nulllong dan xie gan tang long dan xie gan tang Gentiana Longdancao Decoction to Drain the LiverSource: Analytic Collection of Medical Formulas(Yi fang ji jie)nullRadix Gentianae Longdancao (long dan cao) 3-9g
Radix Scutellariae (huang qin) 6-12g
Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis (zhi zi) 6-12g
Caulis Mutong (mu tong) 3-6g
Semen Plantaginis (che qian zi) 9-15g
Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis (ze xie) 6-12g
Radix Bupleuri (chai hu) 3-9g
Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae(sheng di huang) 9-15g
Radix Angelicae Sinensis (dang gui) 6-12g
Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis (gan cao) 3-6gIngredientsPreparation Preparation Decoction. Dosage is not specified in the source text. long dan cao, zhi zi and sheng di huang are usually fried in wine to produce draining with dispersion. Available in prepared form.nullActions Purging excess fire from the liver and gallbladder
relieving damp-heat from liver meridiannullIndications1 Syndrome of up-flaming of excess fire in the
liver and gallbladder
2 Syndrome of down-pour of damp-heat of liver
meridian.nullSyndrome of up-flaming of
excess fire in the liver and gallbladder
pain in the hypochondriac region
headache, dizziness
red sore eyes, trouble with hearing, ear swelling or infection
bitter taste in the mouth, irritability
Tongue: red tongue with yellow coating
Pulse: wiry, rapid, and forceful pulseSymptomsSyndrome of down-pour
of damp-heat of liver meridianSyndrome of down-pour
of damp-heat of liver meridianhot painful difficult urination that is dark yellow and smelly
possible smelly leukorrhea or menstrual irregularities in women
other conditions that affect the external genitalia(herpes, eczema)
Tongue: red with yellow coat
Pulse: wiry nullThis is heat excess in the Liver and/or Gallbladder channels. The Liver channel traverses the hypochondria and the external genitalia, and its corresponding sensory organ is the eyes. The Gallbladder channel starts at the outer canthus of the eyes and crosses the lateral aspect (including the frontal and occipital areas) of the head. When heat excess enters these channels it becomes constrained and cannot drain out. This leads to fire blazing upward to the head where it manifests in the symptoms described above.null A wiry, rapid, and forceful pulse and a red tongue with a yellow coating are signs of heat excess in the Liver channel. The Gallbladder and Triple Burner are both lesser yang channels. A disturbance in one of the lesser yang channels usually affects the other. When the Triple Burner channel is affected, water metabolism is disturbed and internal dampness is generated. A damp or humid climate can also induce dampness in the body. In both cases, dampness in the lower burner causes foul-smelling leukorrhea and other disorders of the external genitalia.ANALYSIS OF FORMULAANALYSIS OF FORMULA long dan cao --chief drug
bitter in flavour and cold in nature
draining heat excess from the Liver and Gallbladder
eliminating damp-heat from the lower burner nullhuang qin and zhi zi -- bitter in flavour and cold in nature, assist the chief herb in draining fire and eliminating dampness
chai hu -- disperses heat due to constrained Liver and Gallbladder qi
chai hu and huang qin form the classic combination for clearing lesser yang-channel heat. chai hu also focuses the actions of the other herbs on the Liver and Gallbladder channels.
deputy drugsnull ze xie, mu tong, and che qian zi -- eliminate damp-heat from the lower burner by promoting urination
dang gui, and sheng di huang -- nourish yin and blood so as to soothe the liver
sheng di huang -- supplements the yin, dang gui -- nourishes the blood without causing stasis assistant drugsenvoy drugenvoy druggan cao -- harmonize the middle burner and regulate the actions of the other herbs in the formula COMMENTARY COMMENTARY This formula can be used in treating a wide variety of complaints. There are three criteria for diagnosing heat in the Liver channel (the condition for which this formula is indicated): a wiry, rapid pulse; a red tongue or red dots along the sides of the tongue; and dark urine or urinary difficulty. The use of this formula should be distinguished from that of jia wei xiao yao san, which is used in treating constrained Liver qi with some symptoms of heat. That formula is indicated for a condition that lacks the full force of heat excess. nullThe herbs in this formula cool heat without causing stasis, dispel the pathogenic qi, and cause it to descend without injuring the normal qi. It is an excellent formula for treating the symptoms and underlying mechanisms associated with Liver and Gallbladder disorders.
With the appropriate presentation, this formula may be used in treating such biomedically-defined disorders as migraine headache, eczema, intercostals neuralgia, gallstones, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, acute glaucoma, central retinitis, suppurative otitis media, herpes zoster, cystitis, urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, orchitis, epididymitis, and hyperthyroidism. CautionsCautions This formula can harm the Spleen. It should therefore not be taken long-term or in large doses, nor in cases with Spleen deficiency or injury to the fluids.