cold Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis)
Channels:
KI, BL
Properties:
Sweet, Bland, Cold
Latin:
Rhizoma Alismatis
Chinese:
泽泻
Tone Marks:
zé xiè
Alt Names:
Fu Ze Xie
Translation:
Marsh Drain
Chai Hu (Thorowax Root , Bupleurum)
Quantity = 3-9 grams
Cool Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri)
Channels:
GB, LIV, PER, TB
Properties:
Bitter, Spicy, Cool
Latin:
Radix Bupleuri
Chinese:
柴胡
Tone Marks:
chái hú
Translation:
Kindling of the Barbarians
Sheng Di Huang (Chinese Foxglove Root, Rehmannia)
Quantity = 9-15 grams
Cold Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae)
Channels:
HT, KI, LIV
Properties:
Sweet, Bitter, Cold
Latin:
Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae
Chinese:
地黄
Tone Marks:
shēng dì huáng
Alt Names:
Sheng Di
Translation:
Fresh Earth Yellow
Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica Root)
Quantity = 6-12 grams
Warm Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis)
Channels:
HT, LIV, SP
Properties:
Sweet, Spicy, Bitter, Warm
Latin:
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Chinese:
当归
Tone Marks:
dāng guī
Translation:
State of Return
Gan Cao (Licorice Root)
Quantity = 3-6 grams
Neutral Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae)
Channels:
All 12 (Primarily the LU, HT, SP, ST)
Properties:
Sweet, Neutral
Latin:
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Chinese:
甘草
Tone Marks:
gān căo
Alt Names:
Guo Lao
Translation:
Sweet Herb, Sweet Grass

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References Used

The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the following books, as well as other sources. If you have benefited from this information, please consider supporting the authors and their works by purchasing the books below.

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